Nervous bun Momma — shock (does it automatically cause GI stasis?)

[SarahandButtons]

hi friends! I’m Sarah, a relatively new bun momma to my holland lop, Buttons. I’m worried sick and looking for any advice because last night around 7pm (it’s currently 6:33 am here in Vegas) I went upstairs to find that my dog got into the room that Buttons free roams (his “bedroom”). Buttons was covered in slobber and completely limp. I immediately picked him up and burritoed him and examined him for any obvious wounds — he was otherwise fine, just covered in drool. He eventually “came to” and I placed him on the floor and he was walking around and exploring a bit so he didn’t seem to have any issues there. Still, I took him to the emergency vet about 15minutes away for a once over. They said his vitals were fine with the exception of an increased heart rate and they sent us home with pain meds.
At home, I’ve tried to get him to eat and drink and he seems to be disinterested (although he did have a bite of hay and he was very excited to eat a quarter of a strawberry that I offered him). I’ve also seen him drinking his water once overnight. He’s pooped *some* but not the typical amount overnight. He’s still obviously very scared/sore (hiding under the furniture and “hunching” at times). What I was wondering is, when bunnies experience shock do they automatically develop GI stasis after? Should I remove his pellets from his diet temporarily (which he normally loves)? Anyone else have any similar stories? How long did it take for your buns to return back to “normal” eating/drinking/pooping and not hiding?

thanks everyone

worried sick,

sarah and Buttons

[DanaNM]

Extreme stress can definitely cause stasis. If he isn’t eating normally you will need to syringe feed him and consult with a rabbit savvy vet to make sure he doesn’t need any additional medications (such as motility meds or a higher dose of pain meds). I would also recommend imaging to make sure there isn’t any hidden damage. Rabbits hide their symptoms and pain very well.

Stasis recovery can be slow, so he may need gentle nursing care for a while.

. . . 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.  

[Bam]

Just wanted to add: You dont need to take away his pellets, its great if he wants to eat some. Also if you give him pellets and he doesnt est them you’ll notice. Its always difficult to sssess how much hay a bun actually eats.

[Author]

Messages