A guide to gut stasis in rabbits
Gut stasis (also known as gastrointestinal stasis, GI stasis or ileus) is a potentially fatal condition requiring urgent treatment. It is characterised by reduced peristalsis (the wave-like movements of the intestines), which causes the rabbit’s digestive system to slow down or stops functioning completely.
Gut stasis is not a disease in itself – it happens when another problem causes a rabbit’s gut to slow down. A slowdown of ingested food through a rabbit’s gastrointestinal tract can rapidly develop into gut stasis:
· Gut motility slows or stops, but the bacteria in the caecum continue to ferment the ingested material, producing gas and causing painful bloating.
· The rabbit won’t want to eat or drink, and no droppings will be produced, causing the condition to worsen.
· Moisture continues to be extracted as normal from the food or faecal matter in the intestines, so that it dries out and becomes even more difficult to move through the tract, until there is a mass of dehydrated impacted material in the stomach or caecum.
· This can lead to a physical obstruction.
· The gut imbalance can cause overgrowth of bad bacteria, releasing dangerous levels of toxins.
· The rabbit may die.
It’s one of the most common disorders seen in pet rabbits, and the cause of many deaths, yet it can be preventable.
The best way to protect rabbits from gut stasis is to reduce the risk of their gut slowing down.
A rabbit’s gut can slow down for various reasons:
· Poor diet – the most common cause of gut stasis. A diet too high in carbohydrates (from pellets and vegetables) slows down the gut. A rabbit’s digestive tract requires large amounts of digestible and undigestible fibre (hay or grass) with adequate moisture to keep it moving. Hay and grass also help to move any ingested fur through the rabbit’s gut, and are vital in wearing down teeth (pain from dental problems can also cause gut stasis).
· Dehydration – rabbits can rapidly become dehydrated, especially during hot weather. Older rabbits are more likely to be dehydrated, and some medical conditions cause dehydration. Rabbits’ guts are more likely to slow down if they’re not hydrated – especially if they are full of ingested fur.
· Inactivity – this could be due to mobility problems (which in turn may be caused by obesity, age, arthritis, or disability), or because of restricted space. Exercise stimulates gut movement, but also reduces the risk of obesity, which is a risk factor for gut stasis.
· Pain or stress – pain or stress reduce rabbits’ appetite, but stress hormones also disrupt the fusus coli, which regulates the colon).
· Dental disease – rabbits may be unable to eat enough hay, resulting in poor gut motility.
· Illness – many illnesses cause dehydration, or reduced appetite. An E. cuniculi infection may result in gut stasis.
· Ingestion of fur – rabbits are fastidious groomers, so usually have some hair which passes through their digestive tract. This only becomes an issue if their system slows down for some reason. If gut motility is reduced, the hair can cause an impaction, which can soon develop into a life-threatening blockage.
· Ingestion of foreign bodies – rabbits cannot vomit, so if they eat something that can’t be digested (eg. towel or carpet), it can cause a dangerous obstruction.
Addressing these problems is vital to reduce the likelihood of a gut slowdown.
Here are some examples, for each of the Five Welfare Needs, to show how providing for rabbits’ welfare reduces the risk of gut stasis:
o Provide enough space to allow rabbits to exercise to keep their gut moving.
o Provide large area to reduce the risk of obesity (obesity can cause the gut to slow down).
o Minimise stress in the environment, as it discourages rabbits from eating (if a stressful situation is unavoidable, it can help to use Pet Remedy). Stress can be caused by loud noises (building work, fireworks), nearby predators (including cats and dogs), travelling, or changes in housing setup).
o Prevent rabbits from chewing on rugs, towels, or other material in their setup that could cause a physical obstruction in their digestive tract.
o Ensure that rabbits’ diet consists of at least 85% fresh hay or grass (grass and hay contain ‘indigestible fibre’ which causes the release of hormones that are important for normal gut movement).
o Feel a minimal amount of pelleted food (excessive carbohydrates slow the gut, and too much dry food in a diet can cause the gut to become dehydrated and impacted).
o Encourage rabbits to eat hay or grass, to reduce the risk of dental disease and obesity (these are risk factors for gut stasis).
o Feed extra hay at times when they could become stressed, to keep the gut moving (stress can cause reduced appetite).
o Ensure rabbits always have easy access to fresh water – most prefer to drink from bowls, and in a quieter area. If they don’t drink enough, then soaking greens before feeding them can help (dehydration increases the risk of gut stasis).
· Enabling rabbits to exhibit normal behaviour patterns behaviours:
o Ensure that rabbits have plenty of enrichment to keep them active and fit, so they maintain a healthy bodyweight (overweight rabbits and inactive rabbits are more prone to gut stasis).
o Provide enrichment to encourage rabbits to move around, for example scatter-feeding/hiding food to encourage foraging (moving around helps to keep the gut moving).
· Providing at least one rabbit companion :
o Bonded rabbits are less stressed (stress is a risk factor for gut stasis).
o Bonded rabbits are more active (activity is important to keep the gut moving).
o Monitor stress levels during the bonding process, adapting techniques as necessary (bonding can be stressful, and stress can cause rabbits’ guts to slow down).
o Losing a companion is stressful (stress reduces gut motility) – a bereaved rabbit will probably be ready for another companion sooner than we are prepared to accept a new pet, but it’s essential for their wellbeing to find a new suitable partner for bonding.
· Providing suitable health care :
o Ensure rabbits receive treatment to manage pain, if necessary, especially for any dental problems which might cause difficulty in eating, or arthritis which might reduce mobility (rabbits often stop eating as soon as they experience any form of pain).
o Brush rabbits regularly, especially rabbits with longer fur, to reduce the ingestion of loose fur (see our tips on the Bunnymad home healthcare guide) (hair ingestion can cause a life-threatening blockage in their gut, if it’s already slow for another reason).
o Make sure rabbits have regular vet checks, to spot any issues before they become a problem which might lead to gut stasis (eg. dental checks).
o Be aware that long-term use of antibiotics can affect the gut.
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Grass (or hay) is essential for gut health. |
Check rabbits regularly
Unfortunately, the risk of gut stasis is not eliminated by taking these measures to prevent a gut slowdown. Due to rabbits’ ability to conceal pain, it’s critical that we learn what’s normal behaviour for our rabbits, monitor them regularly, and be able to spot signs of gut stasis, as rabbit is more likely to recover if prompt treatment is received.
Signs to watch out for include:
· Slight or complete loss of appetite – ranges from not eating as much as usual, to suddenly refusing all food (a good test is to see whether a rabbit refuses favourite treats).
· Changes in droppings – indicators include a reduced number of droppings, smaller or darker droppings, or droppings that are linked together with undigested fur (they resemble a string of pearls!).
· Bloating – a rabbit’s stomach may be bloated.
· Loud grinding of teeth – indicates pain.
· Uncomfortable posture – the rabbit might sit in a hunched position, press abdomen to the ground, writhe, or just seem restless and unable to find a comfortable position.
· Lethargy – the rabbit might be less active than usual, and may be more withdrawn, from people and from rabbit companions.
If a rabbit displays any signs of gut stasis, it’s vital to arrange an emergency appointment with a vet. Rabbits can deteriorate rapidly from gut stasis. However, if veterinary help is received promptly, a rabbit can usually make a full recovery.
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‘String of pearls’ dropping can be a sign of a gut slowdown. |
Veterinary treatment includes:
· Pain relief – crucial, as a rabbit in pain is unlikely to start eating.
· Nutritional support.
· Gut motility drugs (if tests show no sign of a blockage).
· Diagnostic tests – a vet will conduct a blood test to check for a blockage, as it’s dangerous to administer motility drugs if there’s an obstruction (a blockage may require surgery). X-rays and scans can be used to identify the likely cause, but many rabbits respond to pain relief and gut motility treatment, so further tests are unnecessary.
· Treating or managing the underlying factors that may have resulted in a gut slowdown (eg. poor diet, obesity, or dental disease).
If veterinary help is received promptly, a rabbit should make a quick recovery. If it’s been left too late, treatment will be more difficult, and the rabbit may not survive.
It’s critical to remain vigilant and respond immediately!
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