Helping a Bunny With G.I. Stasis

When You Can’t Get Your Rabbit to a Vet Immediately

Oct 17, 2008 Sarah Goodwin-Nguyen

G.I. Stasis is a serious illness in rabbits, requiring immediate action. But what if your bunny-savvy vet is out of town? Here are some ways to stabilize your pet.

Ideally, you should bring your rabbit to a vet knowledgeable in rabbit medicine within the first several hours of G.I. stasis. Some bunnies seem to have a knack for getting sick at night or on weekends and holidays when their trusted vet may not be available. In an ideal world, rabbit owners wouldn’t think twice about bringing their little friends to any emergency vet. However, in reality, financially-strapped rabbit owners or overwhelmed rabbit rescuers may not be able to afford off-hour emergency animal hospital fees. Others may have to travel far distances to find a vet who sees "exotics. " In the meantime, there are things you should do at home to help your rabbit until veterinary care is available.

• Simethicone and Oral Fluids: Simethicone is an OTC gas reliever for infants sold in liquid form under the brand name Mylicon. You can give your rabbit 1 to 2 ml every hour to help relieve stomach pain. It is also a good idea to give him 3 to 5 ml of water orally every hour. Keeping the bunny hydrated will help break up masses in his stomach. When syringing liquids into your rabbit's mouth, insert the syringe sideways directly behind the rabbit's front teeth and release liquids slowly.
• Tummy Rubs: Hold the bunny in your lap, reach underneath the rabbit's body and massage the animal’s abdomen. This works best if you elevate the back legs slightly. Massage as deeply and for as long as the rabbit will tolerate. This helps break up gas bubbles and solid masses. Often, you can feel that the stomach is hard, and even find where the mass is located.
• Lactulose: Lactulose is a laxative for humans sold under the brand name Enulose. It not available over the counter. If you have a good relationship with your vet, ask for some to have on hand. Lactulose can go a long way in helping a bunny pass a mass of dehydrated fur or food stuck in his gut. Lactulose draws water into the colon, so it is important to keep your rabbit well-hydrated while on lactulose. Rabbits can have 1ml of lactulose one to three times per day, half a ml for dwarf breeds.
• Subcutaneous Fluids: If you have the know-how and the supplies, subcue fluids will keep your bunny hydrated and help break down obstructions in the rabbit’s stomach. If your rabbit has not responded to simethicone, tummy, rubs, and lactulose within the first five hours, it is time for subcue. Give the bunny 100 ml every eight hours.
• Critical Care: Critical Care is only available through a vet, but it is a good idea to have some of this high-fiber, beneficial bacteria-packed syringe-feeding formula on hand. If your rabbit has gone several hours without eating but has now begun to nibble some hay, Critical Care can give him helpful nutrition and fiber. However, if your bunny isn’t eating at all, he may have a full blockage in his stomach. In this case adding Critical Care to the mass could do more harm than good.

If your bunny is not eating or pooping at all within twelve hours, or is not eating or pooping as normal within 24 hours, it is definitely time to bring him to any available vet. Your bunny will need an x-ray to determine the extent of the blockage. Your vet may then prescribe motility drugs and/or pain meds. Surgery is a last resort after all other treatments have failed.

The copyright of the article Helping a Bunny With G.I. Stasis in Pet Care is owned by Sarah Goodwin-Nguyen. Permission to republish Helping a Bunny With G.I. Stasis in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

a rabbit in statis benefits from simethicone

supplies for dealing with stasis