UPDATE NEED HELP Bunnies in GI stasis

[Bunny House]

Hi guys,

I have two pairs of bunnies.

One pair decided to go into go stasis when they went to the vet for a check up yesterday and still have been in it. Ive given them fluids, critical care, kept them warm, massaged their tummies, given gas drops and metacam.

I don’t know what else to do, I am doing what they vet would do. Ive already cried so much. Im so tired of working on them for the past 24 hours and I need help on what else I can do. One started at the vet(he’s pooped cecetropes and some mucus poops on and off) and the other one started late last night (small poops and now no poops).

Are there another things I can do? I just don’t want them to die but i am all out of ideas.

[OnyxMoon]

I’ve read that putting in a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel could help, you wanna keep them warm throughout all of this. Its good that you’re giving them the tummy rubs and critical care and stuff. I haven’t had to go through it, i hope it gets better soon. Its so sad to see them go through it. 

I’ve also heard that plain pineapple juice could help. 

[Bunny House]

Okay, thank you so much!!

[OnyxMoon]

So, i just went to double check my sources about using pineapple juice and read that most people disagree with the usage of it! Sorry about that!!  Plain canned Pumpkin puree would be helpful though, its high in fiber and good for digestion. Make sure it isn’t the pre-made pie filling, just plain Pumpkin. 

 

[Bunny House]

Okay, I will see if I can find that at the store. Thank you for double checking ! I also head contradicting opinions on pineapple juice, but i will try the pumpkin!

[Abby]

I’m dealing with the same problem and I’m in Texas too. I’m wondering if the temperature is too high for her. My house is set to 76 during the day when im not home. How about yours?

[Azerane]

If it was just one bunny I would warn against force feeding as it cam actually be very dangerous for buns in GI stasis who have a blockage. Given that both are showing symptoms of stasis it’s more likely to be stress or environmental related so force feeding may help.

Are they eating on their own? If you offer food to their mouth wool they eat it? Are they drinking? If not it can be good to syringe feed water to keep their hydration up.

Is it possible that the stress of force feeding is keeping them in stasis? I only ask this as stress seems to have triggered them so easily into it in the first place. Are you sure there’s not something they both have eaten that could be causing an upset.

[Bunny House]

Abby- actually, them all going to the vet caused the stasis, they are so emotional haha. But them temp could affect them, I always keep my place at 72 or lower because they are always so hot and then they lay on the wood floor to cool off, they are just so fluffy.

Azerane-I have heard that bunnies don’t actually get blockages as most thought-ive read so much research on it haha being a worried bun mom. I have offered them food, even banana and they won’t eat it-thats when you know they are sick.
One bun hates being picked up and will fight to the death to get away so I just feed her critical care on her own and she won’t let me give her subq fluids, but she has been eating some veggies so she’s getting water. The other bun won’t eat at all so I have to force feed him and give him fluids. You know, I was thinking about that, and they haven’t ate anything different so it can’t be that. usually when they come home from the vet, they have a mini stasis episode because they get so nervous as the vet and then it usually clears up but my poor thing has been to the vet so many times lately I’m not surprised he’s in it.

Why are bunnies such sensitive creatures ? haha it causes us so much stress

[Bunny House]

So he still hasn’t pooped, he has to have at least 100ml of critical care in his tummy and hasn’t pooped it out yet. vet said he was on some pretty strong antibiotics for his illness that we stopped a couple of days ago, that must have killed all the good bacteria in his gut ( i have been giving him probitioic) I am doing what all the vet would do if i came in the emergency.

Why would he not be pooping? Could he have a block in his GI so he can’t poop? But he still pees

[Wick & Fable]

I think peeing is a separate system, so a GI block wouldn’t stop peeing.

He could have a blockage, in which case you need an x-ray to confirm because force feeding with a blockage can be very bed.

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.

[Bunny House]

My vet said that it most likely isn’t a blockage, he’s having some poops so he is moving some food. I will see how the next couple of hours go.

What do you think could be blocking him?

[OnyxMoon]

I would say most blockages are caused by ingested hair that didn’t get broken down during or after molting. Stress and any major changes all effect bunnies differently, but could be cause for stasis. If money isn’t an issue, an x-ray would be good just for peace of mind in my opinion.

[Bam]

GI stasis due to gut slowdown is far more common than blockages, but blockages do occur. The only sure way to tell is by x-ray, even for vets. As Onyx says, the majority of blockages consist of ingested hair. It has been suggested that a gut slowdown can make the bun unable to pass the hair it ingests at daily grooming, and so a blockage builds up.

[Author]

Messages