bloating in rabbits??

[mistyjr]

My Doe just died from bloat... I feed all my bunnies veggies, hay and pellets daily... What causes it and what to do to prevent it from my other bun's!

Thanks,

 

[mistyjr]

But today after my doe died.. All they got was a big huge handful of Hay!!

 

[mistyjr]

???

 

[Pipp]

Nobody knows what causes it. I've been researching to gather more info for you (which takes a bit longer than the 30 minutes, sorry).

Your other guys aren't in any danger, it seems to hit single rabbits.

At any time were they eating grass?

You can check the Library for more immediate info, I think its under Gas/Bloat or Bloat/Gas.

There are updates to be incorporated, though.

Sorry for your loss.

Oh, and I've moved this to the Infirmary, I was about to start this topic there anyway.

 

[mistyjr]

Thanks Pipp!! I would love to get more info on this and also the stuff that you have would be great too!! They get hay but it looked different then the last time I have gotten it.. But they all get it and it only did it to her..

 

[pamnock]

Genetic predisposition and viral/bacterial due to seasonal weather changes are just a couple of the many possible causes.

 

[mistyjr]

I was reading on the GI Stasis.. And It said that " "Rabbits are more likely to go into stasis when they are molting,"?

 

[Pipp]

Did she eat any lawn grass? Spring grass seems to be a trigger in some buns.

Here's Dana Krempels' theory:

No one is really sure about the ultimate cause of bloat. It may be bacterial at first, with Clostridium species (possibly perfringens, which produces a lot of gas) producing gas. But because the rabbit intestine just posterior to the stomach takes a very sharp turn, it appears that if the stomach has even a slight blockage or gas buildup that pinches that turn just the wrong way, an irreversible bloat can occur. The only relief is gastric gavage (sticking a tube down the throat to suction out liquid and gas) or even puncturing the stomach with a needle through the body wall.

... Dana Krempels, Ph.D


Bloat: From: http://www.bunnylu.org/bloat.html

Having cared for many rabbits through the years, I have witnessed GI Stasis and Bloat. There are subtle differences between the two conditions, but prompt recognition and treatment determine the outcome. Whereas GI Stasis has a prognosis of fair to good, the prognosis for bloat is poor to guarded. Unlike GI Stasis, bloat happens suddenly and without warning. One minute your bun is eating, drinking, eliminating, and playing normally, the next minute he is depressed, moribund, and stops eating, drinking, and playing. Just like that. A bunny rapidly decompensates with bloat, and immediate veterinary intervention is crucial to his survival.

Here's the Library page those quotes came from:

Bloat/Gas
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=11931&forum_id=10

Our search engine sucks so bad, can't find the last article I logged on this, but it didn't have much more info other than other speculative causes like viruses and mycotoxins (which could be in the hay, but it would smell moldy).

Hope this helps. Sorry again.


sas :expressionless:

 

[mistyjr]

Anf too feed more hay then pellets! I feed my rabbits lots of pellets and an hand ful of hay.. So now that I have to change all the rabbits diet.. How much feed should i feed them now?!?! Sorry you guys! Im just trying to find out what I need to do with my bunnies so this dont happen again..:tears2::bawl::thud::foreheadsmack:

 

[mistyjr]

No! I dont feed them any grass yet this year.. I feed them fresh veggies, handful of hay, and a scoop of pellets daily.


Last night I feed them all.. 4 pieces Spinach, 2 baby carrots, and I cut 4 pieces into a banana and gave one piece to each bunny, handful of hay, and some pellets..

When I got in there this morning. The water bottle was full to the top.. She ate all the veggies, And the whole banana but not all of it. Didnt eat all the pellets either like she does. And didnt eat all the hay either..

 

[mistyjr]

Another thread that I have found.. http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=28622&forum_id=10

It says molting, exercise, pellets..ect

 

[Pipp]

pamnock wrote:

Genetic predisposition and viral/bacterial due to seasonal weather changes are just a couple of the many possible causes.

Yes, it's possible its not actually the grass, but just the season for a virus -- the 'bloat' season like our 'flu' season.

Spring grass, though, is also simply too rich and usually introduced too suddenly at too great of an initial volume, thus it can cause gastric upsets unrelated to bloat as well, so the grass warning is always issued.

But bloat is one of the bigger mysteries in the bunny world.

I'm sure you'll read that tummy massages are not recommended for bloat bunnies (critically ill rabbits with very swelled abdomens), but its unlikely that it contributed much, there really is nothing else you could have done.


sas :sad:

 

[mistyjr]

See, after I read that about not to message the tummy.. In my head I was thinking, Great I could have done something,, But I was just trying to help.. Like humans do when they are all gassy to rub your tummy! *Gosh*

 

[Pipp]

mistyjr wrote:

Another thread that I have found.. http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=28622&forum_id=10

It says molting, exercise, pellets..ect

This is the treatment for GAS. This is different from BLOAT.

Check the Library link.

If she was molting or in poor coat, this might fall under Dana Krempel's theory that sometimes in some bunnies a small blockage or a little gas can lead to the bigger problem.. .

But because the rabbit intestine just posterior to the stomach takes a very sharp turn, it appears that if the stomach has even a slight blockage or a gas buildup that pinches that turn just the wrong way, an irreversible bloat can occur.


sas

 

[mistyjr]

But I dont even know what molting is... But when I touched her, Her fur was coming off so bad and was flying all over!

 

[Pipp]

mistyjr wrote:

But I dont even know what molting is... But when I touched her, Her fur was coming off so bad and was flying all over!

Molting just means shedding, except that animals that 'molt', like rabbits, have their whole coats come out and new coats come in over a compressed period of time.

Animals that shed just always have hairs falling out as their natural process.

The massage thing is tough because massages are highly recommended for gas and not for bloat. Bloating rabbits will bloat suddenly and have huge, tight stomachs. They don't press their stomachs to the ground and act uncomfortable, which are symptoms of gas attacks, they usually just stop moving altogether.


sas

 

[mistyjr]

okay.. I understand now

 

[Maureen Las]

What do you mean the hay looked different. Where do you get your hay ? What type of hay is it.?
is it from a local farm?

 

[mistyjr]

The only place you can get Hay is at our farm store.. I cant describe how it looks..

 

[tonyshuman]

Was it a different color? Smell? Texture? Length of stems?