Moodiness vs. Stasis

[Love4Bunny]

I’m trying to figure out if Thor’s refusal of food means moodiness or stasis. Normally I can tell if he has gut problems because he will:

A) Let me give him a stomach massage (he doesn’t like his belly being touched)
B) Have telltale small poop, and
C) Is properly hunched in a corner

However, Thor wasnt like that this morning so I am confused. He just hid away under his cottontail cottage, and didn’t run out like he usually does when he hears food. Thor refused his first meal today, and Crysta ate half and the rest is on the floor. I should add that we are probably toward the end of a shed/moult, so that could be a factor, but the kiddo’s were actually really well behaved during the actual shed (no crankiness).

Thor is 2 years old, neutered, like clockwork with habits, movement, food, and affection. To find him in a mood is rare. He did hop into his litterbox to do 3 normal poops, and is moving around the enclosure (to avoid my attempts at stomach massaging!) but he is also sitting in the corner in a semi-upright/hunched position, and will do one purr per bunny stroke (it seems he’s doing it for my benefit, which is so weird). He did, however, take one of the papaya treat’s, but refused the second treat, pellets, and his fave dried flower treat.

That’s why I’m asking for help. At this point, I don’t know if I should just chalk it up to moodiness, or be extra vigilant.

[Bam]

With a bunny, extra vigilance is recommended. He could have gas. Gas is painful for them. Do you have baby gas drops (simethicone)? You can give that on suspicion of gas, 1 ml every hour for 3 hours, then 0,5 ml every 2-3 hours. It’s good that he’s moving around, exercise helps the tummy.
If he keeps this refusal to eat up for +8 hours, I think it’s time to call the vet. A healthy bunny shouldn’t go without eating for more than 6 hours.
The shed can absolutely be a factor, many buns get tummy trouble with or without moodiness when they shed. It’s still sth that might require intervention, like sub q fluids, and a motility drug,

[Love4Bunny]

Is simethicone an over the counter product? And I assume I syringe feed him?

He slowly ate the small remainder of pellets (he never eats slowly) and is now munching on the fresh hay I refilled at breakfast time. I definitely think something is up, because his food is his world, this is uncharacteristic.

What are sub q fluids? What are motility drugs? I assume they get things moving, and I’ve heard of them, but do they have names, etc??

[Love4Bunny]

Oh… I remember I gave him basil yesterday, and mint the day before. Hmmm… I wonder.

[tobyluv]

Simethicone is an over the counter product. The brand that I got was (Infant’s) Mylicon. It was on the baby food/supply aisle in the grocery store, and it would be available in drug stores and other stores. It is a liquid that comes with a syringe.

Sub q fluids are sub cutaneous fluids that you would get from a vet. They are in a plastic bag, like an IV bag, and have a needle attached that you insert under the skin to give fluids to animals that might be dehydrated or to help with GI stasis.

The main motility drugs are Reglan and Cisapride (Propulsid).

Here is one article about GI stasis that mentions all of these treatments and more: http://rabbit.org/gastrointestinal-stasis-the-silent-killer-2/

[Love4Bunny]

Thanks Tobyluv and Bam. I appreciate the quick feedback. Finished work and called hubby, who said that Thor was moving around, all eager for his food (we shake the container to make sure he’s alive and well). I picked up the Topcare brand with 20mg simethicone.

[Bam]

Great news 

It’s always good to have simethicone on hand, because you can give it on suspicion. It’s not absorbed by the body, it just acts locally in the intestine to break up big gas bubbles and possibly to lubricate. I give it with a syringe. There are many brands, all are for babies and considered safe. 

Sub Q fluids and motility drugs are stuff a vet will give if a bunny persistently won’t eat, but they often do an X-ray before any motility drugs to make sure there’s no blockage (motility drugs can make things worse if there’s a blockage.)

Since you are two humans in your household a rectal thermometer could be of use for diagnosing your bun, a bunny with a GI problem that requires a vet visit often gets a lowered body temp, below 100,5 F. It’s not very difficult to take the bunny’s temp if you are 2 people, here’s a very good instructive video: 

take a rabbit’s temp

[Love4Bunny]

Yes, I am very relieved! My heart always drops to the floor when Thor and Crysta are on stasis watch. After I posted this morning, I walked inside the room to find Thor frozen in a “cecotrope-eating position”, only he wasn’t eating cecotropes, and he was just hunched there, his stomach concaved, and I almost lost my mind in a tiny moment of panic, assuming the worst. But he was just trying to psych Mummy out, that’s all! Thor eagerly ate dinner and a big bowl of greens today, so I am so happy about that.

Oh wow, I didn’t know that about the thermometer. Thank you for the link, Bam, I will check that out. My husband is a little reluctant to give his time because bunnies aren’t his thing (Boo!!), but I’m sure I could get him to help if I bothered him enough (it’s a miracle we even have 4 animals because he didn’t grow up in an animal-friendly household, like I did). It’s good to know that “on suspicion” is a legitimate thing one can preventatively treat for.

[Bam]

Good Thor!!!

As for taking temp on a bun, I never did it until last week. I watched the Mary E Cotter video first and it was way easier than I’d ever imagined. Bf held him, I inserted the thermometer, 15 sec later beep! and it was done. He had a low temp (98), so I decided to take him in.

My bf really loves the bunnies now, but he was reluctant at first =)

[Love4Bunny]

Haha, yes, men can be a little like rabbits in that way – they need gentle coaxing over a period of time to become acquainted with a different species I remember I was in complete animal bliss one day with the dogs and rabbits hanging out together in one room as I did homework. Hubby walks in, incredulous but stumped expression plastered on face (as if it were news to him), “There are animals everywhere!”. I’m all, “I know, isn’t it awesome?! I feel like Snow White!”

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