Preputial urolithiasis in a rabbit

A 5-year-old pet rabbit was presented with a large mass in the preputial sac which was painful on palpation. The mass was firm and resulted in distension of the prepuce (Fig 1A). Blood analyses showed no alteration apart from a slight increase of lymphocytes. Serum biochemistry results showed 14.5 mg/dL calcium (physi-ological range: 8 to 14.8) and 2.5 mg/dL phosphorus (physi-ological range 2.3 to 6.9). Four uroliths were visualised in the preputial area on radiographs (Fig 1B). The rabbit was anaes-thetised and all calculi were removed from the prepuce through a small incision (Fig 1C). Antibiotic (5 mg/kg q12h enrofloxa-cin) and anti-inflammatory (0.5 mg/kg q24h meloxicam) were orally administered for 6 and 3 days, respectively. The uroliths were rounded, yellowish to white, compact, with a diameter of about 2 and 0.5 cm, respectively (Fig 1D). Chemical analyses confirmed the stones as agglomerates of calcium carbonate crys-tals. Urolithiasis is a pathological condition which is diagnosed more often in middle-aged and old rabbits. It is believed that the physiological calciuria of rabbits may predispose to the onset of urolithiasis, but several secondary factors such as dehydration, diet with high calcium content, obesity and pathological condi-tions that interfere with calcium metabolism may result in the abnormal accumulation of insoluble calcium carbonate crystals in the urinary tract. Urolithiasis may occur in the urinary blad-der, in the kidneys or in the ureters. Preputial retention of uro-liths is an uncommon presentation in rabbits