Hello everyone!
Just under a month ago I noticed my little Casper acting most strange. On her tummy, up, on her side, pulling herself with her front paws, hiding in the corner, stretched out, up, down, hopping in circles, laying down, stretch out, up, down.. you get the picture. I IMMEDIATELY took her to the vet (her cage is handmade and zip-tied together, I think I had one of those mommy-adrenaline rushes because I ripped it open to get her out from the back). This was my introduction to learning about GI Stasis. The vet looked her over (after finding nothing wrong with her teeth, etc) he suggested doing some at home treatment- prescibing Metoclopramide, Cisapride and Mexoicam. He also gave me some CC if she continued not to eat and also injected her with some fluid. I brought her home and administered the medication. A few times I saw her in her littler box, but there were no droppings to account for. Then, around 10:00PM I saw her in there, in a very…. forcful… ahem.. stance… She hopped out and did a binky and was absolutely and completely normal. In the littler box- a few droppings connected with hair. I assumed this must have been the issue as she, like I said, was completely normal after that. Running, Binkies, etc. The next morning, continued to as as per normal, running jumping, all was normal. I called the vet and they told me to administer again the motility and stimulant meds just in case. I did, and have had no issues since.
Until 2 days ago.
I woke up, Casper was doing her normal thing- excited to see me, wanted to explore downstairs. I opened up her bedroom and lets her go for it. I was downstairs doing my thing and hadn’t seen her for a bit- brought up her breakfast to see her again in that awful squishy up and down pose. I offered her some dandelion greens, she took it but didn’t eat it. I knew right away this was the same situation, however- petting her, she felt grossly thin (hard for me to even find her belly from the side..), her ears were really cold, and throughout the day she was shaking (the same as after she was when I got her spayed). Her breathing at times was also very short, shallow and seemed quite laboured. I had meds leftover from the last time this happened so gave them all to her as directed. I also force fed her some water, and tried with the CC, but she just let it fall out of her mouth.
She went to her litter box a few times with this intense stance but nothing- I did hear a little gas? maybe… ?
No droppings, though. She peed in the corner of her cage- she has not peed outside of her litter box in over 8 months- when we were first training her. She hates to be picked up and she was just sorta limply letting me pull her and lift her. I called the vet and they said the soonest they could see her was the next morning but to continue with the meds as directed.
I left for work- leaving my boyfriend in charge and requested text updates.
He, a few hours later said that she was eating some greens- I asked him to soak them in water to get some fluid into her.
When I came home- perfectly normal bunny and a handful of droppings in her box. Running around, climbing all over me. And her body felt back to normal. I could feels her ribs with very little effort earlier in the day.
Now, over the last couple of days- she seems intersted in greens- again drenching them in water as she doesn’t seem to be into drinking water from her bowl. She is eating hay (She likes to be hand fed hay.. diva..) and I have only offered a few pellets here and there.
From what I have read online about either GI Stasis, it sounds like there may be a noticeable lack of appretited leading up and can take days to recover- She is find by the end of the day, and seems to require the need to defecate (she seems quite strained leading up to actually being able to make contact).
I am just wondering if this all seems pretty typical of GI stasis, how does this vary from bloat?
Any suggestions moving forward? It seems to come up within minutes and is gone by the end of the evening.
I am quite worried about my gal.
A few background things- She is a mini rex, just over a year old, have had her since she was 4 months, she was spayed at 6 months and recovered quickly, indoor rabbit, timothy hay, greens and pellets in her diet (1/4 cup pellets throughout the day, 1-2 cups greens and all the hay she could want.
Thanks in advance,
Lesley