Preventing GI stasis

[EricaWD]

We recently lost a bun due to GI stasis (and potentially a twisted stomach) and I wondered what else we can do to prevent it in the future. The buns have the following diet
* Unlimited hay (orchard or timothy), they eat a good deal of the orchard especially
* 1/8th cup Oxbow pellets, the Netherland dwarf (about 2lb) doesn't usually eat more than that a day, and the mini rex and holland lop (about 6lb and 4lb respectively) get 1/8th in the morning and at night
* romaine lettuce, about 1/2 a cup to 1 and 1/2 cup per day, they get less or more depending on size
* a small piece of cauliflower, a small piece of broccoli, and a small baby carrot per day for each
* rarely (once or twice a week) an Oxbow apple rabbit treat

As I mentioned in another thread, we are planning to brush them more often in the future, and we give simethicone and call the rabbit savvy vet at the first sign of a problem (we notice right away if they aren't eating or pooping). One of the vets suggested giving part of a papaya tablet to each every day when they're shedding, but I gather from the forum this probably won't help?

 

[Watermelons]

Ditch the cauliflower, broccoli, and carrot.
You dont need to give gassy veggies and high sugar carrots when there are better greens out there. Stick with leafy greens.
Less rommaine and more variety of healthy lettuces. Think spring mix greens.

 

[EricaWD]

Thank you, we will do that. I was going to ask what other lettuces are good but I found this source - Suggested Vegetables and Fruits for a Rabbit Diet | House Rabbit Society

 

[Diane R]

If you mean live lobe torsion, there is nothing you can do to prevent that. But the healthiest greens are herbs (they can have all of them apart from chives) and forage, better than 'human veg'.

 

[JBun]

- Gradually introduce new foods(exception is grass hay), and stop feeding ones that cause any upset.
- Don't feed veggies that are off in any way.
- Limit high calcium foods for bladder sludge prone buns
- Don't feed high carb/sugary foods unless the rabbit is eating hay really well, and the poop is a good size and no mushy poop. Though I would ditch the oxbow treat and carrot, and stick to very limited amounts of fruit as a treat(seems to digest easier without causing problems) if the rabbit tolerates it fine without issue.
- Don't feed high carb/sugary foods to buns that are sensitive to them(eg. megacolon buns).
- Make sure your hay and pellets are good quality with no signs of mold(never been wet, white or black spots, white dust, sour or musty smell).
- Feed a high quality pellet with low carbs and lots of fiber.
- Make sure a pile of good grass hay, at least the size of your rabbits body, is being eaten each day.
- Make sure fecal poop is a good size and consistency.
- Reduce pellet amounts to encourage more hay eating if GI stasis is a concern(small poop, molting, etc), and the rabbits body weight remains good. Good grass hay with indigestible fiber(some crunchy stems) is the best thing for increased gut motility and GI stasis issues.
- Monitor daily, your rabbits eating, drinking, poop, urine, and for any odd changes of behavior. Monitor body condition. Changes in these things can be your earliest indicator something is wrong.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/greens--veggies.html
https://bunssb.org/bunnies/guide-bunny-poops/
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Urine
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Weight_management
https://www.theveterinarynurse.com/...recognition-and-management-of-pain-in-rabbits

 

[Maureen Las]

I had learned early on that petroleum based cat hairball gel was not helpful for rabbits when shedding . I was taught that it was “old school” and could contribute to a blockage. I never used it UNTIL I participated in an online forum recently given by an extremely knowledgeable SanDiego exotic rabbit vet who has rabbits herself.
She highly recommends and uses maple flavored laxatone for her rabbits during shedding. Because of this I have started to use it for 1st time in 25 yrs of having rabbits! I am only passing this on without taking a stand one way or another . It certantly has not harmed my 4 buns !
I agree in not feeding broccoli carrots or cauliflower due to gas and sugar
‘This may not be a popular view but since I really cut back on greens (but never hay) my rabbits have far less gas and stasis issues than they did previously.Just my experience !
Gastric torsion is so serious and untreatable ! Please don’t blame yourself,however, tweaking diet and brushing them more often never hurts.