Pressing tummy to the floor

[BolingbrookMom]

Hey guys, looks like I may need to be in the rainbow bridge section again soon

 

Rorschach developed a weird thing where he was pressing his stomach to the floor, he could sit still like every 30 seconds he would have to reposition to a different pose, and then eventually he would go and hide.  This only has occurred twice in the last two days and it would just happen all of a sudden and not want treats or to be near us at all (which is very weird).  We took him into the vet today (who is on the House Rabbit Societies list of recommended vets) and they hinted at GI Stasis.  They gave us Reglan, Doxyclycline, and Meloxicam.  Does anyone have any advice?  He hasn’t been eating or doing anything abnormal.  He has a whole tub full of hay that he eats from whenever he wants to, he doesn’t really care much for pellets but he eats about a 1/4 cup a day, drinks lots of filtered water.  His poop and pee seems like a pretty good output, I have to change his litter box every other day (and it’s an enclosed cat litter box).  He’s been getting lettuce and kale twice a day for 2 months (and our doc said to stop giving kale because it’s not great for him).  Occasionally he gets some gala apple, raisins, and pineapple. 

 

I just feel like since our last bunny died three months ago from GI Stasis that it has to be something we’re doing wrong, it’s just so hard to deal with.  Very emotional and trying not to be so as not to upset him further.  Any advice is welcomed

 

Here are some pictures of his poses, not very good but he wouldn’t hold still.

 

 

 

[LBJ10]

Pressing their tummy on the floor is usually a sign of discomfort from gas. Could you get some baby gas drops for him? I’m not sure what the middle thing you listed is.

[jerseygirl]

Yes, probably worth having infant gas meds (simethicone) on hand. I’ve usually seen it help within 20-30 minutes.

There’s a bit more about that here (bottom half of page):
http://www.mybunny.org/info/gi-stasis/

Ironically, that article encourages veggies and suggests kale. It’s not a bad veg per se, just some rabbits may not react to it as well as others. It’s one that could be feed in moderation.

It also has lots of other great info on gi stasis you may have seen before.

{{{Rorschach}}}

If he stops eating/toileting, you will prob have take him back in for X-ray in case there’s a blockage.

Posted By LBJ10 on 5/02/2014 5:37
I’m not sure what the middle thing you listed is.

Do you mean doxycycline?

[Bam]

I’ve had tremendous success with simethicone (baby gas drops) + tummy-massage when my bunnies have had gas/ stomach trouble. In this article there are instructions on how to do it:

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

Scroll down to mechanical treatments.

[BolingbrookMom]

Thanks guys   I do have the baby gas reliever drops for him.  I tried giving him some two nights ago (before we took him to the vet) but as soon as he got a wiff of the bottle he actually jumped away from me and went and hid.  He did not like the smell at all, and with meds he has a fight or die reaction to them (bunny burrito is even harder because he bites, screams and claws).  

 

He seems to be doing a little better today. We’ve had lots of poop and pee activity, but we also gave him some pineapple last night. I guess the best way to do it is just day by day and hope he gets better everyday.

[Bam]

My bunnies also hate simethicone. Sometimes it’s possible to trick them into eating it by putting it on f ex a banana-slice or sth else that the bunny really likes.

Many vibes for Rorschach!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Definitely sounds like GI distress.

I wouldn’t stop kale, and I would step up all leafy greens and no treats (Raisins, apple and pineapple-all fruit is high sugar and should be given very sparingly) -the hay and pellets sound good. See if you can entice him into eating more hay (by giving smaller more frequent amounts) and do more leafy greens (any lettuce but iceburg, and cilantro, parsley and the like).

If you get acute GI distress you will have to take him in quickly but for right now it sounds like he’s just having upset. Try tummy rubs and the diet adjustments I suggested.

{{Sending Happy Tummy Vibes}}

[LongEaredLions]

I give my buns the simethecone by mixing it with a bit of natural applesauce or organic baby food.
(((((Vibes for your bun)))))

[jerseygirl]

The infant gas stuff we have here seems pretty odourless but the buns still resist things being syringed.
Have you tried give him meds while his sitting up on a countertop? Somewhere he’s not confident to jump down from.

How does your bun cope with car rides? That’s another thing I have seen sometimes help. I’d forgotten about that!

Edit to add: Great idea to snap those pics (even grab video if you can) because you can show that to the vet if need. Hopefully there won’t be any future episodes.
Good to hear he’s improving. : )

[mrs. coach]

Aw, vibes for Rorschach! Hope he’s back to himself soon.

I was coming here to post a similar thread. Last night Mrs. Coach was pressing her tummy to the floor and refused treats for the first time ever. After some Simethicone & tummy rubs she perked up a bit, and today she’s been eating romaine and some hay, and took her papaya tab happily. She’s still not eating/pooping as much as usual, but seems to be feeling okay, so I’m hoping it was a quick bout of gas (honestly, I’m pretty sure I both heard and smelled her gas after the Simethicone dosage…). I was wondering if anyone had any insight on what could have caused the gas? No diet changes have occurred. She’s shedding, and yesterday I moved her bed (I wanted to replace it because it’s getting a little ratty, but I think she thinks it’s her friend because she grooms it sometimes). I’ve moved it before (to wash it) with no problem, but could the stress of something like that translate into a stomach upset? Buns are so mysterious…

[Usagi1618]

I give my baby Cadbury a tummy massage, but I’m not sure if your bunny will tolerate that. There is a video on how to do that on youtube without havingto turn them over.

[Bam]

Mrs Coach, it could be the shedding. many rabbits are more sensitive when they’re shedding. I think shedding has some sort of impact on their immune-system. Some bunnies will get terribly grumpy when they’re shedding and others, like my Bam, have extra-sensitive tummies during shedding.

[mrs. coach]

Thanks, Bam, I think you’re right.  She’s a little less friendly when she’s in the height of a shed, and I’ve always thought she might be feeling a little off when that’s happening.  She’s totally back to normal now, thankfully.  I hope that Rorscharch is, too!

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