1st real bout of GI stasis

[Dr. Doolittle]

Hi All,

My poor Honey has been in stasis this week. It started Saturday–by mid-day, she was sitting in their condo, hunched and looking at the back wall. Typically when we go into their “area” (tall, dog-size ex pens set up around the condo we made them), Honey and her sister Luna do bunny 500s around our feet. She didn’t even acknowledge us. I tried to hand fed her hay and she turned up her nose. I did get some very wet green leaf into her and we started using gas drops. That evening when it was time for greens, she ate again but later only ate a few pellets when it was time for bed (we give them pellets to lure them into their condo at bedtime then close them in for the night). Luna was crazy and happy for pellets (as usual) but Honey was not. 

Sunday was worse–she wasn’t drinking any water or eating anything we tried to hand feed her, so off we went to the emergency vet. We came home with subq fluids, a pain med, a motility med, and critical care. Fluids and meds are every 8 hours (4 pm, midnight, and 8 am). She is showing some improvement–definitely more fight to her when we try to bunny burrito her (ha!) and I’m finding more fecals (though quite small still). 

This past spring, Luna had a day when she was “off” and not eating, but giving her a bunch of wet greens worked and she was back to herself the next morning. This is our first bout with real stasis and boy oh boy is it stressful! 

I just wanted to share with other bunny folks because no one local to me is into house rabbits and they seem to think my husband and I are crazy for setting our alarm to wake at midnight and care for her. 

Oh–one question, though. Both girls are shedding like crazy and not only does Honey hate to be brushed, the small slicker brush I have doesn’t seem to work well (which means I probably get less fur off her than needed in the limited time she gives me to brush her). I find it almost works best to pluck the loose fur myself, but she hates this, too. Does anyone have a favorite type of brush? Ideally, I want one that works well so I can get some good swipes in when she’s healthy and eating her greens or pellets. (They love their greens and pellets enough to let me do this while they eat. Luna will let me do it almost as much as needed but Honey will actually forsaken her yummies and hop away from me after a 2-3 swipes, so it’s best if each swipe is as effective as possible, LOL.)  I don’t know if this is the cause of her stasis, but I want to make sure it’s not a factor going forward. 

[Tessie]

Awwww, poor Honeybun
Stasis is the worst, and I’ve dealt with it three times in the last 6 months -nightmare!

Glad to hear that Honey is on the mend now, though. Tell your husband you’re not crazy, you’re just an awesome bunmom, haha

I don’t have much of an opinion to offer on the brushes, though.

[jerseygirl]

Glad she’s in recovery. It sure is stressful. Healing {{{vibes}}}.

I like the HairBuster comb I got a few months ago. BinkyBunny store has them if you want to take a look.
Swiping wet hands down them works well too. If you can imagine, that takes if the really loose stuff that their tongue normally would.

If Honey is fussy about being brushed, try groom her up in a high counter top. She should stay put there. A treat after for being so patient lol.
It’s good at least that Luna tolerates it. Keeping her fur down will help Honey too if Honey grooms Luna a lot.

Are they good hay eaters?

[2babybuns]

I am just starting the same thing with our boy. He ate fine this morning and was happy as can be but this later this evening he seemed to be balled up on one of his shelves and didn’t come running into their pen. His sister was perfectly normal. He wouldn’t touch any greens, hay or even an apple slice. I call the ER vet and they suggested trying a bit of pineapple as I reported he has been shedding alot and monitor him closely. He took about a tsp of pineapple hand fed in small bits and ate 4-6 pellets by hand but won’t touch anything else. I’m obviously very very worried since this is the first time either one has not eaten like a pig in the evening. Presently I’m trying to keep him calm and not handle too much for fear of causing more stress. I’d hate to take him to ER overnight unless we have no choice. Our bunny vet opens in the morning. I plan to take him in if no change by then. Does anyone have any other suggestions.

[litheandgraphic]

Glad to hear you’re taking care of her and she seems to be improving. I have not yet had real stasis but Theodore had what was apparently gas last night and my boyfriend and I were extremely concerned and stressed about THAT so I can imagine how worried you must be right now, but it sounds as though you are doing everything right and she is getting better.

As far as the brushes and grooming goes, I also recommend the wet hands technique, but I’ve also found that a soft brush as is commonly marketed for dogs works great to get a lot of the excess fur off. But plucking the loose stuff is always the best way to go, maybe if you can do it in short bursts here and there.

[JackRabbit]

We use the hairbuster combs on our lops while they eat their salads, and use a furminator on Kieko during lap time.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By 2babybuns on 9/18/2014 7:42 PM
I am just starting the same thing with our boy. He ate fine this morning and was happy as can be but this later this evening he seemed to be balled up on one of his shelves and didn’t come running into their pen. His sister was perfectly normal. He wouldn’t touch any greens, hay or even an apple slice. I call the ER vet and they suggested trying a bit of pineapple as I reported he has been shedding alot and monitor him closely. He took about a tsp of pineapple hand fed in small bits and ate 4-6 pellets by hand but won’t touch anything else. I’m obviously very very worried since this is the first time either one has not eaten like a pig in the evening. Presently I’m trying to keep him calm and not handle too much for fear of causing more stress. I’d hate to take him to ER overnight unless we have no choice. Our bunny vet opens in the morning. I plan to take him in if no change by then. Does anyone have any other suggestions.

This shows some ways to help. Gentle massage
http://youtu.be/LbyC6CWbm5M

Hope he comes good soon!

[Author]

Messages