Why is my rabbit having muscle spasms and gas? Is it serious?

Bloat in rabbits is typically referred to as gastric stasis. This occurs when the GI tract stops functioning like it should and the stomach, and sometimes intestines, fill up with gas and undigested food. Rabbits will typically stop eating and pooping when this happens. This is a very dangerous condition for a rabbit because it is very painful and can cause death. If you suspect that your bunny is suffering from gastric stasis she needs to be seen by a vet to start treatment immediately. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Hanash and including photos. Gas in the stomach is usually a result of a problem and this does not treat the problem. Gastrointestinal obstructions, infections, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney) are just a few of the problems that can result in this condition. Offer water via a syringe, gentle stomach massages might help. Is there a chance to see a different veterinarian? Good luck.

It sounds like poor Bella had an abnormal episode. If she is currently acting normal I would not recommen doing anything at this time. However it is possible she had a seizures or even another neurologic even that caused this behavior. If you notice she is not eating,drinking or acting lethargic I would recommend taking her to the vet for a good exam. If she continues this behavior I also would recommend a good exam to dig a little deeper. i hope that helps

If the rabbit is eating and drinking and everything else is normal I would not be worried. It is very normal for them to have gut sounds. Rabbits should be eating hay (like for horses) as the main part of the diet so if you are not doing that, you need to start. That keeps their GI tract healthy and their teeth.

Usually these signs are compatible with a neurological disease caused by a parasite called E.cuniculi. Once a rabbit has E.cuniculi it passes on the infection through spores in its urine. Other rabbits pick up the disease by eating these spores in urine-contaminated food and water. Unborn kits — baby rabbits — may also be infected during pregnancy. 50mg/kg of panacur once daily for a month is the standard treatment but once signs are evident the prognosis is guarded to poor despite the treatment. I would recommend to isolate sick rabbits and maintain hygiene standards very high. Please find further informations about the disease here: http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-2/e-cuniculi.html Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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.