Rabbit possibly constipated: GI Status

redtailspeed · Aug 1, 2013

My rabbit Cookie, is a minature rabbit and recently, it hasn't been moving and been lethargic. It does drink a bit of water but doesn't eat food. I haven't seen fecal dropping in the past hours and after unhelpful vet recommendation I was wondering how could this be cured using a home remedy or any recommendation or possibility will be helpful.

Rabbit is 3 years old
Thank you

Already switched to hay not pellets, fresh water and veggies. She doesn't eat it.

Bunnylova4eva · Aug 1, 2013

Was this rabbit savvy?

It is important to get this taken care of ASAP; stasis can be dangerous not to mention miserable for the bunny.

You can always try giving critical care or make a ground up pellet slurry with water to get something in the bunny. You can give infant gas-x (simethicone) to help with bloating. Also, massage the tummy. I've found getting wet greens in can really help when they have stasis in addition to lots of exercise. For veggies if they don't eat, I try shredded carrot on top to get them started. It's important not to go TOO overboard forcefeeding though until the bunny starts pooping.

Ideally the vet would give you a medication like Reglan and some sub-q fluids. That usually does the trick well and quickly.

rabbit_friend · Aug 1, 2013

What was the vet recommendation? Did this come on suddenly or gradually over the last few days? There's not much information here to go on.

This article may help: http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

If she has gas, some gentle jiggling of the belly to move it along usually works for my bunnies (lightly vibrate fingers along side of belly from front to back). If her belly is very tight and enlarged, do not try to do this or massage -- it is an emergency and she must get to a vet. You can also give some simethicone to help pass gas (see article above) -- I usually use the capsules and give just a drop or two if she's a dwarf.

She needs lots of fluids to break up whatever is stuck in her stomach, if that's what it is. You can syringe water or Pedialyte into her, though having a vet give subcutaneous fluids is better.

A location would help so people know what resources you might have available.

redtailspeed · Aug 1, 2013

I have already gave the rabbit simethicone and now i'm waiting for the results. I am trying to give it water and food using a syringe and will tell the results.

The vet did not give any recommendation nor prescription.''

Also now my rabbit is breathing quite heavily and It is audible. What am I supposed to do?

redtailspeed · Aug 1, 2013

Actually, this just happened today, but little did I know, the symptoms of GI-Stasis could've happened a while ago.

JBun · Aug 1, 2013

If you could share your location, we might be able to suggest a rabbit vet that is near you or you can look on these lists.

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f28/finding-vet-13366/
http://rabbit.org/vet-listings/

The problem with GI stasis is that if your rabbit has a complete blockage, and you are trying to feed it, there is the possibility it could be fatal to your rabbit. It really is very important to take your rabbit to a very knowledgeable rabbit vet, to get the proper help and medications.

The heavy breathing is from the pain that your rabbit is experiencing. Pain meds would be very helpful, and it often gets a rabbit eating again on its own. The safest and most common one used for rabbits, is metacam. But it is a prescription med that you would need to get from your vet.