GI Stasis/Critical Care Feeding

[HollandHops]

Hi! My rabbit recently went through a very serious episode of GI stasis that required surgery to remove an obstruction. Since then, she has been home for about a week and is recovering well.

She has been on critical care since she’s been home and has also had some very loose stool (almost diarrhea). I’ve consulted my vet, who is very experienced in the area and specializes specifically in rabbits, who said he is pleased she is passing stool at all.

My question is: how long should I continue critical care? She has regained her desire to eat greens, but I was told not to go heavy on those quite yet. Her favorite food was ALWAYS pellets, but she’s not interested. She loves hay, but I’m stressed about the loose stool.

[Wick & Fable]

I’m sorry about what happened, but it’s great to hear she is recovering well!

It is a great sign that she is passing stool. Yes, the ideal is solid pieces, but passing something means the system is moving (i.e. not in stasis).

I would continue Critical Care until your rabbit shows a willingness to graze on hay as normal. As she eats more hay, her stools should go back to normal. It is the hay that will be her primary weapon against loose stool and help get her stomach feeling back to baseline.

As for pellets, it’s not really needed at the moment because you are feeding the critical care.

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.

[HollandHops]

So if she is beginning to eat her regular diet, besides pellets, and is eating hay… do I begin to stop feeding as much critical care? To see if she will eat without it?

[Wick & Fable]

You can definitely do that. From my personal experience with one rabbit, it’s definitely possible for a healthy rabbit’s appetite to encompass both critical care and a good amount of hay and other things. When one of my rabbits was underweight, I was told to add critical care to his diet, so I gave him as much as he wanted in the morning (one feeding) and at night (one feeding)– he would literally hop away with a giant belly, waving back and forth (he is tiny so it was very noticeable). That being said, he still ate hay throughout the day since I spaced the CC so much.

I would say you can pull back on the CC amount at the beginning of the day and see how she does.

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.

[HollandHops]

This was really helpful. Thank you!!

Do you think the critical care is causing loose stool? In combination with the medication maybe? I’m just not sure.

[Wick & Fable]

From my experience, I would say the medication is causing the loose stool, not the Critical Care. Definitely keep an eye out and contact your vet if the stools do not improve.

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.

[DanaNM]

Agree with Wick, I would continue the CC until her appetite is back to normal, but it’s ok to test the waters a little to see if she’ll eat on her own if she’s hungrier.

Feeding it a bit longer than needed won’t hurt, it has lots of nutritious things in it that can help recovery after serious illness.

Of course double check all this with your vet!

. . . 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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