Why is my rabbit not pooping and losing weight? Is it GI stasis?

Based on what you are describing him I would be concerned about gastric stasis in your rabbit. This can be a common condition that occurs when a bunny stops eating. The stomach will fill with a lot of gas and the rabbit will be very painful and uncomfortable. If you are able to continue giving the critical care supplement I would recommend doing that. If Pepper stops eating that, continues to seem lethargic, or stops pooping, then you will need to take him into the vet to be examined because other medications will be needed to help restore GI motility. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hello. It sounds like your rabbit may have signs of gastrointestinal stasis, which means the GI tract has slowed down, usually as a result of a rabbit that stops eating. Rabbits will stop eating for a number of reasons - their teeth may be overgrown, their tooth roots may be infected, they could also have any other systemic disease (respiratory, urinary, infection, etc). As you can see, the causes are many and its impossible to say what is the underlying cause for sure without an exam and testing (usually radiographs, blood work, etc). Regardless of the cause, GI stasis is potentially fatal if left untreated. Therefore, I would urge you to get veterinary care ASAP. In the meantime, syringe feed Hobie with a liquid hay diet, ideally Oxbow herbivore critical care if you can get some, or soak the hay pellets in warm water to make a slurry. The best thing to keep the GI tract healthy is fiber and hydration, so hay is the foundation of health. I see in the first picture a pellet mix with maybe some oats, corn, and/or seeds mixed with the pellets. This is not an appropriate diet for rabbits as they are selective feeders and usually pick out the concentrates. These pellet mixes significantly increase the incidence of dental disease and obesity. I recommend a 100% timothy hay pellet, ideally Oxbow brand. Feed 1/4 cup timothy hay pellets, free choice grass hay, and 2 cups fresh greens a day with fresh water available in a bowl and sipper.

Another check up and supportive/nutritional treatment is required immediately as these signs may be compatible with a severe gastrointestinal inflammation/ infection. Amoxycillin needs to be used cautiously as it could be contraindicated in rabbits. I would strongly advice to take him to your local veterinarian again today.

Thanks for reaching out about Skyler. Unfortunately this possibly indicates a gastrointestinal obstruction, foreign body or dental disease. Gastrointestinal stasis is always secondary to something else. Radiographs and blood work from last year can be used as a comparison are not necessarily indicative of now, as things can change quickly. Any exposure to carpeting or fabric? With the pain you described, a veterinarian is recommended today. As prey animals, rabbits decompensate quickly. Good luck.

It sounds to me like Monty may be experiencing the beginnings of some gastric stasis. This means that his stomach and / or the rest of the GI tract is not moving things along as it normally should. Without treatment, this condition can definitely become very problematic. Rabbits, much like horses, have very sensitive GI tracts that are very susceptible to even the smallest disturbances. It's hard to say precisely why the stasis is occurring, but I think Monty should have a physical exam performed to see if anything obvious can be determined. Options for the vet are going to be between simply treating the symptoms to see if things resolve on their own, or performing some diagnostic testing including imaging and blood work. Medications that would be useful in these instances include anti inflammatories / pain medication (as stasis tends to be very uncomfortable) and potentially drugs that help the GI tract continue to contract. Hope this helps.

Hi, with gut stasis we prefer to give Intravenous fluids in forms of boluses or by continuous infusion, even when they are taking the critical care formula by mouth. However, your vet has probably considered risks and benefits of having Nemo at the hospital and decided it was better for him to have treatment at home. As you can imagine, it can be stressful to be in an environment with other pets, especially if the hospital does not have an exotic ward. I also prefer to give their first medications intravenously as I find they are more effective. See how Nemo gets on today, if he starts eating on his own a bit and passing any droppings, if he doesn’t I would have him rechecked. Depending on his weight, Nemo could have a couple more meals of recovery per day, perhaps you could do 10mls every 4 hours. We prefer to give smaller amounts more frequently, as we find it more effective in promoting gut motility. Hope this helps !

A rabbit that is not eating normally should be considered a veterinary emergency. If the GI tract slows or stops, a dangerous buildup of bacteria and toxins could endanger Bun Bun's life. Given his age and weight loss, he needs to be seen by a veterinarian...any veterinarian. If necessary, a specialist can be contacted by phone or online by your vet. Veterinary reference labs may provide consultation services as well. For now, offer as much timothy hay as he will eat. Offer some Oxbow Critical Care for Herbivores as well. You may be able to find it in pet stores or in the local vet clinic. Keep Bun Bun warm and as stress free as possible. The link below leads to a list of veterinarians experienced in treating rabbits locate din Wisconsin. http://wisconsinhrs.org/local-vets/