GI stasis SOS

[Cheryl]

Gulliver came down with stasis on Friday. He was quiet, not himself, and didn’t eat anything. I got him in that morning and the vet said definitely stasis. He is on Metacam once daily, Reglan twice daily, Simethicone twice daily, and hand feeding 2 to 3 times a day. He had to go in again yesterday for treatment of a mild head tilt due to ear canal inflammation.
My question is this: I know it is unrealistic to think he would be better in 2 days. But he goes through moments of energy (moving from one room to another) followed by hours of not wanting to move and looking like he is giving up. I am doing belly massages and keeping him warm as well as giving him kisses. He had previously been loving the hand feeding and meds and gobbled them from the syringe…today I had to fight him a little. Is this all normal? I am noticing too that when he jumps out of his litterbox, he isn’t able to move well and has gotten caught on the edge twice…i assume this is due to weakness?

[Bam]

It’s good when a rabbit fights a little at medicine/feeding time. It means there’s strength. A sicker bunny just sits there obediently.

Has he gotten antibiotics for his ear infection? Its not rare for an ear infection to require 3 or more weeks treatment with abx.

The other meds are good for stasis and the meloxicam can help with inflammation in the ear too. I think you just have to keep up the treatment. Tummy massages, love and your body warmth will also help him. Does he eat anything at all by himself?

Sometimes head tilt coupled with hind leg weakness are symptoms of e cuniculi rather than an ear infection. Does he seem to have difficulties controlling his hind legs?

[Cheryl]

Thanks for the reply. He is being treated for his ear. We are just getting back from yet another visit as he was not doing great still. Xrays were normal but bloodwork showed anemia and low WBC. He appears to be visually nonresponaive- his pupils respond to light but he does not react to seeing movement etc. This vet does think he has EC. He gave a dose of Carafate and prescribed Panacur, saying the prognosis is 50/50 due to neurological involvement.

[Bam]

I’m very sorry to hear it. Panacur is the appropriate treatment for EC. It’s very slow-acting though, so you should give it for 28 days or longer, some here have treated their buns with Panacur for 6 weeks.

Baytril can have som additional effect against the parasite, and Metacam can be beneficial too because it has antiinflammatory properties. If the bunny has poor balance and poor appetite, you can give an antihistamine to reduce nausea. Because a bunny can’t vomit, nausea in a bunny manifests as lack of appetite and general discomfort. It’s very important that he gets food in him, and sometimes if a bun is weak, 4-5 separate smaller feedings per 24 hours are better than 2-3.

[Cheryl]

I’m so so so heartbroken to say that Gulliver passed away at 430. He was lethargic, then had a sudden burst of energy (the vet said this was part of the seizure), ran into his room and crashed into things then collapsed. After 5 minutes of me holding him, he had a full seizure, went agonal, and passed away. They are doing a necropsy at my request. I’m devastated.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I am so very very sorry for your loss. You obviously loved him very much. I know how hard it is to say goodbye. (((Hugs))))

When you are ready, feel free to make a post in the Rainbow Bridge Forum. I’ve locked your other thread about head tilt so you won’t get any responses to upset you. If you make an RB post, I can lock this one as well. 

((((((Binky Free Gulliver)))))

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