How to treat GI stasis in rabbits?
1 Feed your rabbit a high-fiber diet. As you can see, treating GI stasis in rabbits is intensive and extensive. 2 Increase your rabbit’s water intake. In addition to fiber, water is essential to keeping food moving smoothly your rabbit’s GI tract. 3 Decrease your rabbit’s stress. ... 4 Take your rabbit to your veterinarian regularly. ...
How can GI stasis be prevented?
How can GI Stasis be prevented? Feed a consistent, fresh high fiber diet and avoid stressful causing situations. You might also like: List of 25+ common Rabbit Health problems!
What are the symptoms of GI stasis?
What are the symptoms of GI Stasis? Very small or no fecal pellets with possible presence of clear or yellowish colored mucous, bloated stomach, may hear loud gurgling sounds in stomach or complete silence (absence of normal gut sounds). What are the medicinal treatments for GI Stasis?
How long should I take metaclopramide and/or cisapride for GI stasis?
It may take as long as two weeks on metaclopramide and/or cisapride before the intestine is fully motile again, and patience and careful nursing for the duration are essential. In severe cases of GI stasis, both drugs can be used simultaneously. Because they work on different areas of the digestive tract, they may have a synergistic effect.
How long does it take for a rabbit to get over GI stasis?
Treatment of GI stasis varies depending on severity and underlying causes. Recovery is often slow and may take several days to weeks. Fluid therapy — Many affected rabbits are dehydrated or suffering from electrolyte imbalances. Simethicone — This medication helps to reduce the amount of gas in the digestive tract.
Will my rabbit survive GI stasis?
With these treatments, time, and patience, a rabbit suffering from GI stasis can make a full recovery. But it is important to recognize the symptoms early and take your rabbit to a rabbit-savvy vet immediately for these treatments.
Can too many pellets cause GI stasis?
The Causes for GI Stasis Rabbits eating large amounts of pellets or high-fat seeds and nuts have slow GI tract motility and often develop GI stasis as a result.
Why does my rabbit keep getting GI stasis?
The biggest cause of gut stasis is diet. Overconsumption of high-energy commercial pellets or starchy food (eg grains and legumes) can slow down gut motility. An example of an appropriate diet for an adult rabbit: unlimited amount of grass hay (not lucerne hay – lucerne is a legume not a grass)
When should I give my rabbit critical care?
Ideally rabbits should be fed Critical Care(TM) every 3 to 4 hours. If this causes the animal too much stress, limit the feed to 3 times daily.
Can you treat GI stasis at home?
Massaging or vibrating your rabbit's tummy is one of the best ways to help break up gas bubbles and encourage the gut to 'get moving'. Sit bunny on your lap or on a towel on the counter and with your hands gently knead your rabbit's abdomen, as deeply as she will allow. If she reacts in a painful manner, stop.
How can I help my rabbit recover from GI stasis?
The best cure for GI stasis is prevention. Be sure your rabbit companion gets plenty of dietary fiber from fresh grass hay. Feed high fiber (22% or higher crude fiber) pellets. Be sure your rabbit is drinking sufficient water to keep ingested food hydrated and moving smoothly.
How much pineapple juice should I give my rabbit?
Regular house-pet rabbits only need around 2 grams of sugar in their diet per day. Since there are around 10 grams of sugar in every 100 grams of pineapple, your rabbits should have only have around 20 grams of pineapple, maximum, in a day.
How much water should I force feed my rabbit?
You should only feed small amounts, 2-4 ml at a time and then allow your rabbit to rest (remove the syringe). Your rabbit should show signs of chewing and swallowing. This process can then be repeated until you have fed 5-10 ml.
Is GI Stasis preventable?
There is a large diversity of potential causes of GI stasis including inflammatory or infectious processes and physical obstructions but the most common (and preventable) contributor to GI stasis is inadequate fiber in the diet.
How do you massage a rabbit's stomach?
1:093:15How to Help a Rabbit with Gas Pain | Pet Rabbits - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen you do this and belly massage involves very gentle pressure under the rabbits tummy. Like. ThisMoreWhen you do this and belly massage involves very gentle pressure under the rabbits tummy. Like. This I'm just going to put my hands here in here and I'm going to kind of manipulate.
How do you stimulate a rabbit to poop?
If she's not pooping at all, then you have a constipated rabbit. Remove dry food from her hutch and encourage more exercise. A teaspoon of olive oil could get her bowels moving. If that doesn't work, your vet can give your rabbit a laxative or enema.
How can I prevent GI Stasis?
GI Stasis can easily be prevented by taking the necessary steps to keeping your bunny healthy. The most important step to take is to ensure your rabbit has a consistent and healthy diet. Knowing what to feed your rabbit, type of pellets and hay can be confusing. If you’re looking for advice, check out Links post on What to Feed your Bunny.
What is GI Stasis?
GI Stasis is a build up of bad bacteria inside your rabbits intestines, this results in gas being released into their system which can cause bloating. This bloating will make your bunny uncomfortable and stop them wanting to eat or drink.
What is GI stasis in rabbits?
GI Stasis is something that can happen in a blink of an eye, it’s very important to learn about GI Stasis when caring for a rabbit as catching this early can save your rabbit from getting poorly and leading to possible death.
What is gastric stasis?
Gastric stasis is one of the most common medical problems seen with small herbivores. Like many other common medical issues, it’s not a single issue, but a set of clinical signs that can have a variety of underlying problems. Think of stasis in the same way as thinking of colic in a horse or like “herbivore ADR.”.
Why do you need to be hospitalized for stasis?
Uncontrolled pain is another reason to hospitalize. The two most common underlying processes in stasis are dehydration (see shock above) and pain. Correcting these two issues can make the difference between medical and surgical management, success and failure, life and death. Utilizing the Rabbit Grimace Scale and seeing reaction to palpation can give an objective measure of pain. A grimace scale score over 4-5 is unlikely to be corrected with outpatient medication. If I have doubt, I will often give a single dose of Buprenorphine as an intramuscular injection and wait 30 minutes. If there is not a substantial improvement in the grimace scale score, then hospitalization is indicated. Along with the hospitalization, more importance should be placed on diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause, as some of the causes of more significant pain may require specialized care, like surgery for liver lobe torsion.
Is abdominal radiograph good for GI stasis?
Abdominal radiographs are always wise for cases of GI sta sis. The stomach is well protected by the ribs in these animals and there can be a fair degree of pathology that may not be detected on palpation. For a correct diagnosis, prognosis and formation of a treatment plan, there is little that gets more information for the cost and effort in most of these cases than the abdominal radiographs.
Is fluid distention a clear indication of pyloric obstruction?
There is severe fluid distention of the stomach, a clear indication of pyloric obstruction. This is a definite indication for inpatient care and may require surgery.
What causes a delayed emptying of the intestines?
One big culprit can be diabetes. The high blood sugars from diabetes damage the nerves over time and can cause this delayed emptying. Treating the underlying cause will treat the gastroparesis as well.
How long does it take for a gastric emptying test to be taken?
A scan is taken right away and then every hour after the meal is ingested for up to four hours. Your medical team will evaluate how the food you ingested moves through your stomach and gastrointestinal tract. A gastric emptying test may show a delay in emptying, which can help your doctors to make the diagnosis.
What is it called when you can't empty your stomach?
Gastroparesis, also called gastric stasis, occurs when there is delayed gastric emptying. Delayed gastric emptying means the stomach takes too long to empty its contents. Sometimes, when the food doesn’t empty properly, it forms a solid mass called a bezoar. Although bezoars had magical powers in the Harry Potter books, usually these big masses of old food can block the stomach and lead to symptoms of nausea, vomiting and even obstruction of the stomach, which in turn may prevent food from passing into the small intestine.
Why do you need an upper endoscopy?
Upper endoscopy is performed using the endoscope in order to see the esophagus and stomach. Your doctor will most likely perform an upper endoscopy to rule out a mechanical obstruction at the outlet of the stomach, also called the pylorus. Obstruction is when there is a blockage of the intestines. The outlet of the stomach can have ulceration, damage or just a clog of food blocking the path. All of these can be seen at endoscopy.
What is the cause of gastroparesis?
Your doctor may find abdominal distention (swelling) or tenderness. Your doctor will also look for signs of underlying diseases or disorders that may be causing the gastroparesis. One big culprit can be diabetes. The high blood sugars from diabetes damage the nerves over time and can cause this delayed emptying. Treating the underlying cause will treat the gastroparesis as well.
How long does a catheter stay in place?
The catheter stays in place for a period of six hours, in order to measure electrical and muscular activity in your stomach. You fast for the first few hours, so the doctor can record the measurements in a fasting state. Later, you eat a solid meal and your doctor records the measurements during digestion.
Is gastroparesis a nonspecific disease?
Gastroparesis often causes a number of nonspecific symptoms. It is important for a gastroenterologist to make a diagnosis. Symptoms of gastroparesis include:
What is GI Stasis?
GI Stasis (also called Ileus), is a dangerous gut condition in rabbits. This illness is characterized by a slow down of the rabbit’s digestive tract. As the gut comes to a halt, the rabbit will stop eating and producing fecal pellets. Their body and vital organs will begin to shut down, and it is likely that the rabbit will die unless they receive emergency medical attention.
How to prevent GI staph in rabbits?
The best way to prevent GI Stasis is to make sure your rabbits have a hay-based diet with plenty of time for exercise. Since GI Stasis is one of the most common illnesses that our pet rabbits suffer from, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms so we can get them the help they need in time.
How long does it take for a rabbit to die from GI staph?
GI Stasis is a sudden illness that can be fatal for rabbits within a 24 hour period of time. If you notice common symptoms, such as not pooping or eating, bring your rabbit to an emergency veterinary clinic as soon as possible. The best way to prevent GI Stasis is to make sure your rabbits have a hay-based diet with plenty of time for exercise.
What to do if your rabbit has GI staph?
When GI Stasis starts to cause the body to shut down, it also lowers the rabbit’s body temperature which , in turn, makes it more difficult for the rabbit to recover.
Why do rabbits have GI issues?
Rabbits who are anxious and stressed will also eat less in some cases, which can cause the symptoms of GI Stasis to get worse since they are not eating as much to help keep their system moving.
When should I give my rabbit a GI check?
You only want to give this to your rabbit if you notice the symptoms early on. For example, if you know that your rabbit was happily eating when you fed them in the morning, but an hour later you notice signs of GI Stasis. If it’s been a longer period of time, then don’t wait. Get your rabbit immediate medical attention.
Can rabbits die from GI stasis?
Their body and vital organs will begin to shut down, and it is likely that the rabbit will die unless they receive emergency medical attention. Otherwise healthy rabbits can quickly end up with a serious case of GI Stasis. An external stressor may cause their digestive tract to slow down a little.
What is the treatment for LGIB?
Although there is no standardized path for the investigation and treatment of LGIB, for many years the diagnostic armamentarium largely involved endoscopy, radionuclide scintigraphy, and mesenteric angiography. In the past decade, there has been increased use of capsule endoscopy, double-balloon enteroscopy, and computed tomography angiography (CTA) to localize the site of bleeding. Therapeutic options have remained largely unchanged and include endoscopic techniques, endovascular embolization, and surgical resection. Fortunately, 75 to 85% of LGIB will resolve with supportive care only.5,6,7
How to localize GI hemorrhage?
This is performed by ex vivo labeling of an aliquot of the patient's own RBCs, followed by injecting them back into the patient. Localization is based on detection of where the tracer appears to extravasate and pool. This process requires ∼30 minutes prep time (to extract and then tag the RBCs), but benefits from the slow washout of the tracer, which enables better localization for intermittent bleeding as the patient can be rescanned multiple times within 12 to 24 hours.46
How much does LGIB cost?
The annual incidence of LGIB is estimated at 20 to 30 cases per 100,000 in Westernized countries.1The mean cost per admission ranges from $9,700 to $11,800. 2,3Comfort with managing the presentation of LGIB is important as the number of hospitalizations with this initial presentation is on the rise, increasing nationally by 8% between 1998 and 2006.4
When was colonoscopy used for hematochezia?
Colonoscopy has been used for localization of hematochezia since the 1970s and remains one of the mainstays of both diagnostic and therapeutic management.34The ease with which one can locate the site of bleeding will vary, with the reported diagnostic yields in the range of 42 to 76%.32,35,36,37
How sensitive is CTA to GI bleeding?
The studies that have looked at the use of CTA in the localization of GI hemorrhage report sensitivity of 91 to 92% when there is active bleeding, but are considerably lower when the bleeding is intermittent in nature with rates reported from 45 to 47%.64,65,66,67In a recent prospective study of 27 patients with lower GI bleeding, CTA was able to identify the source of bleeding in 70% of patients.68
What should a patient with a massive bleed and hemodynamic instability be resuscitated with?
Prior to any workup, a patient with a suspected massive bleed and hemodynamic instability should be resuscitated with crystalloid and blood products as necessary. (A type and crossmatch should be a part of the initial laboratories drawn.) Depending on the patient's age and severity of the bleeding, an intensive care unit (ICU) admission may be required. Once stabilized, a thorough history should be taken with particular attention paid to the patient's medications (NSAIDs, anticoagulants) and past medical history (diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease, prior episodes of bleeding, etc.).
What causes GI bleeding?
Less common causes of massive lower GI bleeding include ischemic colitis, postpolypectomy bleeding, hemorrhoids, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) ulcers, diversion colitis, radiation colitis, infectious colitis, solitary rectal ulcer, stercoral ulcers, and small bowel tumors. Coagulopathies from supertherapeutic levels of Warfarin or from genetic bleeding diatheses are also important to recognize. These etiologies at times are overlooked as causes of massive lower GI hemorrhage, but should be kept in mind when dealing with the patient with obscure bleeding.29,30
How dangerous is GI stasis?
It’s pretty dangerous. Not necessarily the stasis in itself, but because rabbits are prey animals. they hide the fact that they’re not feeling very well. Unless you’re observing your bunny closely, you may not realise there’s something amiss until it’s too late.
How common is GI stasis?
I can’t find any figures on how common GI stasis is, but there are a lot of cases mentioned in the house rabbit society Facebook page, so let’s just say it’s common enough that you should be prepared in the event that it happens.
When are rabbit likely to suffer from GI stasis?
Since we can’t tell what stresses a rabbit out, it would happen at any time, but I play close attention for signs of GI stasis in my rabbit when:
What should I do when my rabbit has GI stasis?
You need to get in touch with a vet. There may be a blockage that requires IV fluids to soften. Vets may also prescribe antibiotics which can reduce the amount of harmful bacteria that’s causing the stasis.
Are there any medications I can give for GI stasis?
As I said, baby gas drops (simethicone) can be given. It can also help to give your bunny Metacam.
How to prevent GI stasis in rabbits?
First, ensure your rabbit is getting a proper, hay-based diet. Consult our article What to Feed Your Pet Rabbit for a full list of appropriate foods.
Why are antibiotics used in the digestive system?
Antibiotics to combat the overgrowth of harmful bacteria (used with caution because antibiotics can also disrupt the presence of good, essential bacteria in the digestive system)
Why do rabbits have GI issues?
The slowdown of the digestive system can be caused by: A high starch, low fiber diet. Stress (from losing a bonded mate, a change in environment, etc.) Pain from underlying issues (dental problems like molar spurs, urinary tract infections, gas) Lack of exercise.
Can a rabbit recover from GI stasis?
With these treatments, time, and patience, a rabbit suffering from GI stasis can make a full recovery. But it is important to recognize the symptoms early and take your rabbit to a rabbit-savvy vet immediately for these treatments.
Symptoms
- When we ask for details, we often learn that not only did the bunny stop eating, but she had been producing extremely small or even no fecal droppings, or showed symptoms of runny stool. True diarrhea (unformed, liquid fecal matter) is uncommon in rabbits. The runny stool sometimes mis…
Effects
- An intestinal slowdown can cause ingested hair and food to lodge anywhere along the GI tract, creating a potential blockage. Also, because the cecum is not emptying quickly enough, harmful bacteria such as Clostridium species (related to the ones that cause botulism and tetanus) can proliferate, their numbers overwhelming those of the normal, beneficial bacteria and fungi in the …
Diagnosis
- Sometimes, a rabbit suffering from GI stasis is diagnosed as having a hairball. In reality, an apparent hairball usually is a result of GI stasisnot the cause. A vet who has not palpated many rabbit abdomens may be unfamiliar with the normal, sometimes doughy feel of the healthy rabbit stomach. A doughy stomach is usually cause for concern only when accompanied by an empty l…
Treatment
- If a true intestinal obstruction (almost always accompanied by severe bloating and acute pain) is present, the use of intestinal motility drugs (described later) could make the situation worse by pushing the blockage into a narrow area where it completely obstructs the intestine. However, if the mass is not causing an acute, complete blockage, medical alternatives to surgery should be …
Use
- Simethicone (in liquid, pediatric suspension or tablets) is essential for the relief of gas pain which usually accompanies ileus. For relief of acute gas pain, 1-2 cc (20mg/ml suspension) can be given as often as every hour for three doses, then 1 cc every three to eight hours. This substance has no known drug interactions, is not absorbed through the intestinal lining and acts only on a mechan…
Safety
- Of utmost importance is careful monitoring of body temperature via (plastic, unbreakable) rectal thermometer. Normal rabbit body temperature ranges from about 101o 103o F. A higher temperature may indicate either stress or an infection, the latter requiring immediate veterinary attention. A temperature lower than 101oF is of even greater concern than a mildly elevated tem…
Preparation
- Before you attempt to perform an enema on your rabbit, please ask your veterinarian to instruct you in this process during a regular office visit. Dont wait for an emergency to learn how to do this. If you cannot reach your vet when your bunny is in stasis, you will be out of luck! However, if you do not have ready access to Critical Care, one quick and easy recipe is to soak about 2 3 tab…
Administration
- We administer the enema with a pediatric rubber ear bulb/syringe. A 5 lb rabbit can safely be given 10-15 ccs of liquid enema. Mix the water and oil well. Place the bunny on her back, well supported so she doesnt kick. Gently insert the lubricated tip of the syringe into the anus, no deeper than 1/2 3/4 inch. (Note: if youre not sure which orifice is the right one, the anus is the one that winks bac…
Function
- An enema delivers liquid to the source. It can help hydrate hardened, dehydrated fecal matter in the lower GI, even when subcutaneously administered fluids dont seem to help. The very presence of the warm liquid also seems to stimulate the muscles of the lower GI tract.
Diet
- Fluids (normal fluid intake for a healthy mammal is approximately 90 100cc per kgor about an ounce per poundof body weight per day) are essential for hydrating intestinal contents that may have formed a hard mass and be nearly impossible to pass. Water is best, but unsweetened Pedialyte, an electrolyte drink designed for human infants (and available in the infant section of t…
Other
- Probiotic pastes such as Benebac are available at feed stores, and also might be helpful. Products designed for horses are generally safe and possibly effective for rabbits.
Controversy
- Some veterinarians believe that cecotropes from a healthy rabbit, although difficult to obtain, can be used to re-establish normal cecal flora in a compromised rabbit. However, other veterinarians and experienced rabbit caretakers are of the opinion that administering cecotropes to a sick rabbit may do more harm than good for two reasons: (1) force feeding cecotropes is very stress…