Adrenal disease

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Adrenal disease occurs when the adrenal gland produces either too much or too little of certain hormones.

Symptoms

Generally, neutered rabbits will act like they are intact with excessive marking, humping, chasing, and unusual aggression. It has been predominantly reported in elderly rabbits over 6 years of age. In does with adrenal tumors, enlargement of the clitoris can be noted.

Diagnosis

In the US, the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory Services offers an adrenal panel for castrated and spayed rabbits.

Treatment

• Surgery
• Lupron
• Deslorelin

Experiences

• Taylor Wright et al. (2021). Use of a deslorelin implant for management of hyperandrogenism associated with excessive sex hormone production in a female spayed pet rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
• Buns of Steel. (2021). Fluff's story with a fatal adrenal tumor (RIP)
• Elisabetta Mancinelli. (2016). Adrenal gland disease in rabbits (Graphic)
• Josephine B. Rose DVM et al. (2014). Adrenalectomy and Nephrectomy in a Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) With Adrenocortical Carcinoma and Renal and Ureteral Transitional Cell Carcinoma
• Katherine Baine et al. (2014). Elevated Testosterone and Progestin Concentrations in a Spayed Female Rabbit with an Adrenal Cortical Adenoma (Graphic)

The following are a few discussions on the topic:

• House Rabbit Society. (2022). Using Deslorelin implants to manage rabbit hormones
• House Rabbit Socity. (2021). Has anyone dealt with adrenal gland disease in bunnies?
• House Rabbit Society. (2020). Anyone experience adrenal disease before?

Further reading

• Vetlexicon. Adrenocortical disease
• Nico Schoemaker. (2016). Ferrets and rabbits: adrenal disease
• Barbara Deeb, DVM. (2004). Sex Hormones in Altered Rabbits
• Elisabetta Mancinelli. (2016). Adrenal gland disease in rabbits