Surgery saves rabbit with caudate liver lobe torsion

Last November, Lexi Parrish greeted Tyler, her 3-year-old mixed-breed rabbit, one morning and knew immediately that something was not right with him. Parrish had owned rabbits before Tyler, so she had the experience and knowledge to recognize that he was in pain and needed medical attention. She called her primary veterinarian.

After speaking with Tyler’s veterinarian, Parrish took him to the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) right away, and he was seen by the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service team. At UC Davis, Tyler was sensitive to the touch with no gut sounds, and an ultrasound showed his caudate liver lobe to be dark and enlarged. Additionally, a color doppler showed the team there was no blood flow in that caudate lobe.¹ The team also discovered a small amount of free fluid in the abdomen, which could have been a sign of internal bleeding. Tyler’s blood tests also revealed elevated liver values and low protein markers.

Tyler’s team at UC Davis diagnosed him with caudate liver lobe torsion based on his diagnostic tests and clinical signs. According to UC Davis, the twisting of the liver cuts off the blood supply and, as a result, causes intense pain, liver damage, internal bleeding, and anemia.¹ This is relatively common in rabbits but rare for other species and requires prompt veterinary attention.

“Fascinatingly enough, within the past…decade, but I would say even the past 5 years, us as an exotic animal community, we've been diagnosing these high percentages of liver lobe torsions in rabbits. Basically…one of the lobes—there's many lobes in the rabbit's liver—but…usually the caudate twists on itself. And you can imagine what happens if an organ torses in your abdomen; it causes a lot of pain, and sometimes it even bleeds…These liver lobe torsions usually require surgery or very aggressive medical management,” Lauren Thielen, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), said in an interview with dvm360.²

The team at UC Davis took Tyler into surgery and successfully removed the torsed liver lobe, and he was hospitalized for 4 days following the surgery for monitoring. During the 4 days, Tyler received fluid therapy as well as antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medications for pain management. Parrish shared that while Tyler was in the hospital, the UC Davis team sent her daily updates to let her know his progress and how he was doing.

“By combining advanced imaging, surgical expertise, and attentive postoperative care, we’re able to give patients like Tyler the best chance at recovery—even in life-threatening emergencies,” said David Guzman, LV, MS, DECZM (Avian, Small Mammal), DACZM, chief of the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service at UC Davis.¹

Tyler needed a follow-up appointment to monitor his progress, and now, 2 months after the surgery, Parrish reported that Tyler is back to normal, being his sweet but bossy self.

“The caudate lobe is the most common lobe to become twisted. But most rabbits, including Tyler, do well after it is removed,” said Ariella Darvish, DVM, a third-year resident with the exotics service.¹ “We’re happy he’s recovering nicely with no complications.”

References

1. Warren R. Emergency surgery saves rabbit with liver lobe torsion. UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine. January 27, 2026. Accessed February 2, 2026. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/emergency-surgery-saves-rabbit-liver-lobe-torsion
2. Bautista-Alejandre A. The potential risks of diagnosing rabbits with GI stasis. dvm360. October 4, 2024. Accessed February 2, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/the-potential-risks-of-diagnosing-rabbits-with-gi-stasis