I finally got the necropsy report from OSU. I had to call the vet that did it to get it in the English version and to explain it. Here is what the summary said:
01/03/11: Microscopy has revealed some changes that are important to consider if you
are suspecting a feed-related problem. As stated below, this rabbit has a lot of intestinal
damage and although we have not demonstrated any one main enteric pathogen, with
rabbits all that is often required is an imbalance/shift in the normal flora to cause clinical
problems. Having said that, I do think that these changes are unusually "hot" - often
enteric problems in rabbits have very little inflammation while Julia has managed to
perforate the gut wall. I see a hint of a vascular damage so it may be that toxins absorbed
from the gut are affecting the local blood supply.
Three other severe changes are seen here - renal damage that appears to be noninfectious/
inflammatory and mineralization of both the heart and the lung. The last two
often go together in rabbits under the heading of metastatic mineralization. This
phenomenon is not well understood but the two things most frequently blamed are kidney
damage and inappropriate levels of Vitamin D, calcium/phosphorus in the diet. Since
there is renal damage we can look at this two different ways; A - intestinal problem leads
to dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities with subsequent renal damage. B - a toxin
not necessarily related to the gut damage has targeted the kidney. There are certain
mycotoxins that might be able to do this so it is good that you are having a mycotoxin
screen done on the feed.
If you do get some abnormal results on the feed analysis please let us know so that we
can update the records on this case.
He explained in lamen's that it does appear to be caused by something within the feed. Proving this hinges on what the feed test results by the ODA conclude. I told him that I found .9 lbs of corn in a 50 lb bag of feed and he said that that would be enough of a feed change that it could be a cause.
I am not sure that this would be enough to have Payback reimburse me for my rabbits if the results of the feed come back within the guaranteed levels or not. The person that took samples from ODA said that the Payback rep. pretty much sunk any case they had when he admitted to him that there was a lot of corn and black chunks of stuff in the feed.
Just wanted to update.
ETA: The deaths have stopped!!! Six days and I haven't lost any. The only ones that I lost after the feed change were ill before the change (or at least acting off). I didn't cull all of the ones that seemed to be affected, since some of them recovered on their own with electrolytes, hay and acv in the water. Total death count: 216.
01/03/11: Microscopy has revealed some changes that are important to consider if you
are suspecting a feed-related problem. As stated below, this rabbit has a lot of intestinal
damage and although we have not demonstrated any one main enteric pathogen, with
rabbits all that is often required is an imbalance/shift in the normal flora to cause clinical
problems. Having said that, I do think that these changes are unusually "hot" - often
enteric problems in rabbits have very little inflammation while Julia has managed to
perforate the gut wall. I see a hint of a vascular damage so it may be that toxins absorbed
from the gut are affecting the local blood supply.
Three other severe changes are seen here - renal damage that appears to be noninfectious/
inflammatory and mineralization of both the heart and the lung. The last two
often go together in rabbits under the heading of metastatic mineralization. This
phenomenon is not well understood but the two things most frequently blamed are kidney
damage and inappropriate levels of Vitamin D, calcium/phosphorus in the diet. Since
there is renal damage we can look at this two different ways; A - intestinal problem leads
to dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities with subsequent renal damage. B - a toxin
not necessarily related to the gut damage has targeted the kidney. There are certain
mycotoxins that might be able to do this so it is good that you are having a mycotoxin
screen done on the feed.
If you do get some abnormal results on the feed analysis please let us know so that we
can update the records on this case.
He explained in lamen's that it does appear to be caused by something within the feed. Proving this hinges on what the feed test results by the ODA conclude. I told him that I found .9 lbs of corn in a 50 lb bag of feed and he said that that would be enough of a feed change that it could be a cause.
I am not sure that this would be enough to have Payback reimburse me for my rabbits if the results of the feed come back within the guaranteed levels or not. The person that took samples from ODA said that the Payback rep. pretty much sunk any case they had when he admitted to him that there was a lot of corn and black chunks of stuff in the feed.
Just wanted to update.
ETA: The deaths have stopped!!! Six days and I haven't lost any. The only ones that I lost after the feed change were ill before the change (or at least acting off). I didn't cull all of the ones that seemed to be affected, since some of them recovered on their own with electrolytes, hay and acv in the water. Total death count: 216.