Vaginal Discharge in Rabbits

Vaginal discharge is not a common or normal occurrence in rabbits, and is normally taken to be a sign of infection or illness. Vaginal discharge includes any substance that comes from the vulvar labia, or vaginal area, including fresh blood or blood tinged fluid. Vaginal discharge is almost always considered abnormal, except in cases where the rabbit is discharging postpartum fluids -- the fluids that leave the uterus after birth.

Symptoms and Types

The signs, symptoms and types of vaginal discharge vary from rabbit to rabbit and may vary according to the sexual status of the rabbit. Those that are sexually active are more at risk for vaginal discharge. Older rabbits are also more at risk.

Common symptoms and signs include:

• Blood in the urine - although this is a misconception, since blood does not actually originate in the urinary tract but actually originates in the uterus
• Spotting, which is usually tinged with blood
• Discharge that may stick to the fur of the perineum or around the anus of the rabbit
• Enlarged uterus which may be easily felt on physical examination
• Enlarged mammary glands, either one or both
• Depression and lethargy
• Inability to eat or lack of interest in eating
• Nesting activities
• Increasing aggressive tendencies
• Pale mucous membranes

Causes

The causes for vaginal discharge may include: 

• Uterine cancer, or adenocarcinoma, among the most common causes for vaginal discharge
• Other disorders of the endometrium or lining of the uterus, including tissue overgrowth
• Trauma to the vagina
• Urinary tract infection, which is unusual
• Vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina)

Diagnosis

To diagnose the condition, your veterinarian will gather a specimen sample of the urine to distinguish blood in the urine from blood expelled from the uterus. Other exams will include ruling out uterine adenocarcinoma (cancer). Ultrasound can be used to examine the uterus and surrounding reproductive organs, and radiography will help your veterinarian to detect any masses in the uterus and help measure the size of the uterus to determine if it is abnormal in any way. Pregnancy can also be ruled out during the course of these diagnostic checks.

A culture will help rule out any bacteria infections, and will help assess the health of the vaginal flora – the collection of healthy bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms that normally live within the vaginal canal. An imbalance of the vaginal flora will be indicative of yeast overgrowth and other common fungal infections.