Gas?

[Kuro The Bunny]

I think Kuro is having some gas. I’m worried it’s something bad, but I only just noticed it, so I don’t want to assume the worst yet. I heard his stomach gurgling pretty loud, so I massaged his stomach lightly and it seemed like there was something like a gas bubble. He was fine with me doing this, and he was chattering his teeth. I’m not sure if this teeth chattering was good or bad though. He’s eating hay right now and I only just noticed this happening (it’s almosy midnight). If this continues in the morning, should I get some safe medication for the gas? I’m going to make sure he’s eating and pooping, and look out for anything wrong. I think he may have the gas from just drinking his water too fast. I’m wondering if I should give him some baby gas drops tomorrow, regardless of whether he’s still gassy or not. Is it safe to give if he doesn’t have any gas? This post is probably very all over the place, I apologize. It is almost midnight and I’m worried about Kuro. Right now he’s standing in his litter box eating his hay, which has me less scared.

If he is still gassy in the morning, is there a certain point where I should bring him to the vet? He hasn’t been on any long car rides yet, and I don’t want to stress him out even more by taking him to the vet when nothing is wrong. But, if there is something wrong, I’d like to get there sooner than later. Should I look out for things like him pressing his stomach to the floor? Or should I wait until he isn’t eating or pooping?

Again, I’m very sorry this is so rambley, this is the first time I’ve noticed something like this and it has me pretty worried. I’ll give some updates in the morning. Right now he’s eating his hay, but his stomach is still grumbling and I still felt something when massaging his stomach again. Let’s hope I’m overreacting ? ❤️

[Bam]

Hay-eating is an excellent sign! Maybe he did have gas and you made it go away with the light massage? My bun Bam used to chatter his teeth when I did light belly rubs for gas – at the same time as he seemed to want me to go on with it. I never knew if it meant pain, self-soothing or that he was pleased (he frequently teeth chattered when pet as well), but the massages + gas drops worked many a time during his almost 7 years with me. I used to sit him in my lap with a fleece blanket on him to warm him up slightly with my body heat. Elevating the butt like Mary S Cotter suggests in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnuxGLa2reg worked well for us. If you’re lucky, you could even get to hear your bun fart =)

You can give baby gas drops, 0.5-1 ml, on suspicion of gas according to both Dana Krempels and MediRabbit. Simethicone (the active ingredient in gas drops) is not absorbed into the body, it stays in the GI canal and eventually gets pooped out. They rumbling in his tummy do signify gas.

If he starts pressing his belly even after having had gas drops (you can give 0.5-1 ml every hour for 3 hours, if it hasn’t worked by then it’s unlikely it will, but you can still give 0.5 ml every 2 hours for as long as you see fit), I’d contact a vet. You dont have to wait until he’s not eating and pooping, a significant decline in appetite + things like trying to hide, refusal to move from one spot or pressing the belly warrants a call to the vet. Depending on your description of his condition, they might want to take him in to give him fluids and painkillers and perhaps a motility drug depending on examination findings.

As I said in the beginning of my post, hay eating is a great sign.

You are allowed to ramble when your bun is poorly. It’s perfectly normal and I think all of us here can relate.

[Kuro The Bunny]

Thank you so much!
Kuro is much better now. He doesn’t have any gas and he’s acting perfectly fine. I’m not sure what caused it and why it went away so fast, but I’m really glad it’s nothing serious!

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