GI stasis

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Hi I’ve never experienced gi statis before and so I’m new to the treatment I must give to ginger. The vet has given ginger pain killers and another shot along with some medicine to keep his gut moving, but I’m just wondering what worse along with this I can do at home to help him. I’ve read that leafy greens are good and he’s not drinking much so I guess this will help with his water intake. Which leafy greens are best for this? What else can I do to encourage him to drink more? I’d there anything else I can do to make him feel better? He’s started eating more hay so it seems he’s appetite is increasing. I think he’s still in discomfort though as he won’t stop stretching and arching his back so is there anything I can do to ease the discomfort too? Thankyou for any help in advance

[Bam]

I’m sorry your bun is going through this.

It’s a great sign that he’s eating more hay!

If you have Critical Care you can give him that, it’s a good way to get extra water in a bun. If you don’t have Critical Care, you can soak pellets in water and feed the mush in a syringe.

To encourage him to drink more, you can make hay tea. You pour hot water on hay and let it steep for 15 minutes or so, sieve off the hay and serve the “tea” cooled to your bun. If you have chamomille tea or mint tea (herbal), that can also work.

Keep him warm – rabbits can get cold when they’re poorly and go into (medical) shock. This is really dangerous, You can keep him warm with handwarmers, a warm water bottle or, as Dana NM suggested just the other day, a microwaved sock filled with rice, (If you microwave a sock with rice, put a glass of water in the microwave to protect the elements).

This is a really great article that I have found very useful when my buns have had tummy trouble:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

Please keep us posted. We know how scary these things are!

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Hi Thankyou I’ll definitely give it a read. He’s started drinking more water in the last hour so that’s a good sign. I’ll definitely be sure to keep him warm and I’ll keep you updated for sure

[Bam]

How is he doing now?

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Posted By bam on 3/25/2019 2:20 AM
How is he doing now?

He’s still doing ok. He’s eating more hay and drinking. Still keeping an eye on his poo though as there isn’t as much as expected. Going to watch him and if he doesn’t get any better I’m going to take him back to the vets again

[Bam]

Good! Hay is the best thing for a bunny tummy! There will be a little less poop than normal, from when he ate too little, plus the poop can look weird (misshapen or “doubles”, darker, more moist etc) for a while after a stasis episode. As long as there is poop, funny shape and colour etc is to be considered normal.

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Thankyou he’s still a bit uncomfortable in terms of his tummy pain but he’s eating more than he was and he’s had a lettuce leaf. I’m still going to keep an eye on them just because one minute he’s pooing a lot and the next there’s hardly any. Is this a normal thing too?

[Bam]

It is normal under these circumstances, but obviously he needs to be monitored. Is he off all meds?

It’s great that hes eating more and has eaten a lettuce leaf.

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Yes I was not sent home from the vets with any meds only what he was given there. He’s eating away at his hay and veg so that’s a good sign it’s only the poo that I am concerned about now

[Bam]

Ok! Eating and drinking will result in poop unless there is a blockage. It doesn’t sound like there is a blockage, but because he’s still arching his back, there is probably gas. dana Krempels says recovery from GI stasis can be maddeningly slow, but that patience is key. He has his appetite back, which is the best sign possible.

Try to make him move around a little if he’s willing to, it helps the intestines move so their contents get propagated towards the end station, so to speak.

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Posted By bam on 3/25/2019 11:06 AM
Ok! Eating and drinking will result in poop unless there is a blockage. It doesn’t sound like there is a blockage, but because he’s still arching his back, there is probably gas. dana Krempels says recovery from GI stasis can be maddeningly slow, but that patience is key. He has his appetite back, which is the best sign possible.

Try to make him move around a little if he’s willing to, it helps the intestines move so their contents get propagated towards the end station, so to speak.

Thankyou and I’m so sorry to keep bombarding you with questions. I’m pretty sure I just caught him eat a poo and I don’t mean cecotrope I mean a round solid one. Is this unusual? To me that doesn’t seem right or normal??

[Kiki]

It’s normal ish for buns. Indie does it once in awhile too

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Posted By Kiki on 3/25/2019 2:35 PM
It’s normal ish for buns. Indie does it once in awhile too

Ok Thankyou I’ll just keep an eye and make sure he doesn’t keep doing it

[Bam]

Eating the round poop is not uncommon after a bout of tummy trouble. It’s rather a good sign, it means she understands (instiinctively) that her body needs more fiber, and the round poop are mostly fiber.

It’s not abnormal and not worrisome at all.

You are very welcome to ask as many questions as you feel you need to. That’s what these forums are for ?

[Karrakov]

My bun is very familiar with stasis and I’ve gotten pretty good at treating him. I recommend tummy massages and lots of fluid. My vet showed me how to give IV fluids at home so I always have that on hand and once he gets a couple doses he tends to bounce right back. Critical care is also huge, it gets fluid in and makes things move around. Exercise is important too, I can usually get my bunny to play with me after a few days of treatment and he’ll follow me around the room at a jog which is super helpful for stasis. I’ve found that fluids and metacam are the best tools for stasis, but it can take a while so just be sure to keep at it and watch him close! Good luck!

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