Helping bunny through GI stasis.

Moggy · Nov 13, 2011

Hi everyone, just wanted to know if there is anyone out there who has dealt with a bunny during GI stasis?

My poor little Dwarf Hotot Alex (6 years) was diagnosed with this. I knew the signs and what it was right away. He HAS been to vet and they agreed that it was GI stasis (he also caught snuffles during this because of stress). The vet has given me cisapride, and antibiotics for his snuffles which I have been giving him as prescribed. However it has been about 4 days since the vet visit and still no signs of improvement. He refuses to eat and drink (though I've been giving him critical care and water via syringe) and he just lays stretched out and uncomfortable all day. This is very un-like him as he's usually a happy, active bunny. Also last night I noticed he now has urine scald, he is dribbling every once in awhile instead of a full pee and he, of course, sits in it because he refuses to move...

So I guess my questions are as follows:

1. What more can I do for him to make him more comfortable?

2. Should I be calling the vet again because of the urine scald symptom? And is this normal for a bunny with GI stasis to get this?

3. What's the best way to heal/ease the urine scald?

4. And any other helpful hints as to help him along, and a rough estimate on how long it may take him to feel better. (I understand all bunnies will heal differently, but perhaps just some examples ect...)

Thanks for any help you can give me. I love my little guy...I don't want to loose him.

jamesedwardwaller · Nov 14, 2011

Moggy wrote:

Hi everyone, just wanted to know if there is anyone out there who has dealt with a bunny during GI stasis?

My poor little Dwarf Hotot Alex (6 years) was diagnosed with this. I knew the signs and what it was right away. He HAS been to vet and they agreed that it was GI stasis (he also caught snuffles during this because of stress). The vet has given me cisapride, and antibiotics for his snuffles which I have been giving him as prescribed. However it has been about 4 days since the vet visit and still no signs of improvement. He refuses to eat and drink (though I've been giving him critical care and water via syringe) and he just lays stretched out and uncomfortable all day. This is very un-like him as he's usually a happy, active bunny. Also last night I noticed he now has urine scald, he is dribbling every once in awhile instead of a full pee and he, of course, sits in it because he refuses to move...

So I guess my questions are as follows:

1. What more can I do for him to make him more comfortable?

2. Should I be calling the vet again because of the urine scald symptom? And is this normal for a bunny with GI stasis to get this?

3. What's the best way to heal/ease the urine scald?

4. And any other helpful hints as to help him along, and a rough estimate on how long it may take him to feel better. (I understand all bunnies will heal differently, but perhaps just some examples ect...)

Thanks for any help you can give me. I love my little guy...I don't want to loose him.

one word,hydration-need alot of liquids to break up the problem in the gi tract,,need probotics to be given with any antibiotc--snufflescan bestress related-common antibiotics are azithromycin,baytril,..lots of grasses-timothy,orchard grasses,,wet weeds like dandylions,--here is a link to alot of info http://www.medirabbit.com ---must keep the gitract moving--pooping,,-etc.--sincerely james waller

Nancy McClelland · Nov 14, 2011

:yeahthat:

Bunnylova4eva · Nov 14, 2011

>Treat the snuffles very aggressivlely. It isn't anything to mess around with in my oppinion. You don't want it to get really bad and out of control

As for the urine scald, I'd agree with the others-keep lots of fluids in him.

I think Baytril (if that's the antibiotic he's on) causes GI upset. Alot. Everytime my buns have been on it, its caused ig issues in there tummies, including bad bad stasis.

idolstar · Nov 22, 2011

Sorry to hear about your bunny.

My bunny was in the same place as your not so long ago..

If your bunny will not eat like mine did try him with some grass from your backgard or some veg.. My bunny would not touch her dry food or water.. So i just gave her some nice wet grass and she would eat it...

I had the dribbling to that will goaway when he gets better never did find out why the dribbling was there

Try a nice hot water bottel next to your rabbit tummy.. I know whem my bunny was in stasis she got really cold try touching his ear if he is cold try keep him warm..

Try some pineappel junie in the water or just on its own it really helps.. It was the only way i could get my bunny to drink

Given tummy rubs helps to

You could try sub-q fluids worked wonders for my bunny..
and thank you to bunnylova4ever for telling me about it XD

bunnylova4ever is right if your bunny is on baytril it will not help at all

geting your hands on some simeticone would help..

wish you the best

tonyshuman · Nov 24, 2011

GI stasis is usually a symptom of something else, possibly in this case pain from a urinary tract infection, or discomfort from an upper respiratory infection. I would at the very least have the same vet take another look at her due to this new symptom and it would be better to take her to a different vet. This one doesn't sound very knowledgeable. Gut motility drugs like cisapride are controversial to use in cases of GI stasis--the primary treatment should be water, probiotics, and continued eating.

He needs subcutaneous fluids if he is not drinking, another assessment of what antibiotic should be used (you should see improvements in symptoms, either for a urinary tract infection or an upper respiratory infection, within 3-4 days), and if necessary, a feeding tube placed. If he will not take anything via syringe, he will not get better.

Try to syringe feed him water and pedialyte (the infant rehydration drink). If that works, try some very watered down critical care. Critical care contains a probiotic (good bacteria), but if he won't eat that, you might be able to get him to take BeneBac or ProBios gel. Put down a layer of something absorbent, like a maxi pad or puppy pee pads, and then a layer of fleece or artificial sheepskin on top of it. That should wick away the moisture when he pees on himself. Keep him warm and comfortable. I would definitely take his temperature and give him a hot water bottle he won't chew on or access to a heating pad if his temp is low. A bunny with low temp will not respond well to anything you try to do to help. However, I would personally be looking for another vet.

Here's info on taking a temp:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html