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FORUM DIET & CARE How to treat (what I think is..) slowing of the GI tract/PREVENT GI STASIS

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    • Annabelle's mommy
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      35 posts Send Private Message

        Hi every bunny!
        New bun mom here with a question. *A similar question may have already been posted in the forums however I am at work and do not have time to sift through and find one which is similar in situation****

        Annabelle, my holland lop, was on an all hay/greens diet in June and the beginning of July, as I was worried she was putting on excess weight from the pellets.  Her poops became much larger and healthier looking (not black, crumbled when stepped on).

        A few weeks ago I started her on pellets again as a treat.  Half a cup a day, which dwindled down to a few tablespoons, as I noticed her poops becoming smaller and darker.  However two days ago, I noticed VERY SMALL poops.  There were still some regular size ones, however they too were black. As off last night she was getting only a tablespoon of pellets once a day, and she was in a great mood, eating, and drinking normally.
        I am at work now and haven’t had time to see her since early morning, however she seemed fine, and looks to have pooped.  I also saw her drinking water, and her dewlap was wet from getting in the bowl, hehe

        Firstly, how serious is this current condition? and second, how do I treat it to prevent progression to GI stasis?
        when I am home I will be giving her kale, an apple, and ensure water/hay are being consumed.
        IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE/TIPS/TRICKS THAT WORK FOR YOUR BUN?

        I also have some senokot pills and was considering giving her a little, mushed into some pellets.

        While i’m on the topic, what would be a good emergency bun box?
        -what over the counter drugs could be used by a bun
        (ovol, tums, pepto bismal ?), and any pain meds?

        and second, other than diet, is there anything I can use to maintain a healthy GI tract?Something I could give her once and a while as a precautionary measure.
        for example I take probiotics.Can bunnies?

        Ive heard of critical care, and benebac, however before I buy those, and for tonight when I see her, what else can I give that is human/over the counter/easy to get!

        thanks from me and anna


      • Sirius&Luna
        Participant
        2320 posts Send Private Message

          On my phone so not typing a long answer now, but the best over the counter human medicine is simethicone baby gas drops. You can give 1ml of the normal dosage and it doesn’t react with other medicines. It breaks up gas bubbles and if a bunny is suffering from gas it often perks them up pretty quickly.


        • Bam
          Moderator
          17029 posts Send Private Message

            Simethicone baby gas drops is the first thing I do if I notice tummy trouble. Small poop isn’t really tummy trouble though, it’s an observandum. You can still give baby gas drops though, as S&L says, they are not absorbed by the body, they only act locally in the intestine to break up gas bubbles and possibly act as a lubricant. You give 0.5-1 ml.

            The important thing is to make sure she eats hay, drinks water and eats vegs. You can cut out all pellets if that makes her eat more hay. The greens can be served freshly rinsed and dripping wet to up the water intake. Some buns are sensitive to kale, but sow buns get it every day without a problem.

            Good OTC meds for the medicine cabinet is simethicone baby gas drops and ranitidine (Zantac). Ranitidine is reduces amount of stomach acid in humans, but it also acts as a gut motility drug. The dosage must be re-calculated for rabbits.

            All painkillers that are bunny safe are prescription only. Metacam (meloxicam) is the most used one.

            As probiotics go, Benebac is a popular brand that many of our members use. You can give a maintenance dose every day if you like to, it won’t harm. There’s little hard evidence that it actually helps though.

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        FORUM DIET & CARE How to treat (what I think is..) slowing of the GI tract/PREVENT GI STASIS