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GI statis/gas- Rabbit Health help

loopylu

New Kit
Hi, just after advice or help from anyone, who anyone's rabbits who have had this before?

A couple weeks back, we noticed that our rabbits, Millys, ears were cold and she wasnt eating. She was taken to the vets straight away and diagnosed with GI statis, and the first vet didnt give a very good prognosis. After about a week, she was taken back again, after being on doses of pain relief and antibiotics etc. She saw a different vet this time, and he didnt seem to think anything was to bad, but said this was normal for older rabbits, ( shes about 6 now) and said when we get home to just put her outside on grass, he didnt even seem to think she needed a second nose of the medicines, and said it is very common in rabbits, but we asked for some anyway. We didnt feel like she was up to this, so we kept her inside, still finishing her medicine and giving her critical care, as she didn't have her full appetite back. By the end of the week, she seemed almost back to normal, she was eating and very lively, so we put her out in her run outside on the grass for her to graze. she seemed really hungry and scoffed a lot down. That evening she went back quiet again, the next morning she hadnt eaten much, so we carried on again with the next dose. Again after about a week she was back to normal, and running up the sides of the cage, always seeming to want more and more food non stop. On the past Friday she was continuously eating and didnt seem to want to stop. However, on Sunday she seemed to go very quiet again, and barley ate anything, so we gave her some more pain relief, and some critical care, along with some recommended baby gas medicine, as all the symptoms seemed to lead to gas problems. On monday, today she seemed to get worse,so we took her down straight away,again we saw a different vet this time, who didnt hold out much hope for her, and even suggested euthanasia, saying she was living on borrowed time and GI is a very serious problem, and she should probably stay in.
We didnt feel like she was ready to go, so we got a repeated prescription, and took her home, hoping for the best.
We ve been syringe feeding her, and given her the first doses of medicine, and she seemed more lively than she was the morning, more active and washing etc, however, still didnt really eat, so all day little and often we've been giving her the critical care.
She has now, just ate some grass we gave her, to me she seemed to be getting better, but i am worried it might happen again.
I have read on numerous sites, that GI often recurring, and takes long to heal.
Has anyone else had similar problems?
Sorry for the long message, but id appreciate any help/support or stories anyone might have.
I have to go back to Uni soon, so i will no longer be there and i am worried she might fall back again when iam gone :(
Thankyou in advance
 
I can't advise as much on the GI stasis thing but I personally think you'd be better off seeing another vet - your current one doesn't sound very good with rabbits :? My Netherland Dwarf had stasis either late last year or early this year (she had about 4/5 months of being poorly, pneumonia, respiratory infection, stasis and gas recurring, so I can't remember exactly when the stasis was!) and I see a rabbit specialist (I'm in Lincolnshire), she treated Dee as a normal rabbit regardless of her age (Dee is 7, that's getting on a bit for little bunnies like her) and Dee went on to make a full recovery :)
 
Hi there and welcome :wave:

Seems strange how she keeps perking up and going downhill again.

Your vet sounds rubbish though...do you know if he checked her teeth at all? What other medication has he given apart from the Metacam and what dose of metacam? Where are you so we can see if there is an exotics vet near to you?

Is she neutered? Also what is your daily feeding regime and how is her pooing/weeing?

Sorry for so many questions it just gives everyone a clearer picture.
 
Do the episodes happen AFTER she has eaten a lot of grass ?

What are her poos like ?

Did the Vet examine her teeth ?

What are the names of the medication she has been having ?
 
I think you need a new vet. Depending on what is causing it, GI stasis is often treatable and/or manageable long-term, but it does often reoccur. When a rabbit has stasis, it is an emergency and can be fatal, so any vet that does not take it seriously doesn't know much about rabbits.

GI stasis can be as a result of something else, and so identifying the original cause is key to curing/managing it. It can also be diet-related, so it is important to keep note of everything your rabbit eats, how much of it and when.

Rabbits are classed as exotics in the vet world, which means that normal vets receive little or no training on them. Some become rabbit-savvy through their own interest, but many don't. With something like gut stasis, it is important to have a rabbit-savvy vet that knows what they are doing. In my experience, younger vets are often more interested in rabbit medicine, but it does depend on the vet. If possible, a rabbit specialist or exotic vet should be used.

If you could tell us your approximate area, someone on here may be able to recommend a decent vet.
 
My rabbit, Rupert has very very similar issues.

First things first. STOP THE GRASS. Spring grass is well known for causing gas, it's what started Rupert's problems 2 years ago.

Secondly - have her teeth been checked?

Could be bladder sludge - often, the pain causes the gas, which then causes the stasis (altho Rupert gets gas, then the pain, then stops eating).

Try a different vet.

For treating the gas at home:
Get some infacol in. When the gas happens, give a few drops. It works wonders.
Gentle tummy rubs.
Get bunny moving - lift the back end higher than head, get bunny running upstairs if you can. (helps move the gas along).
Ask for metacam and metoclop for home - our vet has given us some, and when he gets a gas attack, we give him metacam first to ease the pain, then metoclop just to help him along.

I am a huge believer in the change of seasons being partly to blame for these issues bunnies get. Its so cold at night, then so warm thru the day, they just struggle with it.

Also, lastly, brush bunny..... it could be fur not helping the matters
 
I can't advise as much on the GI stasis thing but I personally think you'd be better off seeing another vet - your current one doesn't sound very good with rabbits :? My Netherland Dwarf had stasis either late last year or early this year (she had about 4/5 months of being poorly, pneumonia, respiratory infection, stasis and gas recurring, so I can't remember exactly when the stasis was!) and I see a rabbit specialist (I'm in Lincolnshire), she treated Dee as a normal rabbit regardless of her age (Dee is 7, that's getting on a bit for little bunnies like her) and Dee went on to make a full recovery :)

Thankyou for getting back, weve been to that vets 4 times just recently and every time we saw a different vet, we even asked for a rabbit specalist, but they said there all rabbit 'savvy', but me, and my mum did think she wasnt very good! We think it might be gas, ive been looking online at symptoms and it seems to be whats she got, thats an amazing recovery! The vet didnt seem to giver her much hope at tall, but the vet we saw before, i wasnt there as i was still at uni, but my mum said hed told her he had done his training in rabbits, and dint find a problem at tall, so after hearing what youve said, we are beginning to think it might be the vet! I glad to hear of such a good story with your rabbit! :)
 
Hi there and welcome :wave:

Seems strange how she keeps perking up and going downhill again.

Your vet sounds rubbish though...do you know if he checked her teeth at all? What other medication has he given apart from the Metacam and what dose of metacam? Where are you so we can see if there is an exotics vet near to you?

Is she neutered? Also what is your daily feeding regime and how is her pooing/weeing?

Sorry for so many questions it just gives everyone a clearer picture.


Hi, thankyou for getting back to me, and i have read online it can sometimes happen, and the both times its happened its after she ate loads the previous day. Out of all the vets we saw, she did seem the worst, and she didnt seem to really know.

the medications shes on is; emeprid oral 1ml, loxicom 0.9, zantac 0.8, baytril 0.2 all twice daily
She is neautured, at the moment shes not pooing or weeing much, but just before it was quite normal. She kind of went of her food, and only was eating celary, herbs, apple and dandylion leaves

Its ok and thankyou for your help! :)
 
Do the episodes happen AFTER she has eaten a lot of grass ?

What are her poos like ?

Did the Vet examine her teeth ?

What are the names of the medication she has been having ?

It did the first time, after she was outside, the 2nd time she had grass mixed with various other things,
on friday they were quite normal, but over the weekend seemed smaller, and seemed to of stopped when we took her in
she did, and she said she had dental problems, but didntsay what, or do anything about it,
at christmas with another vet, she had her teeth rasped down..
shes on ; emeprid oral 1ml, loxicom 0.9, zantac 0.8, baytril 0.2 all twice daily
thankyou for getting back to me
 
Thankyou for getting back, weve been to that vets 4 times just recently and every time we saw a different vet, we even asked for a rabbit specalist, but they said there all rabbit 'savvy', but me, and my mum did think she wasnt very good! We think it might be gas, ive been looking online at symptoms and it seems to be whats she got, thats an amazing recovery! The vet didnt seem to giver her much hope at tall, but the vet we saw before, i wasnt there as i was still at uni, but my mum said hed told her he had done his training in rabbits, and dint find a problem at tall, so after hearing what youve said, we are beginning to think it might be the vet! I glad to hear of such a good story with your rabbit! :)

Where abouts are you? if you post in Rabbit Chat with your area, saying something like 'Rabbit savvy vet needed in *area*', then someone may be able to recommend one near to you that they use :)
 
I think you need a new vet. Depending on what is causing it, GI stasis is often treatable and/or manageable long-term, but it does often reoccur. When a rabbit has stasis, it is an emergency and can be fatal, so any vet that does not take it seriously doesn't know much about rabbits.

GI stasis can be as a result of something else, and so identifying the original cause is key to curing/managing it. It can also be diet-related, so it is important to keep note of everything your rabbit eats, how much of it and when.

Rabbits are classed as exotics in the vet world, which means that normal vets receive little or no training on them. Some become rabbit-savvy through their own interest, but many don't. With something like gut stasis, it is important to have a rabbit-savvy vet that knows what they are doing. In my experience, younger vets are often more interested in rabbit medicine, but it does depend on the vet. If possible, a rabbit specialist or exotic vet should be used.

If you could tell us your approximate area, someone on here may be able to recommend a decent vet.

Him thankyou for getting back to me :) iam beginning to think so not now, after what ive been hearing, and so it does often come back if a rabbit has had it before, it didnt seem to be any worse than the first time, the vet wasnt sure if it was statis or gas, she seemed to contradict herself, as first she asked me if i heard gas moving, which i said i thought i could when i was giving her massages, and she said it couldnt be GI then, then she was it was :/
It could be due to her diet, she doesnt like hay, weve brought lots of different types of hay, even lots of expensive kind, and she stills isnt a massive fan :/ so its hard too get her to eat it. :/
we try and ask for a rabbit vet, but they said they were all trained with rabbits now, and now weve seen practically every vet at that place, which again makes it harder, as they all say different things
i live in the coventry and warwickshire area, if anyone knows any good vets?
Thankyou for your response thought! i know feel better that it was just that vet who thought nothing could be done for her now :/
 
My rabbit, Rupert has very very similar issues.

First things first. STOP THE GRASS. Spring grass is well known for causing gas, it's what started Rupert's problems 2 years ago.

Secondly - have her teeth been checked?

Could be bladder sludge - often, the pain causes the gas, which then causes the stasis (altho Rupert gets gas, then the pain, then stops eating).

Try a different vet.

For treating the gas at home:
Get some infacol in. When the gas happens, give a few drops. It works wonders.
Gentle tummy rubs.
Get bunny moving - lift the back end higher than head, get bunny running upstairs if you can. (helps move the gas along).
Ask for metacam and metoclop for home - our vet has given us some, and when he gets a gas attack, we give him metacam first to ease the pain, then metoclop just to help him along.

I am a huge believer in the change of seasons being partly to blame for these issues bunnies get. Its so cold at night, then so warm thru the day, they just struggle with it.

Also, lastly, brush bunny..... it could be fur not helping the matters

Thankyou for getting back, she hasnt been back outside of the grass since she got it the first time, but now knowing that i wont put her on it again.
My mum did say she didnt want to go back there, as she didnt like the vet or the vets attitude towards milly,
we did start on infacol, but stopped after she went to the vets and she had all the other stuff, but well give her some more and hopefully it will start working.
she's been getting lots of tummy rubs and seems to love them, as every so often as im giving them to her she turns her head and start licking my hands back, which to be seems like a postitve sign that she might be feeling better??
do you know how to tell the difference between gas and GI? I dont think the vet really knew, i told her about how she lies flat on her stomach when she had it, which as i read online apparently is what they do when they gas pain, to ease it? but she didnt really seem to take note of that.
we have now brought her inside, and sometimes even put the heating on just for her to help! but that's interesting to know! i will start brushing her more to get rid of excess fur, she is washing her self quite a lot, so could not be helping matters!
thankyou for all your help! :)
 
Where abouts are you? if you post in Rabbit Chat with your area, saying something like 'Rabbit savvy vet needed in *area*', then someone may be able to recommend one near to you that they use :)

i live in the coventry and warwickshire area, west midlands? if anyone knows any good rabbits vets.
Thankyou, i am feeling better now that seemingly it is not a particular good rabbit vet, and i think i will have to look for a new one, as she did recommend just putting her down, saying we have to think about her quality of life :/ i know rabbits do often hide their symptoms as they are a prey animal, but compared to yesterday, she is not sitting as hunched, moving more washing and giving lots of licks when i give her a tummy rub, and shes started eating a bit more now, although we still have her on the critical care, but iam glad we didnt follow her advice, she doesnt seem like a bunny thats is too ill to go on.
Thakyou for you all help! :)
 
GI stasis means a very slow or stopped gut. Gas could potentially be the cause of this, but it can also be as a result of stasis. It is not a case of it being just one or the other - it can be both.

Yes, it absolutely can be a recurring thing, and the reason is that what causes the problem in the first place is often something that happens again. Common causes of stasis are severe pain (from any illness), dental problems (causing bunny to eat less hay and also be in a lot of pain), a diet lacking in fibre or too high in sugar or protein, a particular food that doesn't agree with them, gas and, last but not least, stress. It can also be a combination of these. If you do not solve the problem, the rabbit is likely to experience stasis again and again. The key to treating stasis is to diagnose the cause and treat this, rather than just treating the symptoms.

The medicines that she is on should be helping. The emeprid is a medicine called metaclopramide, this and zantac are both gut stimulants and will be helping to keep her gut moving. Loxicom is a pain killer that also reduces inflammation. Baytril is an antibiotic.

You need to find the cause of this. From what you have said, I would suspect both diet and teeth, but you need to get a decent vet to investigate. This will require them looking at her teeth, and they should also listen to her gut with a stethoscope. They may also want to do an xray or an ultrasound of the gut.

If her teeth have spurs (points) on them, these can rub on the tongue and cheeks, which is very painful. It also makes them not want to eat, and rabbits with dental spurs often go off their hay. Rabbits need lots of fibre in their diet, and their guts must never be allowed to go empty, or they can go into stasis, so not eating enough hay can cause this. A healthy rabbit should eat a pile of hay the size of themselves every day, as a guide. Rabbits have to have constant access to unlimited hay, as they can't stop eating for hours like humans can, they can't let their gut empty.

Grass is a good substitute for hay, but spring grass can be very sugary, which if the rabbit is not used to it can upset their digestive system. Other high sugar foods, like carrot or fruit, are also not good for the gut. Changing food suddenly or introducing new foods too quickly can also cause problems.
 
i live in the coventry and warwickshire area, west midlands? if anyone knows any good rabbits vets.
Thankyou, i am feeling better now that seemingly it is not a particular good rabbit vet, and i think i will have to look for a new one, as she did recommend just putting her down, saying we have to think about her quality of life :/ i know rabbits do often hide their symptoms as they are a prey animal, but compared to yesterday, she is not sitting as hunched, moving more washing and giving lots of licks when i give her a tummy rub, and shes started eating a bit more now, although we still have her on the critical care, but iam glad we didnt follow her advice, she doesnt seem like a bunny thats is too ill to go on.
Thakyou for you all help! :)

I'd really recommend you posting up in rabbit chat, it's better if you can go to a vet others use/have used before so you don't risk having the same sort of situation! *Funny*Bunny* lives in Coventry, you could PM her and ask which vets she uses?
 
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