dquesnel wrote:
...I do think:
1) even though she is not shedding as much anymore, she very well may have lots of fur left in her stomach from the last shed. It might just have built up to this point.
It shouldn't be too built-up; she was started on Reglan the very day that her fecals started decreasing in size, and was on it for seven days'. During that time, her fecals returned to normal size. (I'm guessing that they may be smaller now due to going off of the Reglan, as other RO members have suggested.)
2) I don't think metoclopromide is a good drug to be using regular- even though you take her on and off it as needed, it is a drug that causes stomach cramps in rabbits as it works by stimulation of stomach contractions. This is no doubt painful. If the problem lies in the fact that there might be a hair build up, stimulating stomach contraction may be more dangerous than anything by forcing a potential obstruction into the pyloric muscle and causing rupture.
I will ask the vet about alternatives. He feels comfortable using the drug, though, as long as a decrease in fecal size is caught very early (i.e., the digestive system is still moving along relatively well, all things considered).
I think that his reasoning for starting with Reglan is that a slowdown in the GI tract seems more likely to begin in the stomach. And since Propulsid does not work on the stomach region, well, 'nuff said.
Truly, I don't wish to cause my bunners' pain/additional digestive upsetsp; butthey have stasis issues so often that it it's mind-boggling and seemingly impossible for me to just "wait it out." (I fear that "waiting it out"--i.e., treating the issue with hay, veggies and/or Critical Care only--will just result in a complete gut shutdown.)
In the past, I've askedRO members for a relatively "safe" time to "wait out" stasis symptoms (i.e., smaller-than-normal fecals); people wereadverse to state a time limit, which made me feel moreremiss to hold off before calling the vet for drug advice (esp. since Emma wound up hospitalized for stasis once before
).
Many vets will use cisapride if the rabbit presents frequent slowdown and stasis- it does not cause cramping as metoclopromide does and also does not force anything into the sensitive pyloric muscle since it is a drug that stimulates the lower GI tract. Of course any motility drugs and their use is controversial- but metoclopromide in particular scares me, and I have known rabbits to die on that drugs. On the other hand, I have seen rabbits on Cisapride (and have one on it daily) on it for a long term with no ill effects. Any drug has its risks though but I would re-evaluate Emma's medication and situation.
I'll contact the vet about trying Cisapride (Propulsid) when stasissymptoms begin to get his thoughts.
One other thing you can do when the poops are getting smaller is increasing the veggies daily. It may happen to soften any stomach contents and potential obstruction and help it pass. If the rabbit cannot tolerate veggies however, skip this one.
She seems to tolerate veggies fairly well. In the past, I've waited maybe two days' time of giving her extra veggies and even some pumpkin before panicking over her still-small fecals. For all I know, as long as she's still passing them (small, or otherwise), all is okay. :?
Edited to add a PS: I've been told by an HRS staff member, as well as another long bun owner, that the Mini Rex breed is
very prone to stasis issues. My experience proves that opinion to be true.
(I'm not sure what's worse: Having a bun who experiences stasis most often, or one who has megacolon and/or stasis issues.)
