Intestine blockage

[BenNme]

About4-5 weeks ago my rabbit had a very severe intestine blockage. we took him to the the vet, where he was prescribed petromalt 2X a day and metoclopramide syrup 3X a day. okay, so, after a long hard battle getting him through the blockage, he was doing great. well, yesterday, he stopped pooping. and started dragging his hind end around, wanting to lay down all stretched out, and not having as much of a appetite as usual. oh, by the way, the reason for the blockage was that he didnt have any hay. he was on a diet of free choice pellets, and a piece of carrot a day. well, after he recovered from the blockage the first time, we changed his diet tofree choicetimothy hay, grass hay, and oat hay, and a pile of kale, cilantro, and celery around 3X a day, and a little tiny bit of pellets once in the evening. has anyone ever had experience in treating intestinal blockages?oh, by the way, i dont know if this matters, but he is a male dwarf hotot, 6 years old, and has not been neutered. any help appreciated!

 

[aurora369]

It's getting late, so I don't have too much time to find info for you, but what I would suggest you do is do a search in this forum and on Google (or other search engine) for GI Stasis.

There have been lots of bunnies here who have been through stasis. The most important thing is to keep your bun hydrated, and get some fiber into him. Try some canned pumpkin (the no sugar, plain king). If he doesn't like it, smoosh it on his paws so he licks it off, or syringe it to him.

Also, brush him very well to get all loose hairs off. This hot weather has been causing very bad molts, which can trigger stasis.

Others will be along to help soon, hang in there.

--Dawn

 

[BenNme]

thank you so much for your reply. canned pumpkin eh? i gave him a dose of petromalt earlyer today, and i gave him a dose of metoclopramide at 10:00pm. i am going to give him a dose every eight hours, that is what the vet prescribed.

 

[Pipp]

Poor bunny.

I can't be much help I'm afraid. Maybe others here can give you a better idea of the possibilities,but it's definitely a vet question.

And I'm not totally convinced only the lack of hay was to blame, although it would have helped him get through it. The fiber keeps the gut moving, but there may have been another reason why it stopped in the first place, related to the problem at hand.

Is he always dragging his back end or just occasionally? Is he trying to press his stomach to the ground is does it look like he's lost the use of his back legs?

sas :clover:

 

[peapoo_bunny]

my bun petey just had a blockage.. he was prescribed a laxative twice daily and it helped alot..i alsogave him a little nutrical once a day...try giving him pinneapple,canned pumkin, and papaya.. and you could try putting some vanilla or applejuice in his water to try to get him to drink more

 

[Pipp]

Good advice from Aurora... here's the page with the info...

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=11918&forum_id=10.

It tells you in the first paragraph all the things that can cause a blockage. (I'm still concerned about him dragging his back end, though).

It may be an idea to treat him for gas, but not if he has a possible spinal involvement, or a total blockage.

sas


EDIT: Here's the intial info...

rabbit's intestine can become static for a variety of reasons, including (1) stress, (2) dehydration, (3) pain from another underlying disorder or illness (such as gas, dental problems, infections, or urinary tract disorders) (4) an intestinal blockage or, (5) insufficient dietary crude fiber. Left untreated, the slowdown or complete cessation of normal intestinal movement (peristalsis) can result in a painful death, in a relatively short period of time. If your rabbit stops eating or producing feces for 12 hours or more, you should consider the condition an EMERGENCY. GET YOUR BUNNY TO A RABBIT-SAVVY VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY.


An intestinal slowdown can cause ingested hair and food to lodge anywhere along the GI tract, creating a potential blockage. Also, because the cecum is not emptying quickly enough, harmful bacteria such as Clostridium species (related to the ones that cause botulism and tetanus) can proliferate, their numbers overwhelming those of the normal, beneficial bacteria and fungi in the cecum. Once this overgrowth occurs, gas emitted by the bacteria can cause extreme pain. Some Clostridium species also produce potentially deadly toxins. It is the liver's job to detoxify these poisons, at a high cost to that all-important organ. Damage to the liver can be a serious--even life-threatening--side effect of GI stasis.

 

[peapoo_bunny]

yeah that is a concern..he drags his back legs all the time?

 

[Pipp]

moved this to the infirmary...

 

[BenNme]

thank you for that info Pipp. sorry, i should have made that more clear. he never, ever drags his back feet. just last time he had this blockage, he did, and now this time he is. he just had a full vet exam a couple of weeks ago, no dental issues, spinal, nothing. the vet thought that it was probably a combination of to much hair being ingested, and not having hay. well, after he recovered from stasis the first time, we had him on just hay and vegetables. and now, i dont know if this is just a coincedence or not, but as soon as i started to add pellets back to his diet, he starts showing signs of an impaction again. can anyone give me very detailed instructions on how to feel if the cecum and intestines are full? thanks~kim

 

[Pipp]

I think there's a diagram around, I'll see if I can find it, but personally, I've never been able to tell.

But if you don't think it's paralysis and it's more related to the blockage, I'd say treat him for gas and pain pronto, and keep up with the hydration --Pedialyte is best.

Doyou have gas meds around with Simethicone in it or can you get some? I use Ovol, a baby gas med, get a dropperful into him and see what that does. It's a safe medication, it won't hurt, and it will help within an hour or two if that's the problem. (It might take a second dose an hour after the first one). That stuff really works.

sas

 

[Pipp]

BenNme wrote:

... as soon as i started to add pellets back to his diet, he starts showing signs of an impaction again.

Did you try him on a different brand of fresh pellets or the same pellets he had before? If it's the latter, there's a chance you have a bad batch. That happens more than people realize.

sas

 

[BenNme]

it was the same batch, wow, i guess that was pretty stupid, i never even thought of that. although, my 2 other bunnies had the same pellets as he did, and they are both fine.

 

[Pipp]

Here's some info on Mycotoxin poisoning:
http://www.morfz.com/myco.html

Here's some on Pain Management:
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=15014&forum_id=10


Still looking for the diagrams...

sas

 

[Pipp]

PS: It really sounds like it could beMycotoxin poisoning. Here's a few of the relevantexcerpts from the above link.

2. What are the symptoms of mycotoxin poisoning (mycotoxicosis)?


[align=justify]The symptoms are wide-ranging and similar to more well-known ailments. Mycotoxins may cause:[/align]

• Gastrointestinal problems (slowdown, delayed stomach emptying, stasis/colic, hemorrhages of the large intestine, shock, reduced gastric and small intestine flow, necrosis of the GI tract, severe bloating, impaction, shutdown without blockage, refusal to eat, weight loss, increased water consumption, vomiting, enteritis).

3. How can mycotoxin poisoning be diagnosed?

The poisoning may manifest as on-and-off, chronic or acute episodes, depending on the amount of toxic feed ingested and how consistently it was fed. The damage to internal organs is cumulative over a period of time. A high incidence of gastrointestinal upsets (impactions, etc.) and of disease associated with depressed immune function (Pasteurella, etc.) may be clues that a mycotoxin problem exists. Some clinical signs which may appear in a rabbit:

• Severe pain in the abdomen -- sudden onset, haunches flaring out, belly pressed against or writhing on the floor, bunny might be lethargic and hide in a corner.
• A radiograph (x-ray) series may reveal gut shutdown but no physical blockage (barium barely drips through), sometimes severe bloating. Often diagnosed as GI stasis or stenosis without identifying the underlying cause.
• Standard GI stasis treatments no longer work, GI motility drugs (Cisaspride/Metachlopromide) lose their effectiveness either because the tissue along the GI tract is necrotic/damaged or because of the overwhelming deoxynivalenol(DON)-induced inhibition of gastric emptying via serotonin receptor sites.
• Hypothermia (low body temperature).
• Blood abnormalities: high BUN and creatinine levels, calcium-phosphorus imbalance (which may lead to chalky urine, organ calcification), abnormal levels of liver enzymes associated with kidney/liver failure; low hematocrit/RBC due to internal bleeding.
• Ulcers in the mouth (strange chewing and tongue motion, difficulty swallowing, teeth problems ruled out), stomach and esophagus.
• Refusal to eat, weight loss.
• Presence of mucous in the feces.
• Rough hair coats.
• Sometimes paralysis or twitching in hind limbs.
• Multiple bunnies fall ill simultaneously in the same household.
• Food tests positive for mycotoxins.
• An endoscopic examination may reveal ulceration along the GI tract but this procedure is difficult to do on small animals.
• Necropsies may show: GI bruising (often subtle), hemorrhages, stomach/GI ulcerations, mouth ulcers, kidney/liver damage (lesions, lipidosis, fibrosis, swelling, discoloration), rectal prolapse.

While many mycotoxins can be measured in environmental samples, it is not yet possible to measure mycotoxins in human or animal tissues.

4. What is the treatment for mycotoxin poisoning?


[*]Sucralfate: Break one-gram tablets of Carafate (sucralfate) into quarters. Administer 1/4 tablet orally every 8-12 hours mixed with water. Drop the 1/4 tablet into a feeding syringe, hold your finger over the tip, add some water, shake it well until it is dissolved, then invert the syringe and bleed off the excess air before syringe feeding (from the side of the mouth, in the gap behind the front teeth). Ideally, it should be given on an empty stomach (one-two hours before meals). Sucralfate should be staggered 3-6 hours apart from other medications because it tends to bind with other drugs (including cimetidine = Tagamet), reducing their absorption and effectiveness. Although healing begins within one to two weeks, it should be administered for at least 3-4 weeks (sometimes up to 8 weeks) to make sure healing is complete. Do not miss a dose because it works cumulatively.
Sucralfate is a "cytoprotective" agent that binds to the ulcerated erosion sites to form a protective barrier and promote healing. This prevents bacteria from crossing through the damaged tissue along the lining in the GI tract and entering the bloodstream, which may cause septicemia (blood poisoning). It is a very safe and effective drug.
[*]Antibiotics (injectable Penicillin G) to guard against bacterial infection and septicemia/toxemia.
[*]Subcutaneous fluids (in mild cases) or IV fluids (in severe cases) to flush out the toxins. Treat for renal failure with supportive therapy.
[*]If severe bloating occurs, the stomach might need to be pumped (carefully) to prevent it from rupturing.
[*]Ask your vet whether other anti-ulcer drugs might be helpful. Prilosec (omeprazole), which suppresses the acid "proton pump" in the gastric mucosa, has proven very effective in treating ulcers in horses (the closest physiological model to a rabbit; both are single-stomached hindgut fermenters). Zantac (Ranitidine HCl), which reduces the production of stomach acid by inhibiting histamine, is much more effective than Tagamet (cimetidine).
[*]Note: Bunnies may have sensitive GI tracts for awhile. Fluids and sucralfate should be re-administered at any sign of discomfort during the following months.

 

[BenNme]

thank you so much for all that pipp. well, i read through all of that, and i agree, Ben does have some of the symptoms. i just went and checked our pellets and hay, and they both look and smell delicious to me. i have horses too, so i know what good hay and bad hay is like. but, i dont know, maybe there is something wrong with the pellets. have you ever gotten a bad batch? what did they look and smell like? thank you so much for all you help, by the way! ~kim

 

[Pipp]

I think at this point, you pretty much have to determine if it's gas or bloat.

How does he look right now? If his temperature has dropped and he's lethargic, it could bebloat, he needs to be seen by a rabbit-savvy vet immediately.

If it's gas and a GI tract slowdown, you can try and get him through it with the oral fluids (although if it's bloat or a serious GI problem, the oral fluids won't work, he'll need a Sub Q and/or and IV).

For a gasattack, exercise helps, peoplewillmassage their stomachs, put a vibrator on it or an electric toothbrush, put them on a washeror dryer or take them for a car ride in an effort to break up the gas bubbles.

If it's true bloat, the vethas to stick a tube downhis thoat andpretty much 'pump' his stomachtorelieve the pressure.

Pain meds should help.

Is he looking like he did when he first had the blockage or is this worse?

sas

 

[Pipp]

A lot of people here have had bad batches of pellets (from major companies, including Purina) that looked and smelled fine and didn't affect all the rabbits, but caused major problems in others. Some are more susceptible than others I guess.

At this point I wouldn't worry about the cause, I'd treat the symptoms. Just don't feed him any more pellets to be safe.

sas

 

[BenNme]

he looks like he did when he first started to get the impaction. not as bad as he was before though.

 

[BenNme]

the last time he had these symptoms, the vet said he had an impaction. although, this seems to be a milder case than last time.

 

[BenNme]

i stopped with the pellets as soon as i started to see these syptoms.