Potential Stasis

[Deleted User]

My problem child is at it again. I went to bed around 1am, and Bombur seemed completely normal. He was wolfing down the new hay I gave him and was begging to come out to play more. 4 hours later, I wake up for work and Bombur is being a lump on a log. It’s concerning to me because Bombur has so much energy this time of the morning. I did his usually feeding at 5:30, and he had absolutely no interest in his pellets. Usually he’s so excited he smashes the scooper out of my hand. I shook his favorite treats and tried to entice him out of the litter box, but he wasn’t interested. I decided to stay home from work to monitor him, so I let him out hoping that would help. Instead of eagerly bolting for freedom he remained in his litter box. I started moving his cage a little, which finally got him to come out, he hopped about 5 feet, and hasn’t moved since. I’m super worried as he was like this last time he had GI Stasis. Should I bring him to the vet to start on motility mess and give him some critical care?

[Luna]

How many hours has it been since he ate or pooped? Definitely start with some simethicone if you have any, and some belly massages. While you are doing that, you can call your vet to see if they can get him in. After you get your appointment scheduled (unless you take him in immediately as an emergency case), you can continue with simethicone and belly massages and pellet offerings to see if there is any improvement while you wait for your appointment time. I follow this procedure with Luna and I’ll know pretty quickly whether or not it is just gas that can be managed by myself, or stasis that needs a vet visit. It’s all up to you though because you know your bun best . If you think you should take him to the vet now, then by all means you should go!

[DanaNM]

Yes, I think get him to the vet!

. . . 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.  

[Deleted User]

I brought him to the vet right after I posted because he just wasn’t himself. The vet believes he actually has toxic shock and that I was lucky I brought him in. He could have been dead when I got back from work. His temperature was very low so they placed him in a heated ward. They are keeping him overnight and doing X-rays and subq fluids along with other meds. Hoping he has a smooth recovery and isn’t at the vet for long. It looks so weird to see the empty cage. Asriel keeps staring at the cage and looks sad.
How could toxic shock have even happened? We clean their cages twice a week and their litter boxes every 2 days. We feed them what you’re supposed to. It’s so disheartening to hear something like this.

[Bam]

How terrible. Do they mean bacterial toxic shock?

(((((Bombur)))))

[Deleted User]

I believe that’s what she said. She mentioned putting him on antibiotics.

[Bam]

It wouldn’t be due to poor hygiene or their diet. Main suspect is the sores he got when they had mites.

[DanaNM]

Oh dear, poor baby

(((Bombur)))

. . . 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.  

[Luna]

It’s so good that you stayed home from work! It sounds like you caught it early so I hope he’s ok. Was he doing anything differently from when he had stasis? Does anyone know what the signs of toxic shock are so that it might help me/others recognize it if it happens to our bun? Luna sends get well vibes ((((Bombur))))

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone and your buns ? They said it’s so similar to Stasis that the only thing that was different was his very low body temp.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Oh dear what a close call! I’m so happy you followed your instincts here and took him to the vet. Healing vibes for Bombur!

[Bam]

So glad you brought him in. Bam sens vibes too (((((Bombur)))))

[Vienna Blue in France]

Any chance anything came from the “new hay” you said you gave him…..? Bam?

[Bam]

Vienna, I don’t know if toxic shock in a bunny is the same as toxic shock in a human. I found an article on endotoxic shock in horses, and this might be something along the lines of what Bombur is going through:

endotoxic shock in horses 

But if it’s toxic shock like people get it, it’s most often caused by bacteria getting into wounds, and those bacteria are pretty much everywhere.

Get well now, Bombur. 

[Deleted User]

The thing is that it happened so fast. Bombur was totally normal last night. Eating all the hay he could find, trying to get into his food bag, running around like crazy. 4 hours later and he was just entirely different. It was so surprising that it happened so quickly.

[Bam]

It’s so weird things can happen so fast with rabbits. But some bacterial things can happen crazy quickly with humans too. I once got pleural sac inflammation in like one hour. I thought I’d somehow hurt my back, 30 min later I was in an ambulance, on my way to the hospital with crazy high fever.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Like bam says, some bacterial infections can get out of hand really quickly. Some species of bacteria can multiply every 20 minutes. After only an hour you’d have 8 times as many bacteria in that area, 64 times the amount within 2 hours, and 32768 times the amount in 5 hours 0_0
It can get pretty crazy pretty quickly, so it was very wise that you took him to the vet as soon as you spotted that something was wrong!

[Deleted User]

The vet just called with an update and said Bombur is iffy. She has two things it could be, either part of his gut floor became loose and broke off and is now obstructing his bowels, or its endotoxemia, which is when the gut essentially stops functioning and there’s a severe backup of toxins. She believes it’s most likely the second, and it could be deadly if the toxins reach his bloodstream. She’s got him on tons of fluids and on antibiotics. She said his temp is almost normal. She believes he’s definitely fighting, which is good news. She said the next 12 hours are pretty crucial. She said if there’s no news by 10am tomorrow, then the worst could be over. Fingers crossed!

[ThorBunny]

Sending vibes for (((Bombur!))))

[Deleted User]

This is just awful to read!! It’s great that you got him in quickly and I truly hope he pulls through! This makes me terrified that something could happen so quickly to my buns while I’m at work.

(((((Bombur)))))

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

It’s good news about his temperature and about his spirit, so let’s hope your brave little fighter makes it through the night!

[joea64]

Deeply worrisome – hope he got through the night!

[Deleted User]

Thank you everyone for the vibes! Bombur made it through the night! His stomach is slowly shrinking back to normal, his temp has returned to normal, and there was some poo on the thermometer this morning! The vet thinks the worst is over, and he should be able to come home today or tomorrow!

[Deleted User]

Yay Bombur! ! ! ! So happy to hear that! He really is a fighter!

Is it bad that as I called him a fighter, I thought of the scene from the Hobbit where Bombur busts his arms through the barrel and comes out swinging axes during the Orc attack on their river escape?? LOL

[Deleted User]

BunNoob it’s actually really funny because Bombur is such a ham. I don’t think he’d fair well in a fight. True to his name though, he eats like a pig. That’s how he got the name.

[Bam]

Bombur! You brave little bun, no Tolkien dwarf could be braver!

Keep-recovering-vibes (((((Bombur)))))

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

That’s amazing! Keep fighting your way back to health sweety

[joea64]

Hooray!!! It’s interesting; Tolkien actually derived the name “hobbit” in part from “rabbit”…

[DanaNM]

Great news! Go Bombur go!

. . . 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.  

[ThorBunny]

So great to hear he is doing better Sending comforting nose rubs

[Deleted User]

Happy to report that Bombur has been home for an hour and a half! He is back to himself enough to fight his meds being given, freak out when you shake the oat jar, and wolf down his pellets/greens/any hay he can find. He is currently on 4 meds: a pain killer, a motility drug, an antibiotic, and and oral toxin binder. The official diagnosis is that he had Enterotoxemia was completely obstructed. Always be alert! If you think it’s even mild GI Stasis, still get your bun checked. Bombur would’ve been dead if I had gone to work that day.

[Q8bunny]

Sorry Bombur had such a scare, but so glad he’s ok.
Happy noms and poos.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Fantastic news! Welcome home He sounds like he’s doing a lot better. Happy to hear he’s eating, pooping and fighting when he’s given his meds.

[Luna]

Yay! Glad he’s ok . It’s scary thinking how there are so many things out there that can hurt our buns. I’ve never heard of enterotoxemia, so thank you for sharing so that more of us are aware.

[Author]

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