GI stasis

[Vicky]

Hi, is it possible that the rabbit would have a blockage if passing poops? Or I can be sure it’s the gas or GI stasis?

[DanaNM]

Hi he is pooping is is very unlikely to be stasis or a blockage. In some cases a blockage could be high enough that poops still could be coming through, but rabbit digestions functions more or less like a conveyor belt. Food has to be moving through to push out the poops.

What symptoms are you seeing? There are other causes of pain beyond stasis and gas.

. . . 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.  

[Vicky]

Well yesterday we were at the vet and she told me it is stasis that she doesn’t hear any gurgling or movement in the stomach.

She gave her fluids, and some medication to give at home. She started eating hay and drinking water by herself and she had normal poop except today she left one pile of moist dark droppings still full of hay just wet.

She is eating hay today all day little by little.

If it would be blockage wouldn’t she not eat nor going to toilet or so?

[Susanne]

Yeah, one of the reasons my vet didn’t think Elmer had a blockage when he did, was he was still passing some poops. I guess they were past the blockage but she didn’t realize it was possible… so I wouldn’t rule it out depending on other symptoms.

[Vicky]

What if she started eating hay and drinking water by herself? She even went to the toilet like four times today. I offered her one pellet and she ate it too.

[Wick & Fable]

Please see here for a video that can help distinguish between stasis and bloat, though proper veterinary assessment will be most conclusive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVW6Rw5rZzo

The important reason for distinction is bloat (typically caused by a blockage) is much more serious, requires immediate veterinary attention, and one should not force-feed when a rabbit is bloated, as that adds to the problem.

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.

[Vicky]

I was at the vet yesterday, she said she doesn’t hear any movement in her stomach. She gave her fluids and medication to give at home. When we came home after like two hours she started eating hay on her own. And it was a lot i was surprised, she even drank water by herself.

I have not given her anything else to eat tho as I’m scared. She is not as active as usual but she is eating drinking and was on the toilet four times today.

[DanaNM]

Did your vet instruct you to syringe feed? If she is eating, drinking, and pooping, I think a blockage is really unlikely (plus you already visited the vet). You should offer her anything she would like to eat (hay and veggies) on her own (not sure if you are worried more about syringe feeding or offering her food in general). If she’s eating a good amount then I don’t think you need to syringe feed, but keeping food going into her is crucial for stasis treatment.

I think since you already went to the vet, your vet probably already assessed for a blockage. I’ve also asked my vet about this, and he said that in many cases where a partial blockage is suspected, the treatment is the same as he used hydration and food to try to move the mass through. (Different than a case of bloat though).

 

. . . 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.  

[Vicky]

Yes she said to syringe feed until she is not eating on her own. Which was only one day and she is eating hay now.

So I can give her greens too? Wont it be bad for her?

[Vicky]

Hi, these are the poop from today. Most of them totally normal just smaller than usual and other are small and some dark/moist.

I found some in other litter box from the night which are gewy like a cecotrope but not a cecotrope. They were attached to the normal ones. I hope you know what I mean.

The bunny is hopping and running around again after being in pain since Monday. Could it be just because she is recovering? Are the poops smaller because she just doesn’t get pellets and greens now only hay? I am just so frustrated from all this already 🙁 thank you

 

[DanaNM]

Stasis recovery can be slow and it’s normal for there to be some mixed sizes of poops as the intestines come back “online”. The important thing is that she’s eating and pooping.

Unless she’s sensitive to greens, usually it’s good to offer stasis bunnies whatever they feel like eating (except treats and fruits). The greens add water which also helps, as dehydration usually goes along with stasis.

If she’s eating but not quite the normal amount, its OK to syringe feed as well.

. . . 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.  

[Vicky]

Yes she is munching on hay. But I gave her CC in the afternoon as she tends to sleep this time so i wanted to give it to her.
<p style=”padding-left: 40px;”>She always come looking to me for a pellet but I don’t want to give her.</p>
I just thought I should wait with the greens, until the poops are normal but I think I will try to give her one leaf of romaine to try.

[DanaNM]

it’s really great she’s eating hay, that’s the most important thing 🙂

. . . 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.  

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