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Digestivas

Gastrointestinal stasis (rabbits)

The rabbit's digestive system slows down or stops. It is THE most common and dangerous emergency in rabbits. Without treatment, it can be fatal within hours.

Veterinary emergency🐰 Rabbits

This may be a veterinary emergency

EMERGENCY: if your rabbit has gone 12 hours without eating or passing droppings, go to the vet immediately. With rabbits you do NOT wait — stasis progresses quickly and can be fatal.

Symptoms to watch for

  • • The rabbit stops eating
  • • Stops passing droppings, or the droppings are very small or scarce
  • • Lethargy, hunched posture
  • • Grinding the teeth in pain
  • • Bloated abdomen or, conversely, empty
  • • Immobility

Causes

Anything that reduces food intake or gut movement: a diet low in hay, stress, pain (dental or of another origin), dehydration, lack of exercise, obstruction. A rabbit's gut must NEVER stop.

Diagnosis

Examination, X-ray to assess gas and content, and a search for the cause (often dental or pain).

Treatment

EMERGENCY: rehydration, pain relief (pain slows the gut further), prokinetics to restart transit, syringe feeding of a formula specific for herbivores, and treating the cause. The sooner action is taken, the better the prognosis.

Prevention

A diet based on hay available at all times (80% of the diet), constant access to water, daily exercise, stress control, dental check-ups, and grooming during the moulting season.

When should you see the vet?

EMERGENCY: if your rabbit has gone 12 hours without eating or passing droppings, go to the vet immediately. With rabbits you do NOT wait — stasis progresses quickly and can be fatal.

Consult a vet24 h emergency vets nearby

WetAi guides you and takes you to the vet; it does not diagnose.

Notice: this information is for general guidance and educational purposes only. It does NOT replace diagnosis or treatment by a registered veterinary surgeon. If you notice any symptoms, always consult a professional. Wallapets accepts no responsibility for the use of this information without veterinary supervision.

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