Farting mummy bunny

[Fosterish]

I know gas can sometimes suggest gut problems and the need for a diet change, but Tuppence has spent the entire evening drinking huge quantities of water (she’s nursing so this is normal), running and binkying and eating hay and pellets. Oh and farting. A lot.

Her tummy feels normal and she’s not having an issue producing milk. Just wondering if anyone else has encountered a gassy nursing bunny? What should I do?

[Azerane]

The concern with gas is that it can be painful, and a rabbit in pain often stops eating. If you are concerned that she’s not passing the gas well, you can give her simethicone (infant gas drops – non flavoured). It simply works on a physical level to bind the gas bubbles together so that they are easier to pass. It is safe to use as it is not absorbed and doesn’t transfer to milk.

1-2cc (20mg/ml suspension) every hour for three doses. Then 1cc every three to eight hours.

Common causes of gas include too much of a food that the rabbit isn’t used to (could be too many pellets or too many of a new veggie). Otherwise, broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and anything else in the brassica family is known for causing gassy rabbits 

[Fosterish]

Awesome, thank you Azerane! I shall pick that up tomorrow when I’m shopping!
She has stopped farting like a trooper now, and is eating normally. Silly bunny probably guzzled her food too quickly! Simethicone sounds like something to keep handy in my bunny care box! 😀

[Azerane]

Glad to hear she’s eating normally again

Yep, simethicone is great because it’s not an “active” drug so to speak. It means that you can use it as a precaution if you think your rabbit might have gas and it won’t do any harm.

[Bam]

I always have simethicone in my bunny-first-aid kit! It’s as Azerane says, it’s not “active”, it’s not absorbed into the body but stays in the GI canal until it comes out with the poop eventually. Dana Krempels (bunny expert vet) from the HRS and Medirabbit says you can use it on suspicion of gas, so that’s why we feel safe to recommend it.

Other than that, getting the bunny to move around is probably the best way to get gas out. So running and binkying is good! If gas is bad, the bunny might not want to move around though, but it’s still advisable to try and make it.

[Brambino]

On a side note, as a new bun owner it would be useful to know what other items you have in your bunny first aid kits?

I will start getting mine together!

[Author]

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