Gut Stasis/Rabbit Poop/Feeding Help

[B&A]

Hi, 

  So I’m very worried about my bunnies. My girl Arlo had stasis a few weeks ago and over Christmas my boy Mylo has had the same. He is still recovering. They’re both over two and I’ve had Mylo for over a year and Arlo since she was a baby. They are both free range in my flat, some doors are shut when I’m not here, but they get plenty of exercise and everything is bunny proofed.

  I’m convinced I must be doing something wrong though – they are so very sensitive. After Arlo had her stasis I noticed that she started to seem a bit off after dinner one night and decided that it must be the kale after some research. I took kale out of their diet and only gave them herbs (parsley, mint, basil, thyme, rosemary, dill) as greens and some romaine and red lettuce. Arlo seemed to not have a repeat after this – but my boy Mylo a few weeks later has now been in the vet on boxing day because he has had gut stasis. 

  I have been investigating their poops – and his are obviously small and misshapen right now – as he has just started eating again and the medication is wearing off. Arlo though – I saw hers and they were pointy at one side – which is unusual and when I tried to squish one as directed – it wasn’t ‘friable’ but more just squishy. 

 Can anyone offer any advice on what I’m doing wrong here? 

 I use pure pastures meadow hay in their litter box – that gets changed every other day. They have bowls of ‘Excel Burgess long stem feeding hay’ and ‘Nibble’n Gnaw Hay for Rabbits’ around the flat – though Arlo seems to eat the Burgess one more. They get a bowl of salad and hard food in the morning and evening.  The vet said that maybe they were getting too many greens – even though its just leaves – so maybe  I am feeding them too much? Although at the moment I am using the parsley and mint to encourage Mylo to keep eating. 

The ‘poop guide’ said that her dark squishy poops were from too much protein? I’m not sure what to change to get them sorted?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks

[DanaNM]

Hi there, sorry your buns are poorly.

Can you give the amounts of greens and pellets? And the type of pellets? Too many greens can reduce hay consumption, but you’ll want to slowly reduce to make sure they are eating enough hay to compensate. Too many pellets can definitely cause squishy poops.

This is also sort of counter intuitive, but my buns eat more hay when they are confined to their condo more of the time. I think it has to do with being slightly (only slightly!) bored, and being closer to their box. My buns also eat hay mostly while in their box, so I’m wondering if you should focus on making sure that supply is always fresh (I have a rack over mine, and then I add more to the box). Maybe they are eating less on the days it needs to be changed?

Also, it’s weird that it would be affecting both buns, but has the vet checked their teeth? The back molars can be hard to see, so sometimes an x-ray is needed. Dental issues are a very common cause of GI issues and low hay consumption. It’s possible that the two episodes were unrelated, and due to different causes. If adjusting the diet doesn’t help, I would have the teeth checked next.

. . . 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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