Cause of Stasis

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 8sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by Manda.

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- 04/11/2018 at 6:27 PM
  Manda
  Participant
  176 posts
  Mr Buns had another stasis episode. I had cut him back significantly to 1/2 cup of pellets per day and he seemed to be doing good until yesterday evening. He was fine in The afternoon as I watched him eat on the nanny cam and when I came home 4 hours later he was breathing heavey looking uncomfortable and did not come out for treats when I shook the bag. I immediately got the gas drops and his gut drug and proceeded with tummy rubs. His tummy felt squishy though so I was confused, he also used the litter box shortly after and two regular poos came out. By 1:30 am he was back to normal ate all his veggies begging for treats etc. Should I cut out pellets altogether? I was trying to wean him into a different brand of pellets which are plain with no “yummy stuff” but now I just don’t know what to do. How can I get him to eat more hay? Can you take a bun off pellets entirely after he’s been in love with them so long? I don’t want him starving himself but I also don’t want him to keep having these episodes. Thanks for your suggestions.
- 04/11/2018 at 9:02 PM
  Melissa Rabbit
  Participant
  19 posts
  what kinds of things have you tried to encourage hay eating? you could try mixing in some different types of hay, which might catch his interest. i cut up toilet paper rolls and stuff them full of hay so it’s a little more interesting. id also try to get as fresh of hay as possible cause if he’s picky, he definitely wont want to eat stale hay!
- 04/12/2018 at 6:41 AM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  1/2 cup is a lot of pellets, how much was he eating before? What do you mean by “yummy stuff”? Is he on alfalfa pellets?
  
  I only give my bun 2 TBSP of pellets per day. Some people don’t feed them at all, as they really aren’t all that essential if you feed hay and a variety of veggies for nutrients. I would start by reducing his pellet intake, rather than cutting it altogether.
- 04/12/2018 at 7:14 AM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3312 posts
  How much does Mr. Buns weigh? Pellets should be fed according to a rabbit’s weight and it could be that he is still getting too many pellets. I assume that when you say his pellets contain “yummy stuff” you are referring to seeds and colored bits that are in some pellets. It’s really best if a rabbit eats plain pellets. Try to gradually switch over to plain pellets and gradually reduce the amount of pellets.
- 04/12/2018 at 10:34 AM
  Manda
  Participant
  176 posts
  Mr Buns weighs 8.5 lbs and he is a New Zealand White- so a large bun. He used to be on unlimited because of my elder buns who needed the weight. She is no longer with us so going from a full bowl to 1/4 in the am and 1/4 in the evening is a huge cutback for him. These episodes only started within the last year as I have had him for 2.5 years now so I’m not sure if this is an age thing also playing a factor. I have just switched him over to alfalfa pellets. The Nutra he was on had hay in it which he could expertly nibble around it. IT also has done dehydrated banana and apple bits- too much sugar even if it was teeny bits I guess. I did try different types of hay and the one I have been giving him is the one he enjoys the best but he seems to want to hold out for the pellets. Maybe I should just take him down to 1/4 per day? I’m going to start mixing in a bit of alfalfa dust but again- he is really good at picking out the stuff he wants and I fear he will just want to eat alfalfa instead of the timothy hay. I keep the bag closed as tight as possible but with the unlimited amounts I am giving him he doesn’t seem to be eating enough of it.
- 04/12/2018 at 10:34 AM
  Manda
  Participant
  176 posts
  Mr Buns weighs 8.5 lbs and he is a New Zealand White- so a large bun. He used to be on unlimited because of my elder buns who needed the weight. She is no longer with us so going from a full bowl to 1/4 in the am and 1/4 in the evening is a huge cutback for him. These episodes only started within the last year as I have had him for 2.5 years now so I’m not sure if this is an age thing also playing a factor. I have just switched him over to alfalfa pellets. The Nutra he was on had hay in it which he could expertly nibble around it. IT also has done dehydrated banana and apple bits- too much sugar even if it was teeny bits I guess. I did try different types of hay and the one I have been giving him is the one he enjoys the best but he seems to want to hold out for the pellets. Maybe I should just take him down to 1/4 per day? I’m going to start mixing in a bit of alfalfa dust but again- he is really good at picking out the stuff he wants and I fear he will just want to eat alfalfa instead of the timothy hay. I keep the bag closed as tight as possible but with the unlimited amounts I am giving him he doesn’t seem to be eating enough of it.
- 04/12/2018 at 9:21 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3312 posts
  One of the pellet feeding charts that I know of, that was written by a former vet at the sanctuary where I volunteer, lists 1/2 cup daily for a rabbit that is 8-10 pounds, but that doesn’t mean that every rabbit of that weight should get the full amount daily. Maybe you could slightly cut back, by not filling the 1/4 cup measure to the very brim each time. Rabbits do get needed vitamins and nutrients from pellets, but they don’t have to have a lot of them. Many rabbits will start eating more hay when their pellet ration is cut back a bit.
  
  Is there some reason that Mr. Buns is on alfalfa based pellets instead of timothy based pellets? Almost any rabbit would favor alfalfa pellets over hay. It’s good that you are no longer feeding the pellets with the dehydrated fruit, but plain timothy pellets are the best for an adult rabbit.
  
  Rabbits can get gas from time to time, even if they aren’t getting too many pellets and eat a good amount of hay. He may have had that episode due to the switch in pellets, and maybe the alfalfa pellets are just too rich for him, but it’s not always possible to trace the source of a problem.
- 04/13/2018 at 7:40 PM
  Manda
  Participant
  176 posts
  Thanks Toby, I have switched him over to Timothy pellets now. I’m taking your advice and not filling the cup to the brim and pouring some on his hay so he had to forage for it. He seems to enjoy his hay. His roomy just healed from spay not too long ago so I wonder if that added stress? Guess we will see how he does. Thanks again
- 04/13/2018 at 7:41 PM
  Manda
  Participant
  176 posts
  Thanks Toby, I have switched him over to Timothy pellets now. I’m taking your advice and not filling the cup to the brim and pouring some on his hay so he had to forage for it. He seems to enjoy his hay. His roomy just healed from spay not too long ago so I wonder if that added stress? Guess we will see how he does. Thanks again
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