GI Stasis

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This topic has 12sd replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 6 months ago by LittlePuffyTail.

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- 08/10/2012 at 2:13 PM
  Jenine
  Participant
  16 posts
  My bunny Sophie is a little over a year old and experiencing GI stasis for the first time. As far as we know, she got an eye infection and became so irritated by it that she stopped eating. As soon as I noticed that her apetite wasnt quite the same and her poops had gotten tiny and dry, I took her to a vet.
  
  So yesterday I brought her to the vet, they recommended keeping her there for 3 days so that they could attempt to force feed her and give her some pain meds and antibiotics. Today they called me to tell me that she still had not eaten but was responding well to the meds and relaxing.
  
  I don’t know a lot about the chances of survival of rabbits going to GI stasis also, the 3 day stay is about all I can afford when it comes to vet care as I am a college student with no income at the moment. What can I do to help her after the vet stay if she has not improved? Would I just be prolonging her suffering and should put her down? Or is there a fairly affordable way for me to treat her at home? I have very limited funds and not being able to give her a chance is breaking my heart! Anyone who has treated a bunny at home through this before, your advice and thoughts are very much appreciated!
- 08/10/2012 at 2:33 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  You could ask them to show you how to syringe feed her.
  
  You can also ask them to show you how to do sub-q fluids at home.
  
  Is her eye improving? Hopefully with the eye improving she can feel better and start eating again.
- 08/10/2012 at 2:49 PM
  Jenine
  Participant
  16 posts
  As of this morning they said there was no change in the eye, however they said that could be because treatment had just started. They are supposed to call later with another update. I would be ok with attempting syringe feeding her at home, and will ask them about it. I am praying they can get some food in her while she is there :s
  Thanks!
- 08/10/2012 at 3:36 PM
  TH004
  Participant
  261 posts
  You can definitely treat it at home for cheap. My rabbit gets Stasis multiple times a year due to molting issues. We have gotten good at fighting it ourselves. The rabbit may even do better at home, because it is less stressful– no strange people, barking dogs, etc. Your vet will likely send you home with meds to help too.
  
  This website explains a lot of how you can treat it: http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html
  Make sure to ask the vet how to force feed, give fluids, and give your buns tummy massages.
- 08/10/2012 at 3:40 PM
  TH004
  Participant
  261 posts
  Stasis is definitely something that can be fought and treated successfully. I can’t count how many times we have beat it. My first rabbit passed due to it, but it was because she had an underlying sickness for 6 months that the vet could never figure out. You can’t beat stasis without also beating the cause. It sounds like your vet is on top of the eye issue and it is getting treated. Just listen to your vet, do the home treatments, give your rabbit love, and be patient.
- 08/11/2012 at 4:38 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I agree with the others, some of the treatment you can do at home. I would ask the vet to show you how to force feed and give her meds. I’ve had many episodes of stasis in my 8 years of bunny care and I usually only leave my bun at the vet when they need to get fluids and be on IV. It will be cheaper for you and I find that bunnies in stasis do well with lots of love and reassuring. She will also be more relaxed at home.
  
  They may need to do an Xray if she doesn’t start responding soon. You definitely should not put her down! Stasis is very common in rabbits and healthy rabbits have a high rate of recovery if treated early.
  
  I’ve lost a bunny to stasis (which I blame on the fact that there was no rabbit savy vet on duty at the time) but my 3 current buns have all dealt with several episodes, some to the point we almost lost them. Persistence and tender loving care is key.
  
  ((((Sophie))) Please keep us updated.
- 08/11/2012 at 5:29 AM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  On the financial side: ask to set up a payment plan with your vet so you can pay the bills in regular installments.
  
  There’s also a special credit card you can get. It’s called CareCredit — here’s the link for it : http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/
  
  For our other members, if you don’t have a bunny already being treated, I recommend health insurance (VPI covers rabbits). It costs $12/month for a bunny, and when something unexpected strikes, it is very helpful coverage. Nenexx2, I am pretty sure they won’t let you get it for a bunny that’s already got a condition, but perhaps you could ask them if, once he’s recovered this time, if you can buy it. They may consider this a pre-existing condition, or they might let you get it after he is out of the woods here. Just something to consider.
- 08/11/2012 at 7:50 AM
  kamdynandsunshinesmom
  Participant
  910 posts
  My rabbit just went into that a week ago. My vet gave her subq fluids then put her on reglan 1.3ml 3 times a day till she is 100% better. Then put on Bene Bac once a day. Then I was force feeding her critical care 3 times a day. This happened on a friday started force feeding her on saturday. By saturday she was only eating parsley. By sunday she was eating a little more, Monday she was eating a little more hay. Now a week later eating lots of hay, and veggies. She hasn’t touched her pellets yet. The vet said it will take time. I can say from expereince keep calm. Try giving parsley cilantro and other type of herbs the bunny likes. Stay away from fruits. This was my first dealing with GI Stasis. My rabbits stasis was caused because it was so hot outside and humid she got dehydrated which led to stasis. Every day she is getting a little bit stronger. Hang in there things will get better. Healing vibes and prayers for you and your bunny.
- 08/11/2012 at 9:26 AM
  Jenine
  Participant
  16 posts
  I’d like to thank everyone for your help and concern but unfortunately the eye problem progressed extremely fast. I got a call last night from the vet saying that any med she had given her for it were not helping and I would be shocked to see how much worse it had gotten in just a day. In order to find out exactly what was causing the infection, she would need to be anesthetized and have a sample sent to a lab to find out what the correct treatment for her could be. By the time they could have figured it out, at the rate the eye was worsening she would end up needing it removed and risk the chance of having the infection spread through her body plus would end up being on medication for the rest of the life which would potentially end up making her sicker. On top of being treating for a terrible infection, she would be treated for stasis.
  
  Because of my limited funds, I did not think it was fair to have her anesthetized and prolong her suffering if I would not be able to afford treatment for her anyway. I spent a long time discussing it over with the vet who said in the end her prognosis wasn’t good and she had a poor chance of getting back to a normal life and so I had to make a decision I never wanted to make and decided to have her put down. My heart is broken, I feel guilty but at the same time I feel I’ve done the right thing. I just hate that in the end it came down to money
  
  We will be burying her in our backyard today, it will be the worst of it.
- 08/12/2012 at 10:33 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I’m so very sorry you had to put her down.
  
  (((((((Binky Free Sophie)))))
- 08/13/2012 at 12:39 AM
  Jenna, Chubs & Comet
  Participant
  617 posts
  So sorry I just lost both my babies and I never imagined the heart break that would come with it.
  
  I would highly recommend carecredit if you get another bun (or any pet really). It really helped me in treating my guy when he was sick and took away some of the stress. They let you pay it back over several months at 0% interest a lot of the time. If I get another bunny, I will also be looking into pet insurance.
- 08/13/2012 at 9:13 AM
  Jenine
  Participant
  16 posts
  Thanks everyone.
  Jenna, I had looked into MediCard (suggested by the vet) when Sophie first got sick but when I called them to apply they wouldn’t let me due to the fact that im a college student :s
  I do have another bunny, and once im finished school in September I will definitely be trying again.
- 08/14/2012 at 4:34 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I just noticed you`re in New Brunswick. Awesome! We are few and far around here.
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