Bunny has GI Stasis, HELP!!

[Athena's Mommy]

After 3 vet visits and over $300 later, it’s confirmed that my sweet baby, Athena has GI Stasis.

The vet has done x-rays and concluded there is no blockage, so for treatment has given me a pain med and a stimulant injection for her digestive track, we’re on day two of this treatment and her progress is up and down. She hadn’t eaten or pooped in 4 days before we finally got the right treatment. Last night she pooed a tiny bit finally, as well as a tiny bit today! The vet told me to syringe feed her since she wouldn’t eat. Well that was a complete bust…. I had mixed finely crushed, high fiber timothy hay pellets with water since I do not have access to Critical Care (the vet said this was fine.) It was nothing but a struggle and after about 2 ml she got extremely upset and wouldn’t even chew or swallow what I was putting in her mouth. So I decided to stop because I figured I was causing more harm than good with the stress I was causing her, plus she wouldn’t even swallow it. I have absolutely no idea what to do for her appetite she has become completely anorexic. I finally got her to eat a big leaf if romaine lettuce today and then a little bit of  another one later. But she still refuses to eat any hay or pellets, it’s like she’s absolutely repulsed by them. and she’s getting to where she doesn’t want to willingly drink water much, she’ll drink when I put her bottle in her face but that’s about it. She hasn’t gotten dehydrated but I’m afraid of it eventually happening. She’s also been really bad about wanting to eat the carpet the last two days too, I have no clue why. I cannot leave her unattended when she is out of her cage, afraid that it’ll only make her problem worse if she ingests a lot of it. anybody have any suggestions or help? :/ I’m calling my vet again tomorrow to talk to her about Athena’s behavior and progress. A good thing is she is off and on active and hopping around the house, and seems alert. She does however, have her moments where she’s just lays around like she feels awful.

I have worried and cried myself sick over this, I can’t lose my sweet baby. This came by a total surprise, she’s always been very healthy.

[Cochin]

When you feed her romaine leaves, make them drop with water.

Also, she might find whole, slow cooked, unflavored oats taste yummy. Maybe you can get some of them, or / and a different brand of food? She might think a different taste or texture is better. Maybe some alfalfa hay, too? Try to get small bags and such of these, since she won’t need them forever.

Best of luck

[sleepy538]

i just went through this with callie. i force fed the critical care with a syringe. it was a battle 3x/day but we got through. i’d highly suggest you keep trying to get the mashed pellets into her. you can flavor them too to make them more of a treat…canned pumpkin is a good one. if she won’t take it from a syringe leave it in a bowl and see if she licks it. you can also put her water in a bowl as sometimes they drink more from that than a bottle. callie also needed sub-q fluids that i gave at home…not fun, but better than a dehydrated bunny. tummy massages can help too.

there’s a really good link for more info on stasis that i’m sure someone will provide as i’m off to work now! good luck to you and athena!

[Bam]

You’ve already gotten good advice, I just want to say that she’s probably eating carpet because she feels a need for fibre. When my bunny Bam had a bout of suspected stasis/gas, he ate big holes in rag-rugs. That can make the problem worse, so make sure there is no fabric, carpet etc she can eat. I suppose you’re giving her simethicone, it can help lubricate the intestines.

Fresh mint is often appreciated by rabbits and is traditionally used for stomach-problems in humans. You can try other herbs as well if you haven’t already, like cilantro, basil, tarragon.

The pellet-sludge may be accepted more redily from the syringe if you mix it with sth sweet, I’ve used fresh pinapple, crushed into a pulp.

My rabbits are absolutely not happy about being syringe-fed, especially not simethicone, but you just can’t let them decide in cases like this.

Best of luck to you and Athena!

[Athena's Mommy]

Thank you so much for the advice everyone! It’s nice to know there are people out there who care! I may try flavoring her food with the canned pumpkin or something else yummy. She loves basil, but unfortunately the store only had the romaine in stock. I can’t do the syringe feeding since she gets so stressed that she won’t even swallow the food in her mouth and it just comes right back out, I don’t want to choke or aspirate her :/ and I know that stress can cause the stasis or even make it worse. How long did it take your bunnies to get their appetites back and then back to normal?

[Sindri]

When my girl was spayed she started to go into stasis. They told me to give her sweet potato baby food in a syringe. They said a small amount and she was back to her normal self by morning. Maybe you can try that too. I hope you bun gets to feeling better!

[Athena's Mommy]

Also, as for the simethicone I gave that to her Friday and it seemed to help until we could get her proper treatment, but I didn’t want to use it long term and the vet said to hold off on it now since she gave me other medicines.

[Sarita]

Usually hay and pellets are the last thing that rabbits in stasis will eat once they are recovering. I would just continue to allow her to eat whatever veggies she wants at this point until she is fully recovered.

No oats as suggested though as that is a carb and rabbits should not be eating that.

Ask the vet about doing sub-q fluids. I wouldn’t worry to much about the simethicone – it’s inert so you cannot over do it however if she is getting reglan or another gut motility drug it’s really not necessary.

Did the vet check her teeth to see if perhaps she had some dental problems that is resulting in her stasis?

[Athena's Mommy]

Sindriona, I may end up trying that too. I’m just worried cause her stasis has been going on for so long and it’s harder than treating it when you first catch it. :/

[Athena's Mommy]

Posted By Sarita on 01/02/2014 09:14 AM
Usually hay and pellets are the last thing that rabbits in stasis will eat once they are recovering. I would just continue to allow her to eat whatever veggies she wants at this point until she is fully recovered.

No oats as suggested though as that is a carb and rabbits should not be eating that.

Ask the vet about doing sub-q fluids. I wouldn’t worry to much about the simethicone – it’s inert so you cannot over do it however if she is getting reglan or another gut motility drug it’s really not necessary.

Did the vet check her teeth to see if perhaps she had some dental problems that is resulting in her stasis?

Sarita, ok! So she will want to eat them again once she is recovered? And thanks, I’ll stay away from the oats. The vet did check her teeth and said they looked fine (:

[Sarita]

She should eat them once she is recovered. I don’t know why it’s the last thing they usually go to once recovered but it seems to be the case. Encourage the greens though as those are full of fiber too. Have you tried enticing her with kale?

[Elrohwen]

Good luck with her! Going through stasis is definitely not fun. She will eat when she is feeling better, so for now concentrate on getting her enough fluid and nutrition via critical care. I would also ask the vet about sub-Q fluids if it goes on long enough. They can really make a difference.

One of mine goes through periods of not eating for a couple days, and then is fine without any intervention other than critical care. My other had full on stasis this summer and didn’t eat for about 4 days and we did the full course of meds, simethicone, critical care, sub-Q fluids, etc. One day he just felt better and started eating a bit, and by the next day was eating completely on his own. Neither of mine will eat anything when they don’t feel well, so they must be force fed.

You said you haven’t been syringe feeding her? I would definitely keep trying, or take her back to the vet and see if they will do it or can show you how to do it. It’s important that they get fluids and some food in there. I find that you have to stick the syringe back a little further than you would expect, squirt in a little, wait for them to chew, then squirt a little more. It can take a while and some will come out, but plenty will get in. If you go too fast, they seem to hold it in their mouths and spit it back out. It’s stressful for them, but it really helps. One of mine has gotten of a number of minor tummy issues with critical care force feeding alone.

[Athena's Mommy]

Posted By Sarita on 01/02/2014 09:26 AM
She should eat them once she is recovered. I don’t know why it’s the last thing they usually go to once recovered but it seems to be the case. Encourage the greens though as those are full of fiber too. Have you tried enticing her with kale?

Ok, I’ve been encouraging the romaine lettuce, she chowed it down like crazy yesterday but doesn’t seem to want it today :/ idk if she’s full from the whole big leaf and a half she ate yesterday or if she just doesn’t have an appetite today. I haven’t tried the kale yet, I may do that. I talked to the vet this morning and she said to try some canned pumpkin since it’s high in fiber too and she might like it. She said to try and mix her pellets in with it if she likes the pumpkin. I’m definitely going to try some more tummy massaging today.
I don’t have much more money to work with as I’ve already spent over $300 with 3 vet visits trying to get her better and I’m on bed rest (can’t work) due to the fact that I’m expecting with complications.

[Athena's Mommy]

Posted By Elrohwen on 01/02/2014 10:46 AM
Good luck with her! Going through stasis is definitely not fun. She will eat when she is feeling better, so for now concentrate on getting her enough fluid and nutrition via critical care. I would also ask the vet about sub-Q fluids if it goes on long enough. They can really make a difference.

One of mine goes through periods of not eating for a couple days, and then is fine without any intervention other than critical care. My other had full on stasis this summer and didn’t eat for about 4 days and we did the full course of meds, simethicone, critical care, sub-Q fluids, etc. One day he just felt better and started eating a bit, and by the next day was eating completely on his own. Neither of mine will eat anything when they don’t feel well, so they must be force fed.

You said you haven’t been syringe feeding her? I would definitely keep trying, or take her back to the vet and see if they will do it or can show you how to do it. It’s important that they get fluids and some food in there. I find that you have to stick the syringe back a little further than you would expect, squirt in a little, wait for them to chew, then squirt a little more. It can take a while and some will come out, but plenty will get in. If you go too fast, they seem to hold it in their mouths and spit it back out. It’s stressful for them, but it really helps. One of mine has gotten of a number of minor tummy issues with critical care force feeding alone.

Thank you. And I’d do the critical care, but I can’t really afford it right now. Plus no one sells it here and I’d have to order it online and wait for it to come in. She’s on and off, she’ll eat and pass a couple of pellets one day and then the next we’re back to square one with not wanting to eat :/ I feel so hopeless about it sometimes and don’t know what to do, she’s had full on stasis since Friday and we’ve had the proper treatment for 2 days.

I can’t do the syringe feeding, she did well like that the first time but I wouldn’t let me feed her much before she got wayy to upset and I had to stop, I feel it only make her stasis worse to stress her that much, and finely crushed pellets don’t stay mixed too well. By the second go round she just was not having it whatsoever, I did feed her like you’re describing but she just will not take it that way and I feel horrible doing it. I can’t really afford another vet visit and traveling only stresses her out really bad, so I’d like to avoid that as much as possible.

Thank you all so much for the advice and compassion.

[MoveDiagonally]

I have this recipe for “Pellet Mash” that I think JerseyGirl posted a while back.

1. 2-4 tablespoons of ground pellets.
2. Add water or Pedialyte, slowly, until the mixture resembles semi-congealed pudding.
3. Wait 3-5 minutes
4. Repeat step 2.
5. Wait 30 seconds to 1 minute.
6. Add juice, slowly, until mixture has a thick pudding consistency. Should be thin enough to flow well through oral syringe.

NOTE: Add mashed pumpkin or baby food to add pleasing flavor if bunny resists plain pellet mash.

I hope she feels better soon !

[Athena's Mommy]

Well Athena has completely given up and lost her appetite completely, she has not produced any more droppings only mucus. I could not even get her to eat baby banana food or pumpkin and apple food. She won’t syringe feed. She won’t even drink water now. I can tell she’s lost weight and I can feel her ribs, spine, and hips. Her stomach is now really hard. She won’t even act like herself, she constantly wants to eat the carpet, baseboards, and corners of the wall like its the best thing she’s ever tasted. She won’t even come to me and she’s usually glued to me. I have to keep her cooped up in her cage due to the fact that she wants to eat theses things. I don’t know what to do for her anymore other than offer her water and a variety of food in her cage and let her do what she wants. I may end up putting her down so she doesn’t suffer, depending on what the vet says tomorrow.
I’m just completely beside myself on what to do at this point. She’s been this way since last Thursday night and I just feel that this is abnormally long for a bunny to go without eating or pooping.
Thank you all so much for your help and support, I’m going to contact the vet tomorrow and see what we should do from here.

[Rufus]

I’m so so sorry to hear what you’re going through. I hope the vet can come up with something that works.

((((((Vibes for you and Athena))))))

[Athena's Mommy]

Thank you Rufus!

[Roberta]

Vibes to you both… I will be keeping you and Athena in my thoughts.

[Athena's Mommy]

Thank you everyone!! Update on Athena: She’s doing better, she has all of her energy back and is asking for lovin’s again. She is also pooing when she wasn’t at all, it’s still not as much as I’d like her to but it’s improvement! I hear this can take a while to recover from. I’m still having a hard time with her appetite, she still turns her nose up at her pellets and hay, but she will eat lettuce, small pieces of carrots, and small pieces of apple.

Praying and hoping she continues to improve and gets her correct appetite back so she can gain her weight back.

[Bam]

I’m so happy to read this, thanks for the update! Lots and lots of (((((vibes))))) for Athena!

[Athena's Mommy]

Just wanted to let everyone know, Athena made a full recovery and is back to her normal self! (: Thanks so much for all the advice and positiveness! Just gotta get her weight back up and she should be good! (:

[Author]

Messages