Symptomatic reponible umbilical hernia in the rabbit

Abstract

A case of umbilical hernia in a 7-month-old female rabbit was presented to the Surgery Clinic of the Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo. The owner noticed inappetence and lethargy four days before arrival at the clinic. Clinical parameters on physical examination were within the physiological range. Bruxism and lethargy were noted as signs of discomfort due to gas accumulation in colon. A reponible, nonpainful mass in the umbilical scar area was palpated but intestinal peristalsis was not altered. General anesthesia was induced by intramuscular administration of ketamine with medetomidine and maintained with isoflurane. Surgical treatment of hernia included the peritoneal sac dissection and amputation, repositioning of small intestines, and correction of abdominal wall defect. Intraoperative multimodal analgesia approach was used to reduce inhalant anesthesia requirements and to prevent pain-related and stress-related complications. In this case report we described a surgical and veterinary treatment of the reponible umbilical hernia in a rabbit.