first GI stasis...

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flapjackmaple

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my rabbit flapjack is just over 2 years old and is going through his first GI stasis (my first time experiencing it as well). noticed he was very lethargic and not eating so i whisked him to the emergency vet last night and came home with meds and critical care for stasis.

i'm feeling quite discouraged as things seem to be getting better and then things seem to be getting worse. he'll mostly eat the critical care and he takes his meds like a total champ, but then when i got home from work i noticed he'd peed all over himself (he's never ever had litter box issues, im assuming he just didn't feel well enough to get up and go to the litter box)...and then when i gave him a butt bath i noticed he started to poop (which i was very excited for even if they were little tiny poops.)

i guess i'm looking for encouragement and words of advice from other bunny parents who have gotten through stasis...he's still not acting like himself but he's bright eyed; he doesn't approach me when i go to his enclosure but he's still responsive. i'm scared for my lil dude :(
 
The recovery from GI stasis can go up and down, and last days to a few weeks, depending on the severity. With one of my rabbits it took over two weeks to get his digestive tract back to functioning normally, and during that two weeks it went back and forth between improving and not. He would start to eat and act more normally then he would stop again and act subdued. His poop varied too. It was mucousy and then started to get bigger and more normal, then it would slow down get smaller, then get more normal looking again. It can take some time for their digestion to get back to flowing normally.

So as long as your bun is trending towards things improving then that's what I would be looking for. But if there's worsening of symptoms or increased severity, or anything else worrying, I would contact your vet right away for their advice.
 
I’ve dealt with GI stasis 3 times. Twice were spontaneous, and once was related to a chronic disease. For the spontaneous cases, recovery did take a number of days. Ups and downs over the course of a week or so. If you got Critical Care and gut motility meds, you’re on the right track! GI stasis is sudden and scary, but it’s very rare for a bunny to not recover unless it’s secondary to a more severe problem.
 
I agree with all the comments above. It seems like you caught it in time. Your bunny having bowel movements and looking bright eyed is good signs. Continue with the Critical Care and medication for a week or so. I would check with the Vet after several days to see what further instruction they suggest. Keep your bunny hydrated. Continue to monitor them closely. No treats, vegetables or pellets until they recover completely. Even after they are recovered I personally would only let them have a few pellets and a unlimited supply of Timothy Hay for about a week or so then slowly introduce safe vegetables back into their diet depending on how they do. If your bunny doesn’t seem any better or your really concerned don’t hesitate to contact your Vet! You may have to wash up your bunny once a day for the next few days if they continue to have very lose bowel movements that get stuck and they aren’t able to remove themselves, so be on the lookout for that. I hope your bunny recovers! Give them lots of love!
 
Our NZW heavy-shedder bun who may have chewed indigestible material just finished her tx (treatment) for a suspected GI blockage and cecal bloat. Xrays and daily fluids during DVM work days. Vet bill was significant!! Yes it did take more than a week for her poos to return to normal size, and her appetite to return. Best weapons per our DVM were pain meds, cisapride, and daily fluids.

Stethoscope used to listen for gut sounds on each visit.

Critical care, and small amounts of Petromalt malt-flavor given. Our normal hay-energetic nibbler refused to eat 3 different varieties of hay that we offered.

Am very glad that Rabbit Owners are Aware of this fatal condition, and take steps to immediately treat and call the DVM. The CVT said oftentimes novice owners don't come in with their rabbits until it is too late.
 

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