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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Older rabbit and GI stasis

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    • OliverBun
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      284 posts Send Private Message

        Hi everyone.

        I have an older (8-10 yrs) Netherland dwarf rabbit. About a week ago he started having balance problems. Any time I would let him out he would act normal, except for the fact that he kept falling over (no head tilt). I took him to the emergency vet in the middle of the night and the vet said he had GI stasis. So because he was eating normally still seemed alert, I opted to wait until the morning when he had an appointment with his normal vet.

        The next morning his normal vet took some x-rays and said he didn’t see any obstruction, but it was probably some GI stasis. He also said that Oliver had some “bad” bacteria in his gut that he’s like to clear up. He me to give him 3 cc’s of pineapple juice 3 times a day an also gave Oliver Orbax, which I was to give him twice a day, and I set up a follow-up appointment in a week. Finally, the vet told me to completely remove pellets from his diet.

        Oliver hated the pineapple juice but was pretty ok with the Orbax. However, Oliver stopped pooping the next day (although he was eating normally). So now it’s Christmas Eve and I have an elderly rabbit who is eating fine, acting fine, has his balance back, but hasn’t pooped in 36 hours. 

        Back to the emergency vet we go. This time I got a rabbit specialist, who told me that Oliver had some “gunk” in his ear and had GI stasis, probably brought on my the Orbax. So I was told to stop the pineapple juice and start ear drops and Cisapride. 

        I gave Oliver the Cisapride and by Christmas morning there were poops in his litter box. I felt we were in the clear. 

        However, now Oliver is being lethargic (he’s been sitting behind a chair all day) and doesn’t seem to be drinking much water, but he’s eating his greens normally. He’s picking at his hay, but not much. Also, Oliver will drink water, but only if I syringe it to him. He also hasn’t pooped or peed since last night.

        I’ve tried massaging his stomach, and I did hear some loud gurgling, so I’m thinking perhaps he has some gas. Although he doesn’t seem to be in pain. After I finish writing this I’m going back to the vet to pick up some more Cisapride for him.

        I don’t feel like taking him back to the vet will do much, since he is still eating. Their attitude seems to be that unless a rabbit hasn’t pooped and eaten in the last 24 hours keeping him at home is the best thing to do. If I bring him back I feel like I’ll get the same thing, or I can ask them to keep him in which case they’ll do IV fluids and heavy duty meds for 24-48 hours. I don’t want to stress my bun in that way if it’s not necessary.

        I’m at a total loss of what’s going on. Is this GI stasis that he’s just not over yet? Did I get over-excited when he pooped Christmas day? Or is this an older rabbit who’s body is tired, and should I be preparing for him to pass on?

        I’m also wondering if his decrease in water intake is due to an increase in greens/decrease in pellets? Or is he just stressed from all the vet visits?

        I’m a total wreck. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


      • Sarita
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        18851 posts Send Private Message

          Pineapple juice is so old fashioned and never a good idea…

          Okay, I have and have had quite a few seniors and this is what I would do – I would ask for bloodwork if none was done, ask for a complete dental exam (perhaps he has some molar spurs which is very common in senior rabbits and particularly in dwarf rabbits). It’s good he had x-rays – did it show anything other than no obstruction?

          Keep on with the ear drops and cisapride as directed. If the orbax caused problems perhaps then try another antibiotic. In my experience it does take the seniors longer to react to medication.

          I don’t think you should just prepare him to pass on at this point but sometimes it just takes more diagnostics to make a prognosis for a senior rabbit. Don’t give up on him just yet.


        • OliverBun
          Participant
          284 posts Send Private Message

            I’ve totally stopped the Orbax. Right now he’s just on his ear drops for antibiotics. I don’t want to overload him with changing his diet, starting ear drops, gi motility drugs and Orbax. 

            I also don’t really know what it was prescribed for except for the “bad” bacteria the vet said he saw on the x-ray. The emergency vet seemed to think his only bacteria problem was deep in his ear…which the ear drops will fix.

            The x-ray showed totally clear lungs, a tummy full of basil and some gas. But the vet said his x-ray looked really good.

            I’m worried that blood tests will stress him out. The vets have been telling me that there’s a good chance he could have a heart attack if we try to take blood. What is your experience with this?

            I no longer trust my vet, since he missed the ear infection and told me to use pineapple juice…I think I’ll be switching to the rabbit expert in my area for any further testing.

            I’ve also thought of a few more questions: the emergency vet gave me Critical Care. Oliver hates it. I haven’t been giving it to him since he’s willing to eat on his own and I hate force-feeding him. Should I be giving this to him?

            Also, he loves alfalfa. In the past, when he’s been healthy I have given him very small quantities very rarely as a treat. I’m concerned about his lack of hay intake. I’ve tried mixing some alfalfa with his timothy hay to try to trick him in to eating timothy, and it’s worked. Which is the lesser of two evils: giving alfalfa or very minimal hay intake?


          • Sarita
            Participant
            18851 posts Send Private Message

              If your vet is experienced with rabbits it should not be a problem getting blood drawn – my vet has done this numerous times on my seniors without incidence.

              Just give him what he’ll eat – that is what I do – my senior only gets greens, hay and lots of treats – he’s 12 and not in great shape either but he’s plugging along except for a big old lump on his neck area that we are monitoring. We gave him orbax as well and I think after that we switched him to bactrim for a lower respiratory infection and he was on 2 different eye drops and ear drops – it does stress him out but it is a necessary evil and you really just have to be persistent when dealing with medical issues in older rabbits.

              I think switching sounds like a wise idea and the sooner the better at his age.

              And yes continue on the critical care especially if he is eating this on his own – it is chock full of fiber and other good stuff.


            • Bunbunsmama
              Participant
              9 posts Send Private Message

                Hey everyone,
                I just joined this forum because I am going out of my mind with worry about my little girl and I don’t have anyone to talk to. I brought my girl into the vet five days ago because she hadn’t eaten in a day. They diagnosed her with Gi stasis, but they said this would take even longer to recover from because most of the gas was in her caecum. It’s been six days now (five days on meds) and she hasn’t pooped… Im so distraught, thinking she’s going to die. I’m not ready to say goodbye. Have you ever heard of a bunny not pooping in six days?


              • Azerane
                Moderator
                4688 posts Send Private Message

                  Posted By Bunbunsmama on 7/08/2017 8:52 AM

                  Hey everyone,
                  I just joined this forum because I am going out of my mind with worry about my little girl and I don’t have anyone to talk to. I brought my girl into the vet five days ago because she hadn’t eaten in a day. They diagnosed her with Gi stasis, but they said this would take even longer to recover from because most of the gas was in her caecum. It’s been six days now (five days on meds) and she hasn’t pooped… Im so distraught, thinking she’s going to die. I’m not ready to say goodbye. Have you ever heard of a bunny not pooping in six days?

                  I’m very sorry to hear about your rabbit. This is a very old thread and to avoid confusion we ask that members don’t reply to old threads. Feel free to start a new thread about your rabbit which will help give you more responses. You can use the link below which will take you to a page to create a new thread about your bunny  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tab…fault.aspx

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              Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Older rabbit and GI stasis