GI stasis – will he pull through?

[RalphieRabbit]

Hi all, 

I just wanted to get a few opinions on whether you think my bunny may pull through his GI stasis…please don’t just say yes because it’s easier to be positive .

Thursday daytime I cleaned out his home, filled his pellet bowl up with his favourites, and popped loads of hay into his tunnel (as usual). I also popped a couple of treats in his bowl, something I haven’t done for a while. He munched everything up, and I put pellets/hay in on Friday again. I then topped up both (minimal pellets, just covered the bottom of his bowl) in the evening as he was going to be fed late on Saturday due to us being called out to dog sit for my boyfriends parents. On Saturday, my boyfriend popped his pellets/hay in after work. Sunday he went home to top up everything, and everything seemed normal.

Monday I went to feed him, but he hadn’t eaten pellets, but seemed to have eaten some hay and had been pooing. Tipped out his pellets and refreshed them in case there was something wrong with them, but again he hadn’t eaten anything on Tuesday.

I called the vets, took him in on Tuesday evening and she said his gut seemed really quiet. She gave him an injection to get his gut going again, I refreshed his pellets and hay and he had eaten most by Wednesday morning. Topped up his bowl, but again Thursday morning he hadn’t eaten hay or pellets. I refreshed both, hoping for the best but after about 4 hours of him not touching them I called the vet and took him back in.

He’s now in over night to monitor him, but I can’t stop fearing the worst…he’s still hopping around like his usual self, but he wouldn’t take any of the fibre paste the vet had given me to help his appetite come back.

I really don’t want to lose my baby  I know he’s in the best place to be looked after right now, but can anyone give me any advice as to whether they think he’ll pull through or not?

[Sr. Melangell]

I’m sorry to hear this, my bunny had GSI just before Christmas, he didn’t like me feeding him the paste and got free and ate his pellets, so he was OK, I would ask the vet if he will pull through, I don’t want to say yes and he doesn’t, I’m not a vet, so call them and ask, I’m always on the phone to the vets if anything happens to my baby, they will understand how worried you are and will let you know what is going on with him,.

[RalphieRabbit]

Thank you for your response! I’ve read lots of success stories that if it’s caught early enough they pull through, so I’m hoping it was caught early and wasn’t underlying for too long. He lost 0.3kg between Tuesday and today, which doesn’t sound a lot but I’m not totally clued up to if that is a lot in bunny terms?

The vet is calling me before 6pm today so I’ll ask then. I hope he’s okay, I hate the thought of him at the vets overnight 

[RenWoXing]

Mordecai had statis two years ago, stayed at the vet overnight and came home the next day. He has been fine ever since. I hope it is the same with your rabbit.

[drwil]

Once he begins to poop again it is a sign he is pulling through.

Ask the vet for extra meds. Next time you put food down and he does not eat give him meds immediately.

Also make sure he does not chew on synthetics. Polyester rugs can be a real problem.

[RalphieRabbit]

Thanks for your replies!
I’ve just had the vet on the phone, he’s chilled out a bit and let them take a look inside his mouth and it looks like he’s had some head trauma that’s caused his teeth to damage, therefore making him not eat.
Now as he’s not eating (though they are syringe feeding him) I’m worried about the anaesthetic he may need to be put under, as I’m aware rabbits don’t handle it too well and even worse when they’re unwell…
But there’s not a lot else we can do at this stage I supposed

I’ll keep you all updated

[Bam]

Thank you for the update!

Anaesthetics used to be very dangerous for rabbits, but nowadays they have anaesthetics and equipment specially for rabbits, so the risk isn’t greater than for any other species, humans included. But it’s very natural to be worried, of course.

Dental issues are a frequent cause of GI stasis. My bunny Yohio is an example of that. Having his teeth burred took care of the problem.

[RalphieRabbit]

Thank you so much for a positive success story!!! You’ve made me feel so much better! Really really appreciate that .
Fingers crossed the only thing I have to worry about is the vet bill

[kirstyol]

My bramble has recurring molar spurs and a few weeks ago stopped eating, for a full day. I didn’t panic too much for the first few hours because he tends to get gassy every so often so not eating for a few hours is reasonably normal for him. When it had been nearly the full day I rushed him to the vet they did all the usual things and we syringe fed him overnight they decided his teeth needed done (he was about two weeks away from his regular check up time) and wanted to do them the next day but I was so worried because he was ill at the time. it needed to be done though to get him eating so we went ahead with it and although it took a few days for him to fully recover he was fine. syringe feeding is the hardest thing sometimes but it needs doing. Bramble has learned how to spit stuff out because it happens to him so often!

Bramble lost 100 grams literally overnight but with syringe feeding and getting his teeth done he was back to his normal self in about three or four days. it was a worrying time though so I totally understand how you are feeling. we have been through the not eating thing before (never had an official diagnosis of stasis, more like gi slow-down apparently) and been through the teeth thing four or five times now but the two together was terrifying.

[Niamian]

Healing (((((vibes))))) for your boy! Keep us updated.

[RalphieRabbit]

Thank you all for your messages they’ve really helped me stay positive throughout this!!

I popped in to the vets this afternoon to give Ralph cuddles and celery (his favourite but he wasn’t interested at all). Left feeling really heavy hearted and worried, but got a call from them a couple of hours ago and we have a break through!! There is poop!! He’s also eaten a little bit which is great news.
I cried for about half an hour after getting off the phone! Hopefully the end is here and we can get our little boy back tomorrow afternoon

[Niamian]

Oh my goodness, so glad to read good news. All the best for you and hope your boy gets to his old self quickly now.

[OliverBun]

Vibes! My Olive has had stasis a handful of times and has had other digestion issues. It’s becoming a regular thing now that he’s older.
I find it really hard to stay positive when I’m so worried about him, but he’s always pulled through just fine and is still going strong at 10.5!

Keep us updated please!

[RalphieRabbit]

Hello everyone!

Ralph is home!!

He came home on Saturday afternoon, but he’s been an absolute pain and won’t accept any oral medication (we’ve tried all the tricks, even the nurses couldn’t do it when we took him back on Monday all worried!).
All seemed to be fine, then the poo’s stopped Monday evening. Still nothing by this morning so I took him to the vets, they decided to keep him in.
5 mins after I had left he’d been pooing none stop!! Picked him up about 5 hours and he’d done about 30!
I think he loves causing me unnecessary stress and vet trips .

He’s back home now, and all seems like he’s back to his usual naughty self

[Bam]

Speedy recovery-vibes for ((((((Ralph)))))

So glad to hear he’s pooping. Good boy!!!

[Sr. Melangell]

Ralph is home, good to know he did some poops! Now be a good boy and do some more black pearls, my bunny had a problem and when it cleared I thought we needed a tractor for the poop.
Well done Ralph.

[LittlePuffyTail]

((((More Recovery Vibes))))))

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