Post by puppy on May 15, 2003 12:26:12 GMT -5
hope none of our bunnies kena this... the silent killer...
very good articles...
fig.cox.miami.edu/Faculty/Dana/ileus.html
www.mybunny.org/info/gi_stasis.htm
symptoms:
- producing extremely small or even no fecal droppings (runny stools), sometimes clinging to the bunny's bottom. In some cases, very small fecal pellets will be encased in clear or yellowish mucus. This indicates a potentially serious problem (enteritis, an inflammation of the intestinal lining) which must be treated as an emergency.
- with GI stasis, the normal, quiet gurgling of the healthy intestine is replaced either by very loud, violent gurgles (gas blorping around painfully!) or a desolate silence.
- the bunny may become lethargic, have no appetite and may hunch in a ball, loudly crunching his teeth in pain.
- feces strung thickly together with hair (from grooming)
decreasing or sudden lack of appetite for both water and food
- on-again/off-again diarrhea
- on-again/off-again diarrhea in combination with irregular shaped poops
What to look for: (http://www.planet-pets.com/newsarticles/rabbit_bloating.htm)
1. A very sudden change in eating habits: If your bun suddenly skips a meal, give him a dose of simethicone and call the vet.
2. Check his temperature with a rectal thermometer: The ears regulate body temperature. If they start to feel cool to touch, chances are his body temperature is falling. A normal rabbit temperature is 102-104°F. Any temperature under 100°F is a medical emergency. This means the rabbit's system is shutting down and he is going into shock. Grab a heating pad (on low) and wrap it around the bun. When you transport him, wrap him in warm blankets to help maintain his body heat.
3. Get him to the vet immediately! Often the pain is so great, the bun gives up. A shot of pain medicine was crucial to Pokey's recovery.
4. Fluids are necessary to keep the bun hydrated and to help overcome shock. The quickest and least stressful way to accomplish this is with subcu IV fluids. Your vet can show you how to do this at home. Simethicone is necessary to relieve gas buildup. Laxatone is often prescribed, but its use is controversial. We gave Pokey a small amount of Laxatone and it seemed to help. Additionally, Metaclopramide (Reglanâ) or Cisapride (Propulsidâ) activates the digestive system. Do not give this without your vet's knowledge because the administration of this agent can cause the stomach to rupture if there is an obstruction present.
5. Keep your bun in a warm environment: We placed Pokey in a small room upstairs and closed the vent to the AC. The room temperature was 81°F all night. I believe this helped him stay warm.
6. Give your bun a small area to run: We gave Pokey the freedom to roam around if he wanted to, which he did once his pain was under control. Exercise encourages the GI System to move. In addition, a gentle stomach massage can help to break up the gas in the GI System.
Hair balls (http://www.vet-2-pet.com/rabbitwelfare/moulting.html)
Moulting rabbits need daily grooming to reduce the amount of hair passing through the digestive system. True hair balls are fairly uncommon in house rabbits (they tend to occur in bored, caged meat and pet rabbits without access to hay) but houserabbit owners need to be alert to signs of a sluggish digestive system which allows hair to accumulate in the stomach and cause problems. Constant access to hay is absolutely vital to keep the guts moving normally.
Get into the habit of checking droppings daily. Droppings that are small and dry, or strung together with hair, should ring alarm bells. If you find them, but bunny is behaving normally, you can give a small dose (5 - 10ml) of liquid paraffin which may prevent problems developing. But if your rabbit is subdued or unwell in any way then he may be developing gastro-intestinal stasis (gut slowing) which needs urgent veterinary attention. There's more information on GI stasis elsewhere in this website.
Pineapple juice is probably useless at treating hair balls (the papain in it cannot possibly digest hair - although it may help break down the mucus and food that binds hair together in the guts, and the fluid is always useful) but is unlikely to do any harm. Papaya tablets are little more than sugary treats which should be avoided.
very good articles...
fig.cox.miami.edu/Faculty/Dana/ileus.html
www.mybunny.org/info/gi_stasis.htm
symptoms:
- producing extremely small or even no fecal droppings (runny stools), sometimes clinging to the bunny's bottom. In some cases, very small fecal pellets will be encased in clear or yellowish mucus. This indicates a potentially serious problem (enteritis, an inflammation of the intestinal lining) which must be treated as an emergency.
- with GI stasis, the normal, quiet gurgling of the healthy intestine is replaced either by very loud, violent gurgles (gas blorping around painfully!) or a desolate silence.
- the bunny may become lethargic, have no appetite and may hunch in a ball, loudly crunching his teeth in pain.
- feces strung thickly together with hair (from grooming)
decreasing or sudden lack of appetite for both water and food
- on-again/off-again diarrhea
- on-again/off-again diarrhea in combination with irregular shaped poops
What to look for: (http://www.planet-pets.com/newsarticles/rabbit_bloating.htm)
1. A very sudden change in eating habits: If your bun suddenly skips a meal, give him a dose of simethicone and call the vet.
2. Check his temperature with a rectal thermometer: The ears regulate body temperature. If they start to feel cool to touch, chances are his body temperature is falling. A normal rabbit temperature is 102-104°F. Any temperature under 100°F is a medical emergency. This means the rabbit's system is shutting down and he is going into shock. Grab a heating pad (on low) and wrap it around the bun. When you transport him, wrap him in warm blankets to help maintain his body heat.
3. Get him to the vet immediately! Often the pain is so great, the bun gives up. A shot of pain medicine was crucial to Pokey's recovery.
4. Fluids are necessary to keep the bun hydrated and to help overcome shock. The quickest and least stressful way to accomplish this is with subcu IV fluids. Your vet can show you how to do this at home. Simethicone is necessary to relieve gas buildup. Laxatone is often prescribed, but its use is controversial. We gave Pokey a small amount of Laxatone and it seemed to help. Additionally, Metaclopramide (Reglanâ) or Cisapride (Propulsidâ) activates the digestive system. Do not give this without your vet's knowledge because the administration of this agent can cause the stomach to rupture if there is an obstruction present.
5. Keep your bun in a warm environment: We placed Pokey in a small room upstairs and closed the vent to the AC. The room temperature was 81°F all night. I believe this helped him stay warm.
6. Give your bun a small area to run: We gave Pokey the freedom to roam around if he wanted to, which he did once his pain was under control. Exercise encourages the GI System to move. In addition, a gentle stomach massage can help to break up the gas in the GI System.
Hair balls (http://www.vet-2-pet.com/rabbitwelfare/moulting.html)
Moulting rabbits need daily grooming to reduce the amount of hair passing through the digestive system. True hair balls are fairly uncommon in house rabbits (they tend to occur in bored, caged meat and pet rabbits without access to hay) but houserabbit owners need to be alert to signs of a sluggish digestive system which allows hair to accumulate in the stomach and cause problems. Constant access to hay is absolutely vital to keep the guts moving normally.
Get into the habit of checking droppings daily. Droppings that are small and dry, or strung together with hair, should ring alarm bells. If you find them, but bunny is behaving normally, you can give a small dose (5 - 10ml) of liquid paraffin which may prevent problems developing. But if your rabbit is subdued or unwell in any way then he may be developing gastro-intestinal stasis (gut slowing) which needs urgent veterinary attention. There's more information on GI stasis elsewhere in this website.
Pineapple juice is probably useless at treating hair balls (the papain in it cannot possibly digest hair - although it may help break down the mucus and food that binds hair together in the guts, and the fluid is always useful) but is unlikely to do any harm. Papaya tablets are little more than sugary treats which should be avoided.
