Rabbits-inappetance and gut stasis

Re: Rabbits-inappetance and gut stasis

Nicola Cole — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 20:35:01 GMT

Thanks for replies-very much appreciated.

Re: Rabbits-inappetance and gut stasis

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:02:25 GMT

Hi,

a small handful of kale daily would be acceptable if plenty of fibrous food was being fed alongside it. If bloated secondary to diet then yes they would feel gassy - usually the caecum is most affected.

Marie

Re: Rabbits-inappetance and gut stasis

Nicola Cole — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 21:41:41 GMT

Many thanks for your replies. Yep, individual case being worked up and treating status. Unrelated rabbits, histories being acquired for the others. It was more to see (incase no medical cause found) how often people are seeing causes of stasis other than medical causes as all cases I've seen have had dental/medical issues but 4 incidences (2 in same rabbit) in a short period seems too much of a coincidence! With regards to kale-how much/what frequency would be considered an excess? The owners added in more kale to diet and cut out the sweeter veg after the first rabbit died as they were under the impression that the higher fibre content was beneficial. Would you expect the rabbit to feel very gassy on palpation if related to kale?

Re: Rabbits-inappetance and gut stasis

Marie Kubiak — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 13:08:49 GMT

As already mentioned there are many psychological, management and physical factors that can feed into GI hypomotility.

Are these rabbits related? What breed? You say the owner reports no medical problems, what was your assessment of the animal? How much of the pellets is offered? Any diagnostics carried out in any of the cases?

Definitely consider infectious conditions (coccidiosis, various bacterial URTIs, E. cuniculi) as possible factors given the group issues but these are rarely sole causes. Inherited conditions are relevant if they are from the same line. Certainly it sounds like management is not ideal - presence of a large predator and constant auditory reminders are probably not doing much to help. Adrenaline has direct effects on appetite, GI motility and renal perfusion in rabbits so not good to be in a chronic state of stress. Kale may be a factor - I have seen cases where an excess is fed and results in bloated, gassy rabbits with GI discomfort and secondary hypomotility and an increased variety of fresh foodstuffs is going to be an improvement nutritionally too. I would look at working up the individual case (detailed clinical exam including oral evaluation, imaging of skull and surveys views of chest and abdo, plus biochem and haematology) and treating the stasis medically (analgesia, assist feeding, fluids, prokinetics) whilst the owner improves the husbandry.

Marie

Re: Rabbits-inappetance and gut stasis

Jo Dyer — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 11:04:19 GMT

Poor old Easter bunny

Personally, I don't think the welfare needs of rabbits are best served by keeping them as pets, but that's another issue.

My perception is that most, if not all, cases of gut stasis are secondary to stress of some sort (psychological or pain). So I would agree with you that these cases are likely to be due to husbandry rather than coincidence. Probably too high a population density of rabbits, with individual territoriality and timidness traits. How to sort that out....hmmm.....good luck!

Re: Rabbits-inappetance and gut stasis

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 00:11:35 GMT

Teeth - don't forget teeth.