Rabbit Health: GI Stasis

Is your rabbit eating???

One of the most important things I tell people about rabbit health is that they should always be on the lookout for their rabbit's appetite! Unlike dogs or cats, rabbits cannot go without eating for extended periods of time. They are grazers and if you watch your pet rabbit, you'll see that they eat throughout the day. They love to munch on pieces of hay and will get up often to have a few bites before relaxing again. Rabbits should never stop eating for an extended period of time. If they aren't eating and aren't acting like themselves for more than 12 hours, there's a good chance your rabbit is going into or has already gone into GI Stasis.

In the rabbit world, gastrointestinal (GI) Stasis is called the "silent killer" because it isn't an outward illness that you can spot and treat. It can come quickly and strongly, and can quickly claim a rabbit's life. I always tell people to monitor their rabbit's eating so they can catch any issues right from the start.

According to the House Rabbit Society's article by vet Dana Krempels, a rabbit's intestine's can become static (or will stop moving) for a variety of reasons which include, "(1) stress, (2) dehydration, (3) pain from another underlying disorder or illness (such as gas, dental problems, infections, or urinary tract disorders), (4) an intestinal blockage, or (5) insufficient dietary crude fiber" (http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html). If you notice your rabbit looks like they are in pain, isn't eating, or isn't being him or herself, GI Stasis could be the culprit. The important thing behind this is that you are on a race against time to help your rabbit. As stated in the article, this stopping of a rabbit's normal intestinal movement can "result in a painful death in a relatively short period of time. If your rabbit stops eating or producing feces for 12 hours or more, you should consider the condition an EMERGENCY. GET YOUR BUNNY TO A RABBIT-SAVVY VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY" (http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html). Read the quoted article for more specific information about GI Stasis and what you can do if you come across it.

Essentially, GI Stasis is when a rabbit's gut slows down from its normal pace, which may cause their stomach to become dehydrated (and therefore harder to pass the food) and can fill with gas, which is very painful for a rabbit. This snowballs into a larger issue if the food stops moving through the intestine completely.

Your rabbit should always be eating. A rabbit should never go more than 12 hours without eating. There are many clues to pick up on to know if your rabbit is in GI Stasis. First, your happy rabbit may be hunched in a corner of the room. You may be able to hear loud gut noises (gas) and see the rabbit grinding his or her teeth (sign of pain). To know for sure if your rabbit is refusing food, offer him or her a favorite treat. If they won't eat it, you may have an issue. Fecal size is also another indication of a rabbit's health. If you suddenly see your rabbit's poop get smaller and harder, this may be a sign that GI Stasis is upon you. You know your rabbit the best, so continuously look for clues that might point to a bigger issue.

We receive many emails from people asking what to do when their rabbit isn't eating. First and foremost, get your rabbit to a rabbit-savvy vet immediately. This is not something that can wait for another day. For some rabbits, the vet appointment can be the difference between life and death. The vet can assess the situation and give your rabbit some much-needed assistance. Many times, vets will give Sub-Q fluids to the rabbit (fluid inserted under the skin since rabbits in stasis are often dehydrated), pain medication like Metacam (stasis is very painful), gut mobility drugs like Reglan (to help the gut get moving again), and maybe even antibiotics if your vet feels that it is necessary. At home, you can offer your rabbit a healthy diet (see our posting titled Rabbit Health: Diet) and offer the rabbit plenty of freshly-washed dark leafy greens so your rabbit can get as much water as possible. Allow your rabbit to eat anything they will- pellets, unlimited timothy hay, greens, and offer any of your rabbit's favorite treats. It's so important to get your rabbit's stomach moving actively again, and offering their favorite foods will hopefully move this along. Also, offer your rabbit tons of water (in both a bottle and a bowl) to allow him or her to get as much water in their system as possible! These small accommodations may help your rabbit and you might see them eating more immediately. Still, it is important for your rabbit-savvy vet to check out your rabbit to determine if there is any supportive care needed.

Aside from medication given to you by the vet, there are other things you can do at home to help your rabbit beat a bout of GI Stasis. This includes:

Simethicone- This is a gas relief formula made for infants and is sold in a liquid form in almost all drug stores. It is for the relief of acute gas pain which accompanies GI Stasis. It is sometimes called Mylicon (but the main ingredient is Simethicone) and helps to break up the gas bubbles that build up in a rabbit's stomach. Simethicone has been a saving grace for us more than once and can help instantly to break up the gas that is building in a rabbit's GI tract and we feel it has been a key ingredient for us when curing GI Stasis. We always have some Simethicone on hand in case of an emergency and recommend that all of our adopters and foster homes do as well. This is in liquid form and can be used through the dropper to put directly in the rabbit's mouth. For dosing, 1-2 cc (of the 20 mg/ml suspension) can be given as often as every hour for three doses, then 1 cc every three to eight hours" (http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html). Since the substance has no known drug interactions and is not absorbed through the intestinal lining, it is safe for rabbits to use. You can use Simethicone safely as a precaution (if you think you may be having a problem but aren't sure) since it is not given long-term. Of course, if this doesn't help your rabbit within the first day or two, a rabbit-savvy vet should be consulted for further advice and prescription medication.

Oral Fluids- If you have a small syringe, you can give your rabbit some water through their mouth, which may help to hydrate the gut and keep things moving. Make sure to drop the water into their cheek behind the incisors slowly so the rabbit can still breathe while they are drinking. Do not put the syringe too far back in the rabbit's mouth- you don't want to aspirate them! Be careful! Gently give your rabbit a little bit of water into their cheek at a time. On occasion, we've added a tiny bit of fruit juice to the water so the experience is a bit more enjoyable for the rabbit. You can give the rabbit a little bit of water each hour, or more often if they will tolerate it.

Force Feeding- If instructed by your vet, your rabbit may need you to give them supportive feeding care through a syringe. Oxbow Hay Company creates a wonderful product called "Critical Care," which is a powder (you add water to it) made to supplement the diet of an herbivore. Once water is added, it creates a slurry that you can force feed to your rabbit. If you don't have Critical Care, you can also take your rabbit's pellets and create a slurry by using 2-3 tablespoons of pellets and 1/2 cup of warm water to break them down. This can be put into a feeding syringe as well. Another option would be to use fruit or vegetable baby food or applesauce. Make sure it's something your rabbit would enjoy! You can force feed your rabbit 1-2 cc of food at a time, but be careful not to squirt it too quickly or down their windpipe! Give your rabbit time to chew and swallow before feeding more. Be VERY careful not to go too fast as it could injure your rabbit more! Don't take the word "force" in force feeding to heart. Be gentle with your rabbit and feed them slowly into the side of their cheek by their incisors. If your rabbit is in Stasis, the last thing they want to do is eat! I suggest putting your rabbit on your lap (legs together) facing outward. Then, put the syringe in your rabbit's cheek and put a little of the Critical Care mixture into their mouth. Go slowly!!! You can feed your rabbit every hour, or more if they will tolerate it.

Abdominal Massage- Since GI Stasis involves a belly full of gas, abdominal massage can be a help in breaking up the gas and easing the pain for your rabbit. If your rabbit tolerates this (it may feel good for some rabbits while bad for others), gently massage the abdomen (stomach area). You may feel a hard belly full of gas, and massage can help break it up!

Again, we are not vets and are only making recommendations based on what vets have instructed us to do in the past and what has worked for us. As always, please make sure to check with your own rabbit-savvy vet before making any of your own medical decisions. Your rabbit's life could depend on it!

Try to stay calm and confident to help your rabbit work their way out of GI Stasis. Sometimes there's nothing you may have done to onset the issue, but you can help the rabbit once they go into stasis. Being an observant bunny parent is one of the best gifts you can give your rabbit, since you may be able to catch any eating or health issues before they become a bigger problem.

Although we are not vets, feel free to email us at hugabunny@gmail.com for any individual questions that we may be able to help answer.