Diet reccomendations for Megacolon

[Humphrey]

Hi, so my bun comes home from the vet tomorrow and it is suspected he has Megacolon and I am looking for anyone to help with at home care. My vet is going to show me how to give him fluids at home since he seems to do considerably well with fluid therapy. He is also most likely going to be placed on a new medication to help keep his GI track moving. I need help with his actual diet however. He is so so thin. And when i say thin i mean he weighs less than a pound rn and our main concern is getting him on weight gain. I am so scared about bringing him home and him just losing more weight if thats even possible. So please any reccomendation to safley get him to gain weight while also keeping his GI moving would be greatly apreciated. 

[Bunny House]

I’m glad there is a diagnosis now, than not one. We suspected mine had one after he had a blockage but we will never know. Fiber fiber fiber is key, and you’re probably going to be on cisapride which is amazing! Since the colon is so large it can be hard to fill it and keep it moving so Best is to have fiber, and maybe supplement with critical care too as you know, fiber keeps everything moving down there. I’m not too sure on if veggies are okay but if not, then you’ll need to supplement the vitamins and minerals so he gets a complete diet. A worry would be blockages so a well hydrated bun would be the best too so nothing dried up which it sits down there. You may start seeing way too big of poops that means that stuff is sitting there for too long and since it’s megacolon, too much of an area can add too much fecal to one poop so the meds and fiber should be able to keep the poops to a somewhat normal size.

[tobyluv]

There was a rabbit at the Sanctuary where I volunteer who had megacolon. The vet suggested that he get krill oil every day. I don’t know what quantity he was getting, but I may be able to find out. There are krill oil pills, but they are very hard to slit open and extract the liquid. It’s easier to buy containers of krill oil. There are some made for pets (dogs and cats) in pump containers. The reason the krill oil was prescribed by the vet was that it would lubricate the colon and make it easier for a rabbit to pass the larger, misshapen poops. You could ask your vet if krill oil is something you could try.

[DanaNM]

I’m sorry to hear this, I fostered a bun suspected to have cow pile / megacolon.

It is so challenging as they lose muscle mass due to not absorbing nutrients properly. You might have already come across this, but this page is one of the most thorough that I’ve found:
https://www.vgr1.com/megacolon/

There are quite a few recommendations on that page for diets, but it is very emphasized that each bunny will have different needs, so some trial and error might be necessary. It looks like there is also a facebook group on megacolon that might be helpful!

There is also a long thread from a few years ago with another member’s megacolon bun that you might find useful:
https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/140315/Default.aspx

And another:
https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/107890/Default.aspx

. . . 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.  

[Humphrey]

Thank you guys so much. He is home today and moving around much more and eating. He is currently on critical care food. I will definitly be looking into the krill oil as I have not heard of th at before. I am in contact with a specialist currently and my other vet that he goes to at the moment. I actually am in the process of being added to a fb group for megacolon bunnies along with a rescue who has had much experience with them as well. He hasn’t popped much since being home which isn’t good and they are very dark poops but I just gave him meds and he got his fluids today as well along with having him running around the house freely to try and get everything moving. He is on critical care to freely eat and get the occasional syringe feeding if he isnt getting enough of it. Im in the process of changing his pellets to a new brand called selective. Its supposed to be easier for him to digest and I hope it works. I am curious however on your opinions to whether I should soak or mist his hay with water before giving it to him and seeing if that will help in anyway. Thank you guys also for all the advice. This whole thing is just so much and so trial and error. So I really appreciate all the help

[DanaNM]

Hmm, I wouldn’t soak his hay. I think keeping dry hay and pushing fluids in other ways is the way to go. Also, do be aware that once mixed up, critical care can go bad very quickly, so if he doesn’t eat it all immediately you should remove it.

The concern is that there are mold spores present, and the moisture causes them to kick into gear. They can create a toxic environment very quickly in the nutritious critical care mush.

I also just recalled a sanctuary bun at the rescue in my town that had something similar to megacolon. He didn’t have the charlie markings, so the vet said it couldn’t be, but the symptoms were very similar. He ended up getting young rabbit pellets to try to keep his weight up.

. . . 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.  

[Humphrey]

Thank you so much and his critical care food is only out for about an hour before I clean his bowl out. Rn he is doing awesome. Taking his fluids like a champ and is at 2lbs and 10oz today! Halfway to his goal weight. Still weak in the limbs but getting stronger everyday. He’s getting watercress, wheatgrass and parsley rn for fresh greens and they seem to do him well for his tummy.

[DanaNM]

That’s wonderful, way to go!

. . . 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.  

[Humphrey]

Another quick question for you guys also is his poops are literally all over the place in size. He gets very little ones to a bunch all combine to HUGE ones. Its easy to tel when hes not getting enough hydration by how dry they are but these crazy sizes I’m just worried if I need to be concerned at this time and if not they when should I be? Or is this just something he’s going to have cause of his condition. Thank you guys all for thr the help

[Humphrey]

Another quick question for you guys also is his poops are literally all over the place in size. He gets very little ones to a bunch all combine to HUGE ones. Its easy to tel when hes not getting enough hydration by how dry they are but these crazy sizes I’m just worried if I need to be concerned at this time and if not they when should I be? Or is this just something he’s going to have cause of his condition. Thank you guys all for thr the help

[Humphrey]

Hi guys, I thought I should inform you that bun passed away last night shortly after breaking his back. I suspect he did this when he tried to jump on his perch Abe instead fell backwards. He passed away on our way to the vet

[Bunny House]

I’m so, so sorry. You guys went through so much and it’s heartbreaking he had to go like that. You can post in rainbow bridge if you would like
(((Binky free Humphrey)))

[DanaNM]

Oh no…. I’m so so sorry

Hugs to you….

(((Binky free Humphrey)))

. . . 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.  

[Author]

Messages