Drum addiction

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Gastric suction in a rabbit with an overloaded stomach

Drum addiction is the popular name for stomach flatulence ( stomach tympany ) in domestic rabbits . Occasionally the term is also used for intestinal tympanum . The causes are mostly feeding errors or dental diseases. The stomach flatulence manifests itself in a swelling of the front abdominal area. In the further course of the disease, severe pain and shock symptoms soon appear, which, if left untreated, quickly lead to the death of the animal. Treatment is based on the extent of the disease and is aimed at eliminating the accumulation of gas in the stomach.

Even fish that are brought up too quickly from greater depths and thus were unable to release gas from their swim bladder can be "drum addicted" because the swim bladder is so expanded that it bursts or the animal's intestines are forced out.

Origin of name

There are two theories for the origin of the name of this disease:

  1. When tapping the heavily inflated abdomen, a loud knocking sound occurs.
  2. The rabbit's hind legs are constantly pounding the floor with its hind legs because of its painfully bloated stomach.

causes

The disease is mainly caused by the wrong feed such as bloating meadow clover and cabbage , self-heated green fodder, too cold or spoiled feed, feed with a high protein content (young grass), lack of raw fiber (too little hay), overeating with swellable feed, sudden Feed changes and irregular feeding or food abstinence.

A second complex of causes are dental diseases, which impair the mechanical chopping of food in the oral cavity and lead to selective ingestion of low-fiber food.

As a third possibility, obstructions of the stomach outlet by hairballs ( bezoars ) come into consideration. Finally, gastrointestinal infections with parasites or bacteria can also cause stomach symptoms.

These triggers lead to fermentation of the feed mash in the stomach with pronounced gas formation.

Clinical picture

The drum addiction manifests itself by strong inflation of the stomach, which shows itself as an increase in circumference in the front abdominal area and tense abdominal wall. In the case of stronger inflation, affected rabbits show teeth grinding, restlessness, the aforementioned "drumming", stretching of the hind legs and severe pain. The stomach presses on the diaphragm when it is highly inflated, which leads to shortness of breath and poor circulation with cyanosis and low temperature. In the worst case, the stomach wall ruptures.

Drum addiction can lead to death within a very short time, so you should see the vet as soon as possible at the first weak signs .

Diagnosis is made by palpating and listening to the front of the abdomen. An X-ray can safely show the bloated stomach. Above all, a stomach overload , intestinal symptoms and constipation ( constipation ) should be clarified .

treatment

Lighter forms of gastric symptom can be treated with active ingredients that promote gastric emptying such as metoclopramide , foam-breaking active ingredients such as dimeticone and probiotics . The onward transport of the feed can be supported by a careful stomach massage.

If the course is more severe, pain medication is given. In severe forms, stabilization of the circulation and shock treatment with oxygen, prednisolone and fluid replacement are indicated. In addition, the stomach must be degassed as quickly as possible, but slowly, which is done with a gastric tube. Puncturing the stomach through the abdominal wall often causes the stomach to burst and is therefore not recommended.

After successful treatment, the triggering causes must be eliminated (feeding errors, dental diseases).

literature

  • Anja Ewrigmann: Magentympanie . In: Key symptoms in rabbits. Enke-Verlag 2006, pp. 78-81.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Penzlin, Heinz: Textbook of Animal Physiology. Munich. (7th ed.) 2005. p. 309.