I hate you stasis, I hate you

[KytKattin]

First, I just have to say that normally I don’t “hate” things, but if anything deserves my hate, it would have to be stasis. Last night I noticed that Eclipse didn’t eat her pellets, though that is not terrible abnomal as she holds out for greens, and then eats her pellets afterwards. So around 8, after I throw some greens in and she doesn’t go at them like a starving lion (per her nomal actions) I give her some gas drops(simethicone), gave her a little massage (the boyfriend got a handheld back massager for her) and hoped for the best. I ended up giving her a dose of gas drops every hour until 1 in the morning, when I absolutely had to get to bed (school today). She pooped twice, but nothing more. I also gave her a little bit of Metacam to prevent/relieve any pain. I woke up at 3, no change. She didn’t seems as uncomfortable (she was stretched out), but she hadn’t pooped or eaten anything. At around 6 I heard her drinking, but there was still no poop. That’s the time my boyfriend had to get up anyways, so I did an enima and we started getting small poops. I massaged her for about 20 minutes after that. She seemed to be much happier, running around, exploring, basically normal except for the small poops and a REALLY lound stomach. She is finally eating now, and we are getting more normal poops. I have her locked in her cage right now so she will eat(and she is), though I will let her out before much longer. Before my boyfriend went to school he had to pet her one last time for good luck, and even refered to her as his rabbit.   I won’t say we are completely out of the woods yet, but we are certainly getting there, and I am posting this more as documentation than for questions. (though healing vibes are nice )

 

As far as why she might have gone into stasis, I don’t really have any sort of ideas. I have been rediculously consistant as with school taking up most of my time, I did not want this to happen!!! She has had constant hay, pellets and greens are given religiously at the same times every day, and her waterbottle is cleaned, filled, and checked daily.

On a side note, we both seem to end up with gas at the same time. I am not sure if it is my nerves or what, but both our stomachs end up gurgly.

[kralspace]

Oh, what a long night for you, (((((healing vibes and nose rubs for your both))))))

[Sarita]

According to my vet, gas is a secondary thing not a primary thing as far as stasis.

Have you had her teeth checked?

Did you check that video out from San Diego HRS – it’s pinned at the top – might take a look at it to see if you can get some ideas – it’s by a vet on gastro stuff.

[Sarita]

It’s actually under the diet and care section pinned at the top.

[jerseygirl]

That’s worrisome, it happening again so soon. (((Eclipse))) Maybe a diet overhaul? Some rabbits are triggered by the slightest things. Like veggies means instant poopy butt or pellets leading to some issue. What kind of hay is she on? Although her diet sounds fab for most rabbits, it may not be quite right for her…

[MimzMum]

This is exactly what happened to Mimzy this last week. Just not eating or drinking right for twelve hours and suddenly poos that looked like the heads of pins. Scared me to death. But after much hay, simethicone, tummy rubs, some extra exercise time and constant hand feeding for two days straight, we seem to be back on track.
What do you wash your water bottles out with? I’m wondering if, since Mimzy didn’t touch his for a whole day which is uncharacteristic, that I may not have rinsed the bottle properly and something left over caused the stasis.

[KytKattin]

I actually have been wondering if it was the hay I had her on. She is normally on orchard hay, but what I grabbed from the box was mostly something else, probably teff. Even though it was mixed in, my guess is that she ate the orchard and then wasn’t taking to the teff (which is Nova’s favorite) and I just thought that the teff was going down with the orchard as I did see her eating hay. I also am going to look into setting up a giant hay box outside of her cage, in her favorite spot that she spends most of her time in. Another possibility would be that collards make her gassy. What about kale? She seemed to be okay when I was feeding her only romaine and mustard greens. Maybe I should go back to only those.
I will have her teeth checked, but to be honest I really doubt that is what is causing this. She normally eats anything I throw at her, as well as chewing furniture if I leave it uncovered (which I try not to). She doesn’t eat less the night before, she just doesn’t eat that night. Maybe pellets might need to be cut out too, though in that case I need to put more greens into the diet. Obviously something is not right for her. If I have to cut her back to only having romaine I will do it, but I would really rather not. Hubble does fine (for Hubble) on a pellet/hay diet, and I have talked with multiple vets on the subject and they say that he is lucky to be doing as well as he is, I would rather not go this route for Eclipse.

For now, I will split her greens between morning and night, as well as giving her fresh hay morning and night instead of just in the morning.

[KytKattin]

Oh, and MimzMum, we get some sort of ‘natural’ dish soap from Costco, though I have not scrubbed the bottles with it for a while, I only super clean them every couple of weeks.

[Sarita]

You may want to discuss these bouts of stasis with your vet and get your vet’s advice.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oh sorry Yes I agree-talk to the vet-she may have some imbalance causing it frequently or perhaps a partial obstruction or…

I have to ask-what and how?

so I did an enima and we started getting small poops.

[jerseygirl]

On enemas; this was mentioned somewhat in this previous thread. https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/a…fault.aspx

It is not advised to give enemas unless shown by your vet as Kytkattin has.

Kyt, have you tried Eclipse on oat hay?  Some have had good results with this in keeping things regular.

[KatnipCrzy]

Some enema’s that are sold for humans are not good for pets and do more harm than good.  I would not recommend giving an enema unless you vet specifically tells you too and which enema to give.  Some enemas are toxic to cats- so that could be an issue with rabbits too.  Did you call your vet?

[KytKattin]

Sorry, I have been super busy with school. I am slowly sinking under all the work I have. I will try to answer everything though, and I have a new topic I will be posting, and I think that I understand more of what is causing this.

First, I think it is the type of veggies I have been giving her. Too much of the calcium heavy stuff too often. I know that it mostly turns up as bladder sludge, but I think it is giving her gas for now. I need to cut back on them anyways! They are not the right veggies!

Second, I only give a warm water enema. All I use it for is to stimulate the bowels. To relieve gas I mostly use massage and simethicone (not going to check the spelling on that right now). I only do this because I know that it is is only gas. If I thought there was actually a blockage I would have her in to the vet faster than you can say ‘superman’ to get a proper enema with things that might break up the block. The only reason I think she doesn’t get partial blocks is because I examine and break apart every poop for the next 24 hours, and all they get is bigger, not change in shape/texture/ect. Once again, do not give an enema unless you have been instructed on how to do so with a rabbit savvy vet. If your rabbit is undergoing stasis, contact your vet immediately! Do not wait until your rabbit has stasis to find a rabbit savvy vet! Don’t risk your rabbit’s life!

Oat hay is a good idea. I will buy some irregardless, as I think my rabbits need more variety anyways. Is a variety good for horses too? Since my mom has a mini… anyways, getting off track.

Third, the vet couldn’t find anything wrong with her at the time I took her in (obviously she was better), and she seemed more interested in Eclipse’s exercise and free time than her diet (Eclipse might be a touch overweight… *cough* so that might be part of her stasis problem, though the vet wasn’t entirely clear on how much that might effect her). It was not my normal vet though, but she was the only one available at the time I was able to take her in. Unless one of my classes get canceled, I will be stuck with only having that time available for the next 14 weeks (except spring break). Maybe I can work in a conference call with my normal vet, though normally it is tough to get through their staff.

I have stuff I can work with for now. I have quite a few things I can try, and she has been her normal, feisty, vegetable attacking self. I have found that a happy, healthy rabbit is a rabbit that is always chewing on something.

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