Gut Statis

[Daisylover]

I have 5 yrs exp with rabbits and teach rabbit care classes.

It sounds like your bunny has gut statsis which is very, very serious. I hope you took her to a vet who specializes in rabbits, not many vets have taken the extra classes and know how to treat buns.

If she hasn't eaten or pooped within 24 hours after the first dose of Reglen call the vet and tell him. Sometimes it takes several doses. Reglen stimualtes her appetite so she will eat, so then she can poop. A bunny's gut must move constantly, so when they stop eating chances are the gut has stopped moving... this condition can kill them if left untreated so it's a very good thing that you noticed she isn't pooping.

Hopefully your vet will suggest that he gives you a small supply of Reglen and a syringe so you can give it to her yourself and save the cost of additional office visit(s). It is an easy drug to give bunnies by mouth. If she struggles you can wrap her up in a bath towel so she can't move and maybe get away from you and possibly hurt herself in trying to do so.

This is a serious condition so don't wait to get help.

At any rate. it sounds like you've done the right things so far. The timothy hay is the best thing she can eat to keep her pooping. I would hesitate to give her pellets at this time, but if she is not eating anything, go ahead and give her a small amount. Fresh dark green veggies are a must as well....
red or green romaine and red or green leaf lettuces are good. Dandelion leaves are excellent if you can find them, collard greens. To tease her to eat you might try a small section of an apple. Buns LOVE the flat leaf parsley, cilantro. I would NOT give her cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower as they can cause gastrointestional distress which she does not need on top of what's already going on...(later on, when she recovers she can have those but again in very small, limited quantites). Check the House Rabbit Society website, www.rabbit.com for all kinds of bunny info, including nutrition and health.

Good luck, let me know what happens.

[Heather Wallace]

Good advice as always Daisy!

[Daisylover]

Hey Heather,
How are you doing? I've been thinking of you a lot recently and am trying to find pictures of my buns to send you.... My photos aren't nearly as nice as yours...and it's hard to get a pic of a white bunny on a white floor to turn out! Actually I think I either need a new camera or a better photo developer place.

Am really busy this weekend...we're going to take about 25 rabbits to the Detroit Zoo for a 2 day adopt-a-thon. We haven't done this before so we don't know what to expect except to keep the adoption fee kind of high to discourage impulse purchases. We've also refined our adoption contract and our interview questions so hopefully that will help us too.

Do you see Sucker written on my forehead???? I brought home another sick bunny from the sanctuary....#8.... She's doing very well, and as they all are, is very lovable.....I'm tempted to keep her too..... ;) I think I need to move and get a bigger place!!!!:D At any rate, you'll be hearing from me soon, I promise!

[PURDYBABYDWARF]

Thanks so much for responding. The doctor did give her reglan and its good to know what that does for her. She also gave her baytril do you know what that is or what it is for? She finaly started going yesterday afternoon till about 12:30 last night but then she stopped again. I didnt know I could feed her the stuff you listed. The person I bought her from said not to feed her any vegatables just hay, alfalfa, bread and vanilla cookies :( and when I called him to ask questions he said well as long as shes active then theres no problem. Which I didnt believe. The vet also said that if she didnt start to go to give her petromalt but when I read the package it said not for rabbits with impactation so I didnt give it to her. I will definatly look up the place you said. Again thanks so much for the info.:) Ill keep yall in the know.

[Heather Wallace]

I'm not to sure about the bread and the vanila cookies.

You are doing well with the timmy hay as it is very high in fibre and that's what bunnies need in their diet. Yes vegs is important and should be given daily (if possible) along with a good supply of hay and a little dried food, that should be great for your bun. I am glad that your rabbit si doing better, as before please keep us informed

You are doing well! Keep up the good work.http://members.iinet.net.au/~rabbit/rabpics/itsnew.gif

[Heather Wallace]

Dear Daisy http://www.iinet.net.au/~rabbit/cutegraphics/Bunnies/ani-usa.gif

Hope you are well. Ihave so busy lately and I am sorry that I haven't mailed you.

Next week I shall sit down and write you a letter and send some pics.

Yes I would love to see the buns so much. I can even post them on here for you to.

Speak soon and I know you are doing a good job with all of those bunnies you care for so much. You will receive your reward in heaven, lets just hope we all go to BUNNY HEAVEN!

[Daisylover]

Baytril is an antibiotic, and only one of a select few that rabbits can take for an infection.

If the bunny stopped pooping call the vet back and let her know asap.


I am appalled that someone would tell you NOT to give a bunny vegetables but that's it's ok to give him bread and cookies. Those have no nutiritonal value at all and will only make your bunny put on weight. If the bunny gains too much weight he can't keep himself clean, so please stop the bread and cookies immediately. In addition, bread and cookies have sugar in them and sugar can cause mushy poops.

The alfalfa hay is only for baby buns under 1 year old or for very old bunnies having trouble keeping on weight. Alfalfa hay is very high in calcium which adult buns do not need. This goes for alfalfa-based pellets too. If your bunny has too much calcium in his diet some of it will store in his bladder and the rest will excrete in his urine. If you see a white blotch in a dried puddle of urine, that is a big warning sign that the bunny is headed to trouble. Bunnies can develop bladder stones which are incredibly painful and can cause death.

Timothy hay is the preferred type of hay for bunnies. It should be a nice green color, not brown. Timmy hay is high in fiber and keeps a bunny "regular" if you know what I mean. The timothy hay should be the main stay in a bunny's diet, then fresh dark green veggies (never iceberg lettuce). Most rabbit-specialist vets will tell you NOT to give your bunny ANY pellets at all, but if you have to they should be made with timothy hay and LIMITED to 2 tablespoons per 5 lbs of bunny. Most rabbit specilist vets will sell timothy pellets and hay and you can also buy them online...at oxbowhay.com or americanpetdiner.com....there is also a list of bunny suppliers in the House Rabbit Society website (address below).

You might check the nutrition info in www.rabbit.org. It sounds like you are trying very hard to take good care of your bunny and you are to be congratulated for being so vigilant about health and nutrition issues. Good Job!!!! Keep in touch and let us know how your bunny is doing. ;)

[PURDYBABYDWARF]

it breaks my heart to say purdybaby died on mon around 12.
I would like to thank you all for your help and advice. She was doing fine and we dont know why she died. She was a very happy bun that loved to run and jump she loved to cuddle and give kissis to every one she was very smart and had just sarted to use her litter box. I am so sad. we love her so much and i let her down..

but agian thanks for everything

lana,