Beginning of GI Stasis

[DorothyTheMiniSatinBun]

I was also told that the beginning of GI stasis looks like this: lack of appetite, less droppings, small droppings. 

Last night, Dorothy had all three of these symptoms and she is very food motivated, so to see her turn down a salad was scary. At first I thought it was a tooth issue because she just dropped the treat and the salad after a few bites. But after I saw some of her very small droppings after she ate some hay (as well as some droppings strung together by fur), I realized she was having digestive issues. I gave her a very small amount of simethicone and rubbed her belly. I also gave her fresh hay and more water and encouraged more play time/running around to get her gut moving. It worked, her droppings looked much better later that night.

What I was wondering is if it is normal for this to happen every couple of months? Dorothy is prone to having smaller droppings because of her tendency to be picky about her hay, and she doesn’t drink a lot of water compared to the other bunnies I have taken care of. So I know she is at risk for stasis. Does GI stasis progress quickly? Or do you have about 24 hours or so to try to treat at home? 

[AshlynnMarie]

Hi, I recently lost a rabbit from GI Stasis. I don’t think this is normal to happen every couple of months. GI Stasis does indeed progress quickly. If I were you, take her to the vets asap. If they don’t eat and their system stops, thats bad and it can lead to death. Please take your bun to the vets as soon as you can. Try to stay by her side and comfort her. My bun died in my lap. It was a lot to take in. But you should be syringe feeding her Critical Care from Oxbow. Hope this helps a little bit. Good luck and I hope she gets better!

[sarahthegemini]

It sounds like she had gas – gas and gi stasis are not the same. Stasis is when the gut stops moving (no input or output) Gas can lead to stasis though.

[DorothyTheMiniSatinBun]

I’m so sorry about your rabbit..

I am taking your advice and taking her to her vet, she is due for her well bunny visit anyway. She is back to her normal, high energy self. She has her appetite and her poops look good, but better safe than sorry.

[DorothyTheMiniSatinBun]

Could gas cause the smaller poops though? 

[Luna]

Glad to hear she is back to her normal self . Luna has had really small poops on two occasions: one resulted in stasis, the other did not. I think eating/drinking less than usual causes the smaller poops. Gas can result in small poops though because buns with gas don’t want to eat/drink as much as usual.

[DanaNM]

Glad to hear she perked back up. It is important to figure out the cause of her periodic issues. 

I agree it sounds like it could have been gas, but the pain from gas can lead to stasis (and stasis can cause gas!). 

Stasis can progress very rapidly. I would say if things don’t improve within an hour… or even 20 minutes…. to get her to the vet. A rabbit that hasn’t eaten or pooped in 6-12 hours is considered to be in a state of emergency. 

It’s good you have simithicone on hand, you should also have critical care in case she won’t eat and you can’t get her seen immediately. Some don’t recommend force feeding until seen by a vet, in case there is a blockage, so you should discuss this with your vet. 

Concerning water: do you provide a bowl and a bottle? Do you also serve veggies dripping wet? does your tap water taste good? 

What type of hay do you feed? Sometimes offering a variety can boost hay consumption. You might try oat hay, or just a different supplier. Also stuff hay in toys to make it more interesting. 

Also, dental issues can lead to stasis and gas! And not eating enough hay can contribute. So, when you take her in, you should request a deep oral exam to look for possible culprits. 

More frequent grooming should help with the fur issues. 

Sorry this is kind of stream of consciousness! 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m glad she is feeling better now.

You’ve gotten some great advice. Both gas and stasis are very scary. Gas is very painful and can cause a bunny to stop eating (or at least reduce his appetite) which will cause smaller poops. And as mentioned, gas can turn into stasis. True GI Stasis is when the movement has completely stopped along the intestines. Once this happens, it can be hard to reverse. One of the reasons it is so dangerous. And yes, it can come on very quickly. Knowing your bunny is the best bet to keep her healthy. Knowing what is normal for her appetite and poop production.

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