My bf & I had a scare recently where one of my buns, Reese, stopped eating, drinking and pooping. We feared GI stasis. The issue has been resolved, but just thought I’d share the experience for anyone else searching the forum for similar issues later.
Reese had been just fine at breakfast time, and seemed to be his usual self all morning and afternoon, greeting me enthusiastically at the door every time I entered the bedroom throughout the day (my 2 bunnies are free range in the bedroom).
But at suppertime, he didn’t come running to his food dish like he usually does. I rattled the Timothy pellets. I crinkled the hay bag. I shook the treat bag. I picked him up and placed him in front of the food dish of pellets. I tempted him with his favorite fresh herbs, veggies, even fresh banana. Nothing. He wouldn’t eat anything and wouldn’t move except to try to avoid me. It was clear he wanted to be left alone. He even avoided affectionate grooming from his partner, Mars.
He was fine just 3 hours before that. What could have happened? He hadn’t been fed anything that day nor the previous day outside of the usual. I searched the room but couldn’t find any evidence of him getting into something that I overlooked, like maybe a chewed up wire or sock. Neither Reese nor Mars were in a shed cycle. I wondered if there had been some kind of loud noise like construction. Or maybe Mars upset him – they have got into small fits with each other occasionally, just resulting in scampering away, stomping and sulking briefly. But I’ve never known them to turn down food due to any disturbance like that.
It was already after vet hours and there are no good emergency vets. We decided to leave him be and just monitor for a couple hours, in case it was just a loud noise that spooked him or something.
In the meantime, we sifted through the litter and found half a dozen oversized egg-shaped poops and half a dozen teeny undersized poops and put them in a ziplock bag for the vet. We just assumed they were Reese’s poops since he was the bun with the problem, but no way to guarantee they weren’t from Mars. We cleaned out the litter boxes so we could more easily monitor any new poops. Its a bit difficult with 2 buns.
Reese stayed backed up in a dark corner, cowering from us, trying to hide, as prey animals do when they’re vulnerable (eg, sick or injured). I noticed he circled frequently in one place, like he was trying to get comfortable and couldn’t, which I interpreted as stomach pain.
After 2 hours of monitoring with no change, I picked him up. He grunted and I could tell he was not happy, but he barely struggled, which was not like him at all. I checked his teeth and gently massaged his belly, feeling for any unusual lumps or hard spots, and listening for any gurgling in his belly (though I didn’t have a stethoscope) or grinding of his teeth. Nothing unusual.
I left him alone and monitored for another couple hours. Still no change. I prepared some Critical Care that I had on hand for just such emergencies. I like to mix 3:1 water to Critical Care instead of 2:1 as the package suggests because I just find it easier to get into a bunny that way, plus it provides a bit more hydration. We managed to get 3/4 of a syringe into him. I massaged his belly again and then left him alone. No change.
It was getting late. We went to bed with plans to call the vet first thing in the morning. But I couldn’t sleep. I got up at 3am and drove to the 24hr pharmacy to pick up simethicone (baby gas drops). I know the jury is out on whether it’s helpful but the overwhelming consensus seems to be that it won’t harm, so I decided to try it.
I was very conservative with dosage, giving him only a 1/4 of the recommended serving for babies. Within 30min, he was a bit more active, but not quite himself yet. I woke up again at about 6am and gave him another 1/2 dose of simethicone. By 7am, he was running around. By 8am, he was eating, drinking, pooping again. Everything has been normal since.
I’m going to get a stethoscope, thermometer, more Critical Care, maybe some Metacam (depending on shelf life in fridge), and maybe get the vet to teach me how to do subQ fluids and provide me with necessary supplies, so that I’m more prepared next time.
TanLover’s summary of GI stasis research is really helpful. Though I didn’t realize at the time that force feeding could’ve been dangerous, but it makes sense when I think about it.
https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/136672/Default.aspx