HELP! Gi stasis :(

[Bmeiers]

Hi, I have 2 dwarf bunnies who are almost a year old, they are spayed and neutered. In the past month and a half I’ve had to seperate them due to the male (Goldfinger) overgrooming the female (Bailey) for a period of 2 weeks till the fur grew back. Yesterday I noticed his poop was half the size it normally is. He seems to still be eating, maybe not quite as much as before but he’s eating all of his pellets (1/4 cup every night) and still eating a soso amount of hay. I called the vet and he told me to give him 3cc of pinapple juice, I did that and I haven’t seen a difference in the size of his poop yet. I am currently in the process of getting their tummys used to eating parsley (which Goldfinger doesn’t seem to eat very often). Some of Baileys poop is strung together with hair but she seems to be eating and acting fine so that just shows me that she’s passing hair which is a good thing. But I really would appreciate some words of advise with Goldfinger because I’m worried he has a hairball and I don’t want him to go into full gi stasis… Or could it be just constipation? Help my bunny please

[Bam]

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

Massage his tummy as it says in the above link. Give him simethicone for (human) babies. Pineapple juice is nolonger recommended.

 

And of course, good luck and keep the forum posted. 

[LittlePuffyTail]

You really need to find a rabbit vet. The vet telling you to give pineapple juice clearly indicates he is not knowledgeable about rabbits.

Try to get him to eat wet, leafy greens (only ones he’s used to) and lots of hay. Hay is key to keep digestion moving.

[Bmeiers]

Thanks for the reply guys. I just woke up and some of Baileys poop is smaller now to.. Hmmm. I’m starting to think something I’m doing is making them constipated.. Can anyone back this up?

[Bam]

Sometimes smaller poop isn’t indication of sth bad, just caused by a change in diet.

[Sarita]

Rabbits don’t get constipated like we do.  I would encourage you to read the link that bam posted earlier and this link as well:

http://rabbit.org/sluggish-motility…l-tract-2/ 

[Sarita]

That link doesn’t seem to be working – copy and paste this:

http://rabbit.org/sluggish-motility-in-the-gastrointestinal-tract-2/

[Bmeiers]

Thanks guys! Hey well if its a change in their diet, about a week and a half ago I just started them on a quarter cup of pellets every night before I go to bed and then they eat hey when they are hungry. Could that have something to do with it to? Cause he ate all his pellets and I just witnessed him doing a binky. So he doesn’t seem very sick! Haha

[Bam]

If he ate all his pellets then did a binky I’d say he’s in no immediate danger =)

A week and a half does seem a little long though, changes in my bunny’s diet usually manifests itself in the poop the same day or the next. It can vary from the size of a dried black peppercorn to the size of a fresh green peppercorn (if that comparison makes any sense to you). With more hay, the individual poops are bigger but less dense.

[Bmeiers]

Ok good! Yea he used to eat alot of hay and it was bigger. Now he isn’t eating quite as much and his poop is like the size of a small peppercorn like you said. So you figure he should be ok?

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Try and get him to eating more hay or it could turn into a medical situation. I know anytime I see some tiny poops I freak out and try to get them eating more hay by stuffing it in toys, putting some in a bowl, in their litterbox, and I give them fresh heaps every few hours because they seem to nibble it the most when you first put in a fresh handful . But I’m a bunny hypochondriac.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Oh I just realized you separated them so those poos can also be stress related because he is separated from his gf so just watch him for any sign of illness. As in not playing or eating

[jerseygirl]

Ditto ^. Are they still separated? I think having them back together could be beneficial.

[Emmie]

I tend to feed my bun mint when I notice any digestive issues. Thane has had butt problems since I’ve had him and he goes nuts for the mint. One time he even jumped up onto the table I keep the mint on (He has never done this!) he wanted it so bad!

[Bam]

Mint is a favourite with my bun too. If I can’t get fresh mint I give him dried mint “flakes” the kind you use to make tea.

Bmeiers, maybe you should cut back a little on the pellets so he eats more hay again. If they fill up on pellets they tend to ignore the hay.

[Bmeiers]

Well they are still separated mainly because her hair is still growing back. I could also try the mint thing!

[Sarita]

I understand about the overgrooming – perhaps you can allow them to be together when you are home and can supervise them.

[Bmeiers]

Well I have tried that but the only thing is if I look away for a second he is licking her. Arg it sucks. I checked both their teeth and they look good so he isn’t doing it to sooth tooth pain. The problem is I’m worried he’s eating the hair he’s licking off her

[FluffyBunny]

As long as they’re eating and otherwise acting normal, they’re probably fine. Are either of them shedding? My bunnies always have small poops and act a bit off when they’re going through a major shed. For a bit of scale, my female bunny (who’s 4 lbs) will go from having poops the size of very large peas to poops about the size of a peppercorn or a small pea. Both of them pass lots of “string of pearls” poops as well.

Make sure they eat lots of fresh hay and wet veggies. Remember, the more hay they eat, the more they’ll poop!

[Bmeiers]

Yup he is shedding a little bit, not alot but he is shedding. They have both been rotating sheds haha. They both just molted heavy a couple weeks ago. Now he’s just shedding a little and Bailey isn’t shedding at all right now

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By Bmeiers on 03/22/2013 01:30 PM

 I checked both their teeth and they look good so he isn’t doing it to sooth tooth pain.

Sometimes there are teeth issues you can’t see. A slight malocclusion may not affect the front teeth as much as the back molars   Tooth spurs on back molars can develop and can become painful. Doesn’t stop them necessarily from eating like a severe malocclusion can but it can definitely affect digestion and some behaviors.  A vet would have to look with a scope though to see the back molars — this is not something you can see on your own.   But it also sounds like you need to find a rabbit savvy vet though too.

Check out our Vet Resource Thread  — https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tab…fault.aspx

Does your overgroomer groom the same place on your other bunny?  I am just wondering if there is an irritation there he focused on. 

I have also read (can’t remember where) that overgrooming (aka:barbaring) can be a sign of not enough fiber.    Stress can also play a role in that.  Has anything recently changed? 

Here is a link to a rabbit-savvy expert who answers some questions about overgrooming http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/overgrooming.htm

[Bmeiers]

Well it’s always on the top of her head the bald patches appear. When they weren’t bonded about 3 months ago he ripped out a bunch of her hair on her head and it was all red. Just this morning he was eating some hay and he pooped NORMAL SIZED POOPS and there was alot of hair, like Im talking about 5 poops held together with hair and a couple more were held together with thicker amounts of hair. So I’m thingies this is a good thing right? He must of passed the hair that was causing a blockage am I right?

[Sarita]

Well, you don’t know if it was a blockage or if it was due to dental. It sounds promising but in the future the only way to possibly know anything is to get your bunny to a vet as no one on the internet can diagnose the problem with your rabbit.

[Bmeiers]

BUMP I took him to the vet and he has no teeth issues. He told me to give him. 9cc of water and 9cc of electrolytes every day along with 9cc of pineapple juice… I’m not doing the pinapple juice anymore after doing it for 2 days.. He’s getting worse with his eating… I’m dissolving papaya fruit plus in his water and electrolytes.. But I don’t know what to do guys… The vet doesn’t know what he’s talking about and my bunny is dying…. :'(

[jerseygirl]

Did the vet check his temperature? feel his abdomen, give any pain medication?

Is there somewhere else you could take him?

Is he eating anything or passing anything?

{{{vibes}}} for your bun.

[Sarita]

Did the vet take an x-ray to see if there is a blockage or gas?

[Sarita]

I would also recommend you start syringe feeding him critical care as well.

[Bmeiers]

He is eating his quarter cup of pellets at night but he isn’t really eating hay anymore. The vet felt his stomach and he said it was empty. Both vets told me to give him 9cc of pinapple juice a day which is just stupid.. I’m really trying to feed him his critical care but I know I’m not getting much in. And with all the syringe feeding he’s starting to get really stressed and depressed. He isn’t pooping very often but when he does they are about the size of a peppercorn and there are about 5 stuck together with hair. I need to put something in this syringe to dissolve the hair… Please I need help

[Sarita]

You cannot dissolve the hair but you don’t know that there is any blockage since no x-ray was taken. What gets a blockage moving is hydration and that softens the blockage to get it moving. I think you need to find a vet who has rabbit experience. Pineapple juice is very old school, it is also high in sugar which is bad for rabbit’s.

[Sarita]

Are you only feeding pellets also? I would recommend that you try feeding some fresh greens as well.

[Bmeiers]

Ok well I am syringe feeding him 18cc of water and electrolytes mixed and then I dissolve one of those papaya fruit plus tablets in the syringe also. Could I maybe give him an extra shot a day? So that would be 6cc X 4 every day or would that be to much liquid?

I’m feeding him that 1/4 cup of pellets every night and he always has hay in front of him which ill see him eat a couple pieces a day.. And I’ve been trying to get him to eat parsley but he usually won’t touch it

[HippityHopMom]

I disagree with the those advising not to use Pineapple Juice.     ….. Ok everyone .. don’t get upset with me … let me explain why.  The FRESH pineapple  has worked each time for my Holland Dwarf.   BUT NOTE …It must be a FRESH Pineapple and not canned pineapple or any you buy in a plastic container.   You have to buy a whole fresh Pineapple ... it has to do with FRESH Enzymes found in a fresh cut pineapple that is not in canned pineapple or in a pineapple cut up by your grocery store and put in plastic container.  You have to cut up a whole one and put in juice squeezer …. or I used a garlic press too …. or if the rabbit likes Pineapple .. and if your bun is still eating …then just give your bun a couple of pieces of fresh pineapple and he/she will get the juice in him/her this way.    After my vet advised me about the FRESH Pineapple and I saw it worked for my little girl …. and she got better … I now buy my two buns a Fresh Pineapple about every two months and feed them chunks of pineapple as a maintenance type food to keep them “cleaned out good”.    My two buns have not had stasis in over a year or more since I began giving them fresh pineapple.   No more expensive vet bills for stasis.   They love fresh pineapple chunks.    I am sure many are going to buck me about this … but I find holistic care works best more often.   My Akita dog died in January from taking a drug called Carprofen … a favorite drug vets like to prescribe.   She was like a child to me.  She was 10 yrs old and in remarkable health before this.  Even my vet said she was in remarkable health for her age.  The reason why … I practice more holistic care on my pets.  I was so thrilled when my vet told me to give my rabbits the fresh pineapple for hairballs since this was a natural way.  He is not a holistic vet either.  But, he is a good rabbit vet.    Let me tell you about another natural food that helped my rabbit just last weekend.   I have a post last week on her about her getting sick.  She is a large flop ear rabbit.   I have had Panda 5 yrs and she has never been sick.   I just found out she was 10 yrs old by calling her old vet and getting her records.  Over a week ago, She got sick for the first time.  She came down with an upper resp. infection.  We are thinking I brought something in my home on my shoes from a vet clinic where I was in back around sick dogs … possibly Bordetella ….. my vet also thinking the same.  I do foster care for dogs.    We did not do a culture on Panda to determine since we caught in beginning.  He prescribed Baytril antibiotic injections  stating the injections would be best as it would upset her tummy more if given orally.   Well, three days into taking the injections, she did stop eating and drinking and of course she was in meat loaf position and head down … weak from the upper resp. infection and now not eating.   I knew the antibiotic most likely had her stomach upset and this was the reason for her not eating.  So, I thought … when myself and my dogs take antibiotics … we eat yogurt.  Yogurt helps the stomach when taking antibiotics …. so, I gave my sick bunny YOGURT …. and guess what … she licked it and loved it.  I then put lettuce and other rabbit foods in blender and made liquid for her … she was not interested in any of that …. all she wanted was yogurt … she knew what her body needed.   The next day she began eating soft foods … bananas, blender things I mixed up for her …. then the next day she began eating lettuce and now she is doing great and eating solid foods and doing very well.   Again … yogurt is something natural.  I think it helped balance something out in her tummy and pulled her through.     Sorry this is so long … I just wanted to express that I believe the natural way needs to be tried first.    So if you did not buy a FRESH Pineapple .. that may be why you are not seeing an improvement.  

[Bmeiers]

Hmmm well maybe I should try fresh pinapple….

[Sarita]

HHM is correct about FRESH PINEAPPLE, however, I think you don’t know what is wrong with your rabbit and you need to find a new vet to treat your rabbit.

Papaya tablets are mainly sugar and don’t have enough of the bromain in them to make a difference to dissolve any possible mucous that is binding the mass – if that is what this even is…

[Sarita]

I really urge you to find a new vet and read the 2 articles that have been posted – those will give you alot of information – have you read them?

[Bam]

Have you given him simethicone? It helps getting the content in the intestines moving, by lubricating the intestines. I gave my bunny simethicone when he had a stomach-problem. It’s not harmful because it isn’t absorbed by the body. You should get the liquid sort, for babies and feed it with a syringe.

You can give bunnies probiotics and even if the bacteria in such products are not normally a part of a bunny’s stomach-flora, there are many reports from people who will swear their rabbit is helped by them.

[Bmeiers]

I just bought some ovol drops which contain 40mg per mil. How much would you recommend giving him?

[Sarita]

Is your rabbit only on a hay and pellet diet? No greens?

[Bmeiers]

Yes at the moment. He won’t touch greens

[jerseygirl]

I’m really relieved to hear he is still eating something at least. It may be the food is just taking a while to move down the tract.
How is he today?

You can probably give up to 1 ml of the Ovol since it’s recommended to give 1-2mls for a 20mg solution.

If trying pineapple, do so in moderation. There are several theories and no hard core evidence. Ive heard that it’s the acidity that may help in the gut environment. Again though, thats a theory.

When he is healthier again, I would consider having his teeth checked again but under sedation. They really cannot see everything from looking on the examination table. Some rabbits are very sensitive and even a small molar spur not visible to the eye could cause trouble.

If he is still separated from his bond mate, I would  also consider reuniting them provided she accepts him without issue. It would be one less stressor. Obviously, you will have to keep a close eye on his food intake and output if he is back in with her.

His grooming of her could well be a coping mechanism he uses to deal with pain from an unknown source.

[Author]

Messages