Gi-stasis: Help!

[Apollo’s Slave]

Could it be that he just doesn’t want to listen? I would say that I have a pretty good bond with Apollo but he sometimes just refuses to come when I call him if he’s really comfortable. If your vet isn’t too helpful, could you transfer to a different one? I know that you said that one was the only exotic vet in your town, so maybe a regular vet would be more helpful and know a fair amount about rabbits. I’m fact, my own vet isn’t an exotic vet. Just a small, local vet, that works in cats, dogs and rabbits. And that it. No frogs or geckos or birds (like the other exotic vets in my town). So could it be that the vet isn’t well trained at least for rabbits? I understand that you can’t get him to the vet because of Covid-19 so this is just generally speaking.

You said that it started in January. So was there a big change his habitat during that time. You mentioned that you moved house. Could it be that he isn’t used to all the new things in the new house? Like new smells and sounds, maybe he’s just skittish. I’m just making assumptions at this point

 

[Mariam+Theo]

There is another vet about 30 minutes out of town. My friends go there and say it is amazing! This vet sees every animal and helps when you are having financial difficulties and can't afford a visit. I have called them and they said that they mostly send exotics to the vet I took Theo to, but they would still see him. I am going to look around and see if any other vet in my town sees rabbits once the virus calms down.

I wish it was something as simple as changes, but we moved at the end of 2017 so he has already adjusted to our new house (at least I hope so). Our move was the whole reason I was going to be able to get a rabbit because we were moving to the country and we had room for an outdoor rabbit. Thanks for trying to help Apollo's Slave!

 

[Binky4eva]

I am wondering aside from excluding all over underlying causes that were detailed so well above of intermittent bouts of g.i.stasis if he might be lonely and need a mate. Rabbits are truly social creatures and not really used to living alone, normally in living in warrens in small groups with a strong "pecking" or should I say "grooming" order. A mate may just help him.
I know your parents may not be agreeable to this, but it will be a lot cheaper in the long run than vet visit and medications for bunny problems.
Just make sure you follow proper guidelines for introducing another bunny in neutral territory and slowly over time. Also, if you get a female, have it desexed. Not only prevents pregnancy but the 85% chance of reproductive cancers in unspayed does.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

I want to get him a friend, but I am trying to move him inside right now. If I got a rabbit while Theo is outside my parents would automatically think that the new rabbit is an "outdoor rabbit" and convincing them for Theo and her to come inside would be crazy! My main goal is for Theo to move inside over the summer and get him a friend around Christmas, but I doubt that will happen because my parents don't want to change the "no indoor animal" rule.
It also doesn't help that my parents know nothing about rabbits and don't acknowledge that keeping an outdoor rabbit and making it live alone will eventually kill it. I just can't figure out how to make them realize that Theo's housing situation is not what it should be. I was looking back at pictures of when I got Theo and I remember thinking that the hutches the breeder kept her rabbit in were so nice, but now looking at them they are complete junk.
I have also done tons of research about bonding and I will spay the female before the bonding starts to keep her healthy and safe.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

Theo is pressing his belly to the floor, stretching with his butt in the air, and not wanting to move or eat. His belly is low and full, and I have no idea what to do. I gave him a tummy massage, but he keeps shaking/vibrating and I have no idea why. I don't know if it is gas pain because I haven't heard any gurgling in his stomach. I'm starting to wonder I will have to put him down because he is not getting better and his pain is not going away. Please help!

 

[bunnylove2024]

I am so sorry! I would give him a few gas drops and watch him. Give him critical care by syringe, that should help a bit. Now that it is only getting worse I would really try to get him to the vet if you can!

 

[Mariam+Theo]

I gave him some gas drops, Reglan, and aspirin. I think it has worked but not a ton, because I can tell the gas is coming back. He has used the bathroom though.

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

This article was quite informative but you probably know most of it already. They have a number you could call to ask questions too.
https://www.allpetsanimal.com/topics/exotics-health-topics/june-feature--gi-stasis-in-rabbits.html

 

[TheBuns]

Theo is pressing his belly to the floor, stretching with his butt in the air, and not wanting to move or eat. His belly is low and full, and I have no idea what to do. I gave him a tummy massage, but he keeps shaking/vibrating and I have no idea why. I don't know if it is gas pain because I haven't heard any gurgling in his stomach. I'm starting to wonder I will have to put him down because he is not getting better and his pain is not going away. Please help!

Take Theo to the vet you mentioned to get to the bottom of what’s causing this.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

I can't. It is closed due to the coronavirus. He farted just a second ago so I know he is passing gas, I just hope he can pass all of it. I have been giving him gas drops, tummy massages, Reglan, Aspirin, and Bene-Bac. Let me know if I am giving him something wrong.

 

[zuppa]

Theo is pressing his belly to the floor, stretching with his butt in the air, and not wanting to move or eat. His belly is low and full, and I have no idea what to do. I gave him a tummy massage, but he keeps shaking/vibrating and I have no idea why. I don't know if it is gas pain because I haven't heard any gurgling in his stomach. I'm starting to wonder I will have to put him down because he is not getting better and his pain is not going away. Please help!

Hi, I understand you worry but honestly I think he doesn't need medication, if his poos are good, I have a rabbit he sits like that all the time, and he is all right. When my other rabbit had stasis he was pressing his belly to the floor but wasn't stretching. I just think you worry too much, also I am not a fan of using medicine without a serious reason, every medicine has side effects and you are giving gas drops, Reglan and aspirin and something more, I personally never combine any medicine without knowing for sure. If he was in stasis you would see his poos would change dramatically, in photo you posted they look great and healthy.

 

[thevanguard6]

The typical method for fighting bad gut bacteria is to introduce good bacteria. One way is Bene Bac probiotic powder. The other (better) way is to get your rabbit to eat more hay, since hay encourages the growth of good gut flora. For the powder, it's one pinch worth of the powder per day for about 7 days. One method is to dip one end of a food item into water and then into the powder and feed that to him.

I don't suppose you could post a list of what foods (and quantities) he was given just prior to his gas issues, could you? (Has he been grazing on wet lawn grass by chance?)

If your bunny's gut actually did hit full-stop, then you'd want to get him to a vet pronto. Here's what was done for a rabbit I know recovered successfully (note: the stuff in the following regimen is not the kind of stuff you'd regularly give a bunny. It's only for emergencies):
http://www.blitter.com/~nebulous/otherworld/Rabbit-MotRegimen.txt

 

[Mariam+Theo]

Hi, I understand you worry but honestly I think he doesn't need medication, if his poos are good, I have a rabbit he sits like that all the time, and he is all right. When my other rabbit had stasis he was pressing his belly to the floor but wasn't stretching. I just think you worry too much, also I am not a fan of using medicine without a serious reason, every medicine has side effects and you are giving gas drops, Reglan and aspirin and something more, I personally never combine any medicine without knowing for sure. If he was in stasis you would see his poos would change dramatically, in photo you posted they look great and healthy.

Are you suggesting I take him off everything? But then he will be in so much pain and go into stasis and die and I don't want that to happen. You said that with your rabbit you gave him fennel tea. Should I do that instead of gas drops? I honestly don't know what t0 do anymore so I'm just going to follow all of your suggestions.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

The typical method for fighting bad gut bacteria is to introduce good bacteria. One way is Bene Bac probiotic powder. The other (better) way is to get your rabbit to eat more hay, since hay encourages the growth of good gut flora. For the powder, it's one pinch worth of the powder per day for about 7 days. One method is to dip one end of a food item into water and then into the powder and feed that to him.

I don't suppose you could post a list of what foods (and quantities) he was given just prior to his gas issues, could you? (Has he been grazing on wet lawn grass by chance?)

If your bunny's gut actually did hit full-stop, then you'd want to get him to a vet pronto. Here's what was done for a rabbit I know recovered successfully (note: the stuff in the following regimen is not the kind of stuff you'd regularly give a bunny. It's only for emergencies):
http://www.blitter.com/~nebulous/otherworld/Rabbit-MotRegimen.txt

I have given him Beve-Bac Plus since yesterday, and I will continue to for the next 5 days. I have Critical Care on hand to help him if his gut did stop, I just don't want it to get that bad because I will probably die from stress.

So since this all started in January I will tell you what happened:

It was the 2nd week of January and I decided I was going to start introducing more veggies into Theo’s diet. I made a long list and got busy shopping. He did great that week. The next week my parents didn’t take me to the store because they thought I was making a big deal and that he didn’t actually need veggies, and that I just wanted him to have them. They were so wrong, but I made use of the veggies that we had in our fridge. I think I gave him too much Bok coy because he started acting sick. At the time I didn’t know that though. I had been grooming him that day and I thought that maybe the stress from the nail clipping had caused him to get sick. He was sitting hunched up and I had never seen him sit like that ever before. I panicked and posted on here: https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/help-weirdly-shaped-poop-territorial.96989/.

We took him to the vet, and they took an x-ray. He had a full belly but no gas, so they didn’t think it was stasis. They sent us home with Reglan and said to give it to him for 4 days, and that he should be completely better after 2 days. But he wasn’t. He was still sitting hunched up 3 weeks later. It was when someone suggested taking him off all the medicines I had been giving him. It worked and he was better, but only for 1 week.

The week he was healthy he got ¼ cup of pellets, unlimited hay, and a handful of clover from outside. Before I knew it I was dealing with a sick rabbit again. I gave him gas drops, Reglan, and some veggies. This time it got so bad he was not eating, and I had to force-feed him for one night. That is where this thread picks up. It has now been 6 weeks since that week when he was healthy.

Sorry, this is so long, but I just thought I should tell you the whole story.

 

[zuppa]

This makes sense thanks for taking time and explaining your situation I have to go now but I will think about it and will reply later.
In short, you've already identified your problem, you know what caused it a few months ago. when it all started you should just give some gas drops for a couple days and then put him on a very strict diet of hay and water for some time, maybe a week so he could recover, then slowly add pellets in small quantities, then slowly reintroduce him to vegetables, very carefully and only one type of vegs at a time etc. Now you just started panicking and put him on medication and kept changing and adding new drugs/remedies I know you wanted to help him but I think it was a bit confusing. What I personally would do I would keep him on hay and water for a week or so. I don't think he's in pain, maybe his stomach a bit upset but I believe if he eats hay and drinks water his stomach will recover naturally. I would give him boiled water instead of tap water for now.
Also if you have mint or chamomile fresh or dried you can sprinkle a bit on his hay, they would help with digestion, just a little, a couple stems with leaves. If you have fennel seeds or dill seeds and can make teas and if he will drink them say twice a day one-two teaspoons it would also help to clean up. Make sure that there's no sugar or honey, also sifted without seeds.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

This makes sense thanks for taking time and explaining your situation I have to go now but I will think about it and will reply later.
In short, you've already identified your problem, you know what caused it a few months ago. when it all started you should just give some gas drops for a couple days and then put him on a very strict diet of hay and water for some time, maybe a week so he could recover, then slowly add pellets in small quantities, then slowly reintroduce him to vegetables, very carefully and only one type of vegs at a time etc. Now you just started panicking and put him on medication and kept changing and adding new drugs/remedies I know you wanted to help him but I think it was a bit confusing. What I personally would do I would keep him on hay and water for a week or so. I don't think he's in pain, maybe his stomach a bit upset but I believe if he eats hay and drinks water his stomach will recover naturally. I would give him boiled water instead of tap water for now.
Also if you have mint or chamomile fresh or dried you can sprinkle a bit on his hay, they would help with digestion, just a little, a couple stems with leaves. If you have fennel seeds or dill seeds and can make teas and if he will drink them say twice a day one-two teaspoons it would also help to clean up. Make sure that there's no sugar or honey, also sifted without seeds.

Thank you! I will do this!

 

[thevanguard6]

As Zuppa said, restrict your bunny's diet to hay and water. Then introduce a tiny bit of pellets per day (after things start to stabilize).

That means:
- no clover (this is likely part of the issue that your bunny's having)
- no fresh veggies
- no treats

Your bunny might throw a tantrum or two, but that's what it's like being on hospital food.

If you like, you can gradually introduce small amounts of dried fruit and veggies. Simply slice carrots and apples thinly and set them out to dry or use a dehydrator or warm oven. Throw out anything moldy. And discard any apple seeds (since they're poisonous). Dried foods are generally easier on a rabbit's gut.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

Theo has been getting no antibiotics for the past 2 days and has been improving very slowly , yet still improving . I have been giving him only hay, boiled water, a tiny bit romaine lettuce every other day (in order to give him bene bac), tummy massages, and fennel seed tea. He is obviously still sick, but not as bad as he was. I don't feel safe with giving him any sugar yet, and to be honest, even before he got sick he never got treats because I didn't want him to get fat. Thanks for all of y'all's help! I don't think he would be alive right now if it wasn't for y'all.

 

[TheBuns]

Theo has been getting no antibiotics for the past 2 days and has been improving very slowly , yet still improving . I have been giving him only hay, boiled water, a tiny bit romaine lettuce every other day (in order to give him bene bac), tummy massages, and fennel seed tea. He is obviously still sick, but not as bad as he was. I don't feel safe with giving him any sugar yet, and to be honest, even before he got sick he never got treats because I didn't want him to get fat. Thanks for all of y'all's help! I don't think he would be alive right now if it wasn't for y'all.

Glad he’s doing better!

 

[BiniBunny]

If you see any sign of G.I stasis you should take him to the vet.