Weird gi stasis ?? very worried

Hi all

My 5 year old bun free range house bun lance was treated for gi stasis on Saturday morning after being ill all night. That time he was being reclusive and lying down but every 30 seconds he was rearing up and lifting his front legs off the floor and making like a riffing / internal burp noise. He never has done this before but vet says meant this hes a lot of pain but I couldnt get smal animal vet til mornin so i gave him some metacolpramide I had . When I brought him down first thing he injected him with metacolpramid and pain killer and by evenin he had pooped and had started to eat again. Fast forward to yesterday and same thing again. So vet gave same injections and now at 6am this morning I have given second dose of gut stimulant as still no poop and he is still rearing up. Vet said he didn't feel any blockages. Anyone every seen a bun rear up like this and lift front feet off the ground?? Do u think this is something more than gi stasis? I have been up all night as I am soo worried about him. I think he may not have been eating enough hay and too many greens vet says, though hay available at all times and excel pellets in morning with spring Greene, carrots, brocolli in evening. I have 3 other buns and they r all ok. Hope someone can give me a bit of advice as I am sick with worry

I think if I was you I'd ask your vet to x-ray Lance's tummy , did they test his blood sugar level's at all ?

Sending 'get well' Vibes for Lance xx

l

Thank u for ur reply and well wishes, yes I think u r right, I am gonna ring vet this morning and ask for xray. Do u think I shouould ask for an ultrasound as well so that they can do everything under one anasethic ?? He is drinking more than usual too so I don't know wot that could mean either. No they didn't do bloods or blood sugar tests, should I get that done too ??

i must make it clear i am no professional rabbit health and warn u this is based on human medicine as i am a carer and a student nurse, but my understanding is that high blood sugar levels can indicate a blockage as there will be food stuck in the digestive tracts behind the blockage getting over absorbed cos its been there too long. an xray or ultrasound would show any blockage, but the blood sugar test will give the vet an idea of how long the gut has been blocked IF this is the problem. if not, an ultrasound or xray would be a good idea anyway as it may show up another problem, as would a normal blood test if there are high levels of white blood cells or digestive enzymes (as this could indicate a liver problem). if i were you i would get them to the most specialised bunny vet u can find and get as many tests done as possible if your funds/insurance will cover it, as gi stasis is often a symptom of another health problem rather than a condition in itself.
good luck, and keep us posted!
with healing vibes, liv xx

Evan presented like this when he had a suspected blockage an x-ray should be able to be performed conscious also ultrasounding a rabbit can be tricky and needs a specialist.
Sending vibes

Thanks everyone, he is in vet now for bloods and xray. I am soo distraught, I cannot bear to think of him not pulling through. Everyone's advice is greatly appreciated. He is a big white lion head but the most gentle sensitive softie. I love him soo much.

Sending vibes for Lance and you.

I hope he gets better real soon x

I hope he's up and feeling better soon :wave:

Bloods back and they r ok, apart from him being a bit anemic. X ray showed his gut really swollen / distended - I can't remember exactly what he said as he was telling me he was going to operate to look to rule out any twists, blockages and to help release the gas and rule out ileus something ? So much to take in as I was in shock at him having to be operated on. He said if we didn't we could keep giving gut stimulant but that might not work and he could die. Please please let my lance come through this. My vet does know his stuff so my poor baby I hope is in good safe hands.

nickybunny1 said:

Bloods back and they r ok, apart from him being a bit anemic. X ray showed his gut really swollen / distended - I can't remember exactly what he said as he was telling me he was going to operate to look to rule out any twists, blockages and to help release the gas and rule out ileus something ? So much to take in as I was in shock at him having to be operated on. He said if we didn't we could keep giving gut stimulant but that might not work and he could die. Please please let my lance come through this. My vet does know his stuff so my poor baby I hope is in good safe hands.

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It does sound pretty serious but it also does sound like your vet is very much on the case. Sending loads of vibes that he can come through this.

sending lots of vibes for lance x

Hi everyone, lance out of surgery and there was a large blockage of faeces in the intestine - faecal impaction. The vet removed this, has given him an enema and he is now on metacolpramide and two antibiotics. I feel my vet knows what he is talking about but then I just googled stuff and another website say this type of treatment is too agressive. I hope I have made the right choice for him and am already stressing over my descision. I get to see him about 4.30pm but he has to stay in overnight. Can't wait to give him a cuddle. Vet says as long as no infection and we can get gut going his prognosis is good. I hope so as I have only his word to go on.

Sending many vibes for a smooth recovery I know how agonising this decision is

aw bless i really hope all goes well that must be so scary!!! keep a close eye on his poops wen he gets home once he starts eating and pooping again he shud be over the worst. good luck to the little guy i will keep my fingers crossed for him

Lance is home !! He has been syringe fed last night and this morning - mashed up excel nuggets. He had peed but no poops yet and I know this is cemritical. He is drinking but I know I need to get him to eat also so am way to buy some mint and parsely. He is bright but still resting. I won't start to breath until Monday comes as I know I could still loose him at this stage. Thanks for ur support everyone. I will keep u posted. Hopefully this story will have a happy ending.

welcome home lance i hope you feel better soon! if hes up to it encourage him to run about this can kick start the gut working and keep him warm, i use a hot water bottle filled from the tap NOT the kettle, wrap it in a towel and leave a strip of towel on the floor so he can lie on it with his side against the bottle.
good luck, and keep us posted xxxx

Glad the surgery went well. Hope he feels better soon. Sending lots of vibes for Lance xx

Lance still doin well, but only eating wee bits of parsley and corriander and a fee carrot tops and a few stands of hay.. He was running about the garden this morning nibbling wee bits of grass . I am worried he is not eatting enough though. It's been 4 days since his surgery, do u think it will take a while to get his appetite back ?? We had been syringe feeding him the past 3 days with mashed pellets. He is seeing the vet this evening tho to check on his progress. I don't want to be giving him food that could cause gas again. Do u think the stress of another rabbit bullying him would have contributed to his problems ?? I have this other bunny penned separate from the other 3 while he is recovering but am afraid to introduce them all again and he picks on lance stressing him further.

Come on Lance, eat and poop for your mum! Sending nomming vibes :wave:

Ok so lance is still doing really well, eatting small amounts of hay and some dandelion leaves and some corriander. Not eatting any pellets though. He would eat some Tesco spring greens but vet said these r too sugary but do u think it is safe to give him the greens if his other food intake is low ?? He has lost weight since surgery.