Gut HYPERmobility

[Daybreak]

My six year old, spayed female, dwarf mix rabbit has gut hypermobility with loud digestive sounds coming from her gut. When she lays on her side, I can see the gut muscles moving or "rolling" with the sounds. Occasionally the gut will slow somewhat, the sounds will be gone, and she will show some signs of early stasis. These pass within a few hours, and the hypermobility will return. Her appetite is usually good but she has occasional bouts of inappetence. She bounces back from those also and has not had a full blown bout of stasis. At times, she exhibits symptom of pain and lately she seems like she has lost some weight.

She saw a rabbit-savvy vet in the summer. The vet prescribed Ranitidine, and she was on that for about 90 days. The med seemed to help with the stomach noises (diminshed but not eliminated), but the other symptoms continued. I've taken her off of it for the last 70-80 days to watch her. I will also give her some simethicone when the sounds are loud and she exhibits pain symptoms. It seems to help some. I'm concerned to give pain meds in the midst of the already upset GI.

The vet really did not know the cause and how to return the gut to normal functioning. I'd like to get to the bottom of this.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

ray: Hopefully you will find some answers here, but your problem is outside my field of experiences.

 

[Maureen Las]

I am wondering what you feed her daily ?

 

[Daybreak]

Mackensie eats a limited amount of Oxbow Bunny Basics T each day, lots of Timothy Hay and about one cup of fresh veggies each evening. I have not noticed any difference in the stomach noises based on what greens she eats, but I usually stick with green leafy veggies. Every now and then I'll give her (and her bonded mate) a piece of radish, carrot of a very small piece of fruit -- but this is very infrequently. Before this all started she had bladder stone surgery (2-3 years ago) after which I realized she had not been drinking water. Since then I've put a very small quantity of apple juice in their water bowl so that she will actually drink it. While she was still on the ranitidine, she began having occasional unformed cecals ... and that has occurred since being off the med as well. It's very sporadic. She always has hay available to her, but she can be finicky about it.

 

[Daybreak]

Correction to earlier post: Mackensie's been off the ranitidine about 40 days (not 70-80 as I stated originally).

 

[Maureen Las]

I also use small amounts of apple juice iin the water bowls of 2 of my rabbits to encourage intake. Make sure that you are not using TOO much apple juice in her bowl as sugar can cause gut problems

Do you remember when the gut hypermotility started ; was it around the same time as the surgery and kidney stone problem./ or has she always had it ?


I might sound simplistic but did you ever try to eliminate greens altogether for awhile.

Also have you ever administered a probiotic like benebac. ?

Has her stomach ever been x-rayed . or has she had an ultrasound of the GI tract.

There most likely is an underlying reason for this problem ; it doesn't sound like the normal gas/ stasis events that most of us have gone through with our rabbits.
Iwould suggest that you find a really rabbit knowledgeable vet., possibly have a blood panel done and x-rays if they haven't been done.

These are our vets recommended by members from your state

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=11623&forum_id=9

 

[Daybreak]

My vet is quite knowledgable about rabbits, one of the best in the area and included on the list you sent. She did an x-ray and blood work (several panels over time to compare the changes), both of which were inconclusive.

I think the hypermobility started sometime after the bladder stone surgery. I don't recall when exactly, but the noises began sometime after that.

I've tried benebac. Didn't seem to make much difference. Now I've read recently that benebac isn't effective in rabbits due to the particular nature of the bacteria naturally in their stomach. Another probiotic available only through vets in now recommended, and I have not asked the vet about trying that.

I use a very small amount of apple juice in her water ... 1/2 teaspoon to a bowl of water. The vet is aware that I add it (she recommended it after the bladder stone), and she doesn't think the gut sounds are related to it.

I have not tried taking greens out of her diet. The gut sounds are pretty consistent around the clock. They don't seem to be in response to what she has eaten.

 

[Maureen Las]

I would take away the greens ( hard as that is to do ) and push just hay ..just try it for a little while

sounds like you are doing everything correctly....:?