Need tips on how to increase mobility in my rabbits GI tract

[SarahJ]

I'm currently looking after a sick bunny for the welfare centre I volunteer at. His name is Max and he is a 4 (Approx) year old, dutch nethie cross.

He was diagnosed with malocclusion and had an operation yesterday to sort that out. They had to take out a couple of his teeth and then rasped the spurs down on the others. Good news.

Not so good is that they think he's been sick for a while. They ran pre op blood tests and found that his red blood cells were low (indicitive of anaemia) and urea was high (dehydration). The vet also thinks because he hasn't pooped in a while his intestinal system is working very very slowly.

He's currently being fed Supreme Recovery liquid food (lapping it up by himself) and I've given him some apple and banana fruit puree. He's also had a nibble on some parsley and basil. He also has been having pro biotics added to his water (Proteinex maybe? Can't remember the name). He got give sub q fluids at the vet.

So, need to get his GI tract moving again and get him pooping! He has done a couple but they are very, very, very small (My hamster does bigger ones). Just looking for some advice on what else I can try for him.

He is off back to the vet on Monday for post op and he needs to have put on some weight!

 

[tamsin]

Personally, I think movement is quite important. Often buns feeling under the weather will sit around a lot, I would try to get him moving about. If he's reluctant then picking him up, moving up a bit away from his cage and then letting him hop back in should get him to move. It seems a bit mean but I'm sure it does help. Rubbing gentle circles on his tummy is another way to encourage gut movement.

 

[ra7751]

The single most important point in GI movement is proper hydration and high fiber. The gut must be hydrated to be pliable and for the muscles to move things along. Many vets still prescribe GI motility drugs but I have found them to be totally inappropriate and will many times cause some serious and undesirable results. Once hydrated, the gut can handle food. In rescue, our rule of thumb is hydration before nutrition. Food can't be digested and absorbed until that gut is hydrated. I would suggest working on hydration first.....oral Pedialyte or other human infant electrolyte formula along with sub-q supplementation. Leafy greens such as romaine lettuce or dandelions are primarily water and help with hydration. And as posted in another post, if you can keep the rabbit moving as much as possible without stress, that will also help move the gut. Good luck.

Randy

 

[SarahJ]

Thanks for the advice About an hour after posting he did his first proper poo, now they're completly back to normal :biggrin2: He's drinking a lot more and eating pellets. Just have to hope he puts some weight on now!

 

[tamsin]

Glad to hear he's doing better