Just in from RWA First Alert.....

From: RWAFirstAlert-owner@yahoogroups.com
Date: 08/16/04 17:25:59
To: RWAFirstAlert@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [RWAFirstAlert] Pet rabbits at risk as drug runs out


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Rabbit welfare campaigners are warning that pet rabbits may suffer
because a supply of a vital medicine has run out.

Cisparide (trade name Prepulsid) is used to treat rabbits suffering
from "Gastrointestinal stasis" or "ileus", a potentially deadly
condition where gut movement slows down and stops. Rabbits can
develop GI stasis when they are ill or in pain for any reason, and
often die without rapid and intensive treatment.

Vet Judith Brown of the Rabbit Welfare Association (RWA)
explains: "Cisapride was designed for medical use, but withdrawn in
2000. As there's no veterinary equivalent, vets have been able to
prescribe it for individual rabbits. But now supplies of liquid
cisapride in the UK have run out, and no more is being manufactured."

Although UK supplies have run out, several hundred of the last
remaining bottles have been allocated to Ireland. UK rabbit vets are
pleading with manufacturer Janssen to divert some of these bottles to
the UK, to give British vets time to find alternative treatments.

The RWA is urging rabbit owners to be more aware of GI stasis - and
to seek veterinary help immediately if their rabbit seems at all
unwell.

If you want to help the RWA with this campaign, copy and paste the
press release (below) into an email and send to your local paper.
Contacts for your local paper can be found at:
http://www.mediauk.com/directory/newspapers/

In order to help us co-ordinate this campaign, we would be grateful
if you would let us know who you have sent the press release to by
emailing e.a.smith@ncl.ac.uk

Thank you.

PRESS RELEASE
Monday 16 August 2004

The Rabbit Welfare Association

Pet rabbits at risk as drug runs out

Rabbit welfare campaigners are warning that pet rabbits may suffer
because a supply of a vital medicine has run out.

Cisparide (trade name Prepulsid) is used to treat rabbits suffering
from "Gastrointestinal stasis" or "ileus", a potentially deadly
condition where gut movement slows down and stops. Rabbits can
develop GI stasis when they are ill or in pain for any reason, and
often die without rapid and intensive treatment.

Vet Judith Brown of the Rabbit Welfare Association (RWA)
explains: "Cisapride was designed for medical use, but withdrawn in
2000. As there's no veterinary equivalent, vets have been able to
prescribe it for individual rabbits. But now supplies of liquid
cisapride in the UK have run out, and no more is being manufactured."

Although UK supplies have run out, several hundred of the last
remaining bottles have been allocated to Ireland. UK rabbit vets are
pleading with manufacturer Janssen to divert some of these bottles to
the UK, to give British vets time to find alternative treatments.

The RWA is urging rabbit owners to be more aware of GI stasis - and
to seek veterinary help immediately if their rabbit seems at all
unwell.

"Rabbits conceal signs of illness," explains Judith Brown, "and by
the time rabbits are obviously ill, they are often close to death. A
rabbit that is just a little bit lethargic and eating less than
normal may already be developing GI stasis."
The risk of GI stasis can be reduced if rabbits are fed a healthy
diet with plenty of grass and hay; have plenty of exercise; and any
health problems are treated promptly.

End

Further information:

Liza Macdonald, PR Manager, RWA: Lizamacd@btinternet.com
01622 630491 or 07761 477273
Judith Brown, Veterinary Executive, RWA: judith.brown3@virgin.net









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I look after disabled children and alot of those were on cisapride to help with gut motility. When it was taken off the market they were changed onto a medication called Domperidone. Don't know if it works exactly the same but maybe its an alternative for vets to use.
Chris

thats an interesting one Chris, if it is safe to use cisapride on children, and has been used on rabbits safetly, surely the alternative you use, would have a possibility of being safe to.

annie

Prepulsid is a great drug but on bunnies you can also use metachlopromide with the same effects. Its used to calm vomiting in humans and dogs/cats but in bunnies it is a gut stimulant..

This is the information about the drug, other name is Motilium. As i said tho i have no idea if it would be any good in rabbits but this is what most children are now taking in place of prepulsid/cisapride. It doesnt say on here but it does come as a solution as thats what the kids i care for have.
http://www.edrugnet.co.uk/buy-motilium.htm
Chris

Shall I send a copy of these recommendations to the RWA?

Tamsin

Hi Tamsin, I have sent this information to Judith Brown already. Great minds think alike eh.... :wink: :lol:

Lol yep! Well done

Tam

hmmmmm and what's the rest of that saying again............... :lol: just kidding!

oh, I don't know Lynda, really I don't, do tell...... :lol:

I'm not saying anything else :no: Tamsin has already threatened to set the attack bunnies on me for parts of the charter which we mustn't do:-

- Publicly insult any Administrator, Diplomat, Sub-Diplomat, Individual or Organisation. Any violators of this rule will be asked to leave the Forum or make a public apology.
- Swear and/or use abusive language.

Awww, poop! .................... fools seldom differ! *runs and hides behind the couch!*