Bouts of Stasis

[feral]

Could frequent bouts of stasis be connected to the fact that one of my bunnies sleeps away from her feeding station from 9-6.30 am? It's her choice, she zooms upstairs to bed, but the hay and water are downstairs as is her bunny friend.

I don't really like the idea of having hay under the bed, but I slid some, in a litter tray, under tonight for her with water, as I'm wondering if it's connected? She sheds a lot too - I'm trying hard to brush her but she hates it, so I brush her with a damp hand whilst she is eating.

Obviously they need water and hay all the time, but I always assumed she was probably nipping downstairs in the night, but I don't think she does now. I've had her for 8 months, she has had stasis probably 4 times, with one visit to the vet and the other times I managed to get her eating again with grass and herbs, the last time was a couple of days ago, it's exhausting for me and horrible to see her in pain.

 

[feral]

They have unlimited hay (timothy and oat hay) a handful of veg twice a day and 4 teaspoons of nuggets between them. The older one gets fed an extra meal when she is in bed, he never gets stasis.

 

[SarahP]

I'd definitely try to ensure that she is close to hay and water at all times. I remember when I had indoor bunnies, I ended up having to put litter trays in various places. Water intake is important, as it definitely helps keep the guts moving..

What has the vet said? Have other causes been investigated?

 

[feral]

The vet just gave her an injection of medication and a bagful took take home, she was better within a few hours, she said it could be the fur. I've changed the routine a bit, so that I don't give them veg first thing, just hay, then after an hour before going to work I give them veg, this will give her time to fill up on hay first thing.

 

[Omi]

I agree with Sarah and would ensure that she has access to hay and water at all times. For night time we also try to leave them with tree leaves or sticks that they can nibble. The shedding is also likely to be contributory, but if the diet is sorted with lots of fibre, that shouldn't be so much of an issue. Although minimising the amount of fur ingested will help.

 

[Orenoko]

If she's adamant she wants to sleep upstairs I'd probably set up a small box with hay and a water bowl. Hopefully it'll do the trick and help reduce her stasis episodes.

 

[Cuthbert&Dillon]

Hope that the box of hay upstairs helps.

 

[feral]

Thanks everyone. She now has a makeshift (bottom half of vet carrier) hay/litterbox and water by the bed and she ate some hay before bed. I think she ate some in the night too, but no evidence of a toilet break She approves of the set up. I put some water under the bed about a month ago, she hated it and tipped the whole bowl, it was heavy, not sure how! She is the most willful critter I've ever encountered!!

 

[joey&boo]

I hope the additional litter tray & hay do the trick. I used to have a bun who for several years (until we moved house & all of us slept in the bedroom ) who would leave her 2 bunny friends downstairs. all night. I'm not sure if she ever went downstairs to poop or eat.
I do believe fur is a big issue / cause with many stasis cases. My boy is really good & happy for me to up the groomies when he is moulting but Chinook literally has to be chased round the house. She had stasis last month which my vet thought was related to her moult. But even if fur / moulting is the catalyst, lots of fibre would be the best way of getting that fur moving through.

I like a wilful bunny. They do make me laugh

 

[feral]

Thanks, I'm hoping it does too. Now the hay is upstairs she has been up there all day looking really pleased. I hope it stops her getting ill. I need to work out how to make it so that there is not hay all over the bedroom though. Downstairs they have like a run with 2 litter trays so any mess is mainly contained, well sort of!

Yes, it does seem like fur is a massive cause of stasis. The older one that never gets it looks like a wild rabbit (agouti colour as it's called in the rabbit world!) I think his coat is less pedigree so it's not a problem. This one is white and fluffy and looks like a hotot but with black ears.

 

[feral]

I like a wilful bunny. They do make me laugh

Me too!