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Stasis prone bunnies

Hi loobers.

We found the excel mint pellets made Pip belly press straight afterwards especially when we fed them more. I imagined they were swelling in her tummy. Making her feel stuffed!

We swapped to a new pellet and give her less. They are physically larger so she has to chew then for longer and can't gulp them down.

I wonder if when Toby was with your other bun, they ate more of the pellets?

Also we have found if we give our nethies too many willow sticks they get gas. So we don't offer it anymore. But I know a lot of peoples buns are ok.

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I was just thinking the same thing :thumb:
 
Hi loobers.

We found the excel mint pellets made Pip belly press straight afterwards especially when we fed them more. I imagined they were swelling in her tummy. Making her feel stuffed!

We swapped to a new pellet and give her less. They are physically larger so she has to chew then for longer and can't gulp them down.

I wonder if when Toby was with your other bun, they ate more of the pellets?

Also we have found if we give our nethies too many willow sticks they get gas. So we don't offer it anymore. But I know a lot of peoples buns are ok.

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Toby takes less than three seconds to clear his bowl. I was considering SS but he eats so fast I was worried he could choke. How long was pip on excel before you started getting problems? Xx

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Toby takes less than three seconds to clear his bowl. I was considering SS but he eats so fast I was worried he could choke. How long was pip on excel before you started getting problems? Xx

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Pip and Archie were on excel for 6 months before she started problems. They made her tummy gurgle really loudly, like a human tummy. Ours ate mega fast too. They are now on beaphar nature rabbit, which are huge so have to be chewed. Also it's got less additives that excel, we thought the added yeast might be causing her gurgles.

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Pip and Archie were on excel for 6 months before she started problems. They made her tummy gurgle really loudly, like a human tummy. Ours ate mega fast too. They are now on beaphar nature rabbit, which are huge so have to be chewed. Also it's got less additives that excel, we thought the added yeast might be causing her gurgles.

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Thank you, I'm going to change pellets. I can't cut them out totally as Toby takes his meds that way. So I'm thinking depending on size a tiny amount am and Pm. How have you found the new pellets, where they recommend to you for stasis bunnies?

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This one? Xx
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Thank you, I'm going to change pellets. I can't cut them out totally as Toby takes his meds that way. So I'm thinking depending on size a tiny amount am and Pm. How have you found the new pellets, where they recommend to you for stasis bunnies?

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Yeah we didn't want to cut them out totally.
The buns weren't sure at first because they were so different, but they are like that with all new food.

They now love them and bounce around the room when we open the bag. Pip no longer has tummy gurgles, which is great.

It did take her about 6 months to stop having stasis/gas symptoms but I think a lot of that was her picking up stress from us. As soon as we decided to stop fussing her the gas symptoms have stopped. Toby may be sensing your stress?

The food wasn't recommended for stasis buns but it had a lot less ingredients so I thought there would be less to upset a tummy. Also the fibre content was very high.

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Yeah we didn't want to cut them out totally.
The buns weren't sure at first because they were so different, but they are like that with all new food.

They now love them and bounce around the room when we open the bag. Pip no longer has tummy gurgles, which is great.

It did take her about 6 months to stop having stasis/gas symptoms but I think a lot of that was her picking up stress from us. As soon as we decided to stop fussing her the gas symptoms have stopped. Toby may be sensing your stress?

The food wasn't recommended for stasis buns but it had a lot less ingredients so I thought there would be less to upset a tummy. Also the fibre content was very high.

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That's what I'm thinking, simple ingredients.

Well it's strange because when he started his heart therapy I completely relaxed as I thought this would fix things. I started doing normal things again like watching TV without having the feeling to check on him all the time. I felt like things went back to normal. The day Toby got gas again I went into his room to feed him and me and my husband where in fits of laughter as he did the biggest frog leap binky when I came in. Then he ate his dinner and ended up at anton vets for three days :( i would definitely say my stress doesn't help things right now, but during that time I felt ok? Xx

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That's what I'm thinking, simple ingredients.

Well it's strange because when he started his heart therapy I completely relaxed as I thought this would fix things. I started doing normal things again like watching TV without having the feeling to check on him all the time. I felt like things went back to normal. The day Toby got gas again I went into his room to feed him and me and my husband where in fits of laughter as he did the biggest frog leap binky when I came in. Then he ate his dinner and ended up at anton vets for three days :( i would definitely say my stress doesn't help things right now, but during that time I felt ok? Xx

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I like the sound of a frog leap binky! Yeah it's hard not to stress when you are worrying about them.

Is he moving around as much as he used to? I know my buns chase each other which must help their guts

We only give them 10g of pellets between the two of them 3 times a day. Small portions little and often. I thought they only have tiny tummies and I always feel stuffed after eating too much food myself.

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That's what I'm thinking, simple ingredients.

Well it's strange because when he started his heart therapy I completely relaxed as I thought this would fix things. I started doing normal things again like watching TV without having the feeling to check on him all the time. I felt like things went back to normal. The day Toby got gas again I went into his room to feed him and me and my husband where in fits of laughter as he did the biggest frog leap binky when I came in. Then he ate his dinner and ended up at anton vets for three days :( i would definitely say my stress doesn't help things right now, but during that time I felt ok? Xx

I know what you mean. I remember when I had bunnies that were constantly going into stasis, I used to stress them out so much by keep checking on them!
 
Hi loobers. Just on the subject of treating Toby at home- ask the vet for some meds. I have given Bob metacam and zantac at the first sign of discomfort- belly pressing- since I had some left over from January and this acted quickly- never had to give him the metachlorpromide. I think the stress of being in pain just makes it rapidly worse so to ease that really does seem to nip it in the bud.
Also we have changed how we feed him- little by little as I do think bolting his food was partly responsible as he often had episodes straight after eating too.
Hope Toby continues to be well x

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Hi loobers. Just on the subject of treating Toby at home- ask the vet for some meds. I have given Bob metacam and zantac at the first sign of discomfort- belly pressing- since I had some left over from January and this acted quickly- never had to give him the metachlorpromide. I think the stress of being in pain just makes it rapidly worse so to ease that really does seem to nip it in the bud.
Also we have changed how we feed him- little by little as I do think bolting his food was partly responsible as he often had episodes straight after eating too.
Hope Toby continues to be well x

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Thank you for messaging! I am definitely going to ask about meds at home, I will call him Monday as I can't live my life like this wondering when I'm going to have to drive him nearly an hour away for these episodes. If you don't mind me asking, what changes did you make for Bob regarding his diet? Xx

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Hi. It's a bit different compared to Toby as we have really reduced his veg intake. Stopped carrot altogether- only gave a small amount but seemed to trigger. We now give him things he is not fussed for (like celery) first so he doesn't bolt it but he is hungry so he eats it and then small bits of veg he does like some time after. We do give egg cup of Burgess pellets to get him to go to bed but this does not seem to be the problem. He has lost some weight but looks better for it and eats more hay. He annoyingly has a thing for the outrageously expensive Burgess Timothy dandelion and marigold. [emoji1]
Also we dried a lot of willow at the end of last year which he loves and does not upset him. It has a natural analgesic properties that can't hurt. If Toby won't eat wet things as soon as rabbit friendly trees come into leaf you could start drying them?
I think there is a lot of trial and error with observations and each rabbit is different.
Try not to stress -you are a great bunny mum and Toby(and Maple) are lucky to have you x

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My bunny Freddie is also frequently getting gas and I’ve also been driving back and forth to the specialists. I’ve started treating him with simeticone and belly rubs and he seems to improve on his own. I’m starting to think maybe it’s his hay that’s causing it but surely that can’t be the case? I suspected Science Selective pellets but he’s getting gas again when not on it.
 
That's what I'm thinking, simple ingredients.

Well it's strange because when he started his heart therapy I completely relaxed as I thought this would fix things. I started doing normal things again like watching TV without having the feeling to check on him all the time. I felt like things went back to normal. The day Toby got gas again I went into his room to feed him and me and my husband where in fits of laughter as he did the biggest frog leap binky when I came in. Then he ate his dinner and ended up at anton vets for three days :( i would definitely say my stress doesn't help things right now, but during that time I felt ok? Xx

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We must be passing each other on the M3. Freddie is also one of John Chitty’s regulars! We appear to be going through the same thing with our buns. Unfortunately X-rays and bloods didn’t find anything.
 
My bunny Freddie is also frequently getting gas and I’ve also been driving back and forth to the specialists. I’ve started treating him with simeticone and belly rubs and he seems to improve on his own. I’m starting to think maybe it’s his hay that’s causing it but surely that can’t be the case? I suspected Science Selective pellets but he’s getting gas again when not on it.
Hi neighbour!

I have a few questions.

What brand of hay do you use and where do you buy it?

What treats do you give?

Where did Freddie come from?

How old is Freddie and when did he start getting these episodes.

The day that Toby had his last episode he ate his breakfast in around two seconds. So maybe I'm thinking he's swallowing in them whole then they are expanding in his tummy perhaps? I have took him off excel and in the mean time I'm using digestive health sticks so he has to take longer to chew.

Does Freddie eat quickly?

Xx

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Hi neighbour!

I have a few questions.

What brand of hay do you use and where do you buy it?

What treats do you give?

Where did Freddie come from?

How old is Freddie and when did he start getting these episodes.

The day that Toby had his last episode he ate his breakfast in around two seconds. So maybe I'm thinking he's swallowing in them whole then they are expanding in his tummy perhaps? I have took him off excel and in the mean time I'm using digestive health sticks so he has to take longer to chew.

Does Freddie eat quickly?

Xx

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Thank you for the reply, has Toby had xrays and bloods done?

Hay-wise he has had a combination. Previously Oxbow oat hay (Amazon), Alfalfa King timothy hay (P@H), Burgess Excel Feeding Hay (Dandelion and Marigold) (P@H), meadow hay maxi pack (The Range) - recently bought for litter tray but he eats it too.

Treats: Readigrass, occasional Naturals Carrotys (crunchy treats)

I don't give him fresh fruit and veg at the moment for fear of gas but will give romaine to hide Infacol if he is gassy

I bought Freddie from someone in Totton. He is 7 months old, he started getting the episodes 9 days after his neuter in February (hospitalised with GI stasis) but before his neuter he was very picky with food so I had been to the vets regarding this as I'd tried so many different types of pellets. He has been hospitalised again this month due to gas and had his investigations done. He almost went in last week as he was gassy and uncomfortable when I went home at lunchtime but I gave him some Infacol and syringe fed him some water and he was fine when I got home after work so the vets said I didn't need to come in.

He doesn't hoover his food so I don't think that causes it. When I am at work he is quite sedatory (I can check in on him on the pet cam) but I don't know whether that is a cause or a symptom. He's now on VetCare Digestive Plus sticks but he is still getting gas and this morning he wasn't interested in them, someone has suggested trying Oxbow but I think I might need to try him on just a hay diet first but I'm worried about him not getting enough nutrients without fresh veg.

At one point I suspected that he was eating his Back2Nature litter so that is why he now has the meadow hay as that covers the newspaper in his litter tray. As he's still getting gas I guess that wasn't the cause either.

Part of me wonders whether he would bring himself out of it if I didn't notice and start fussing over him, though I found him in GI stasis when I worked late and had been out for 12 hours so I don't know whether he had gas to start with which progressed due to not being treated. It's an absolute minefield!
 
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