GI stasis

GI Stasis

Contents

1. Etiology (Cause)
2. Clinical Signs
3. Treatment, Prevention, and Control
   1. Treatment
4. References

Etiology (Cause)

GI stasis occurs when normal gut motility slows or stops. Common causes include:

• **Dietary changes**: Rapid switching of pellets or introducing too many fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh greens should be limited to 1–2 tablespoons per day and used primarily as supplements rather than main nutrient sources. Excessive fresh food can disrupt hindgut function, leading to bacterial overload, bloat, and stasis.
• **Stress**: Environmental or psychological stress can slow gastrointestinal motility.
• **Surgery and anesthesia**: Both can temporarily halt gut activity, making post-surgical GI stasis common.
• **Low fiber intake**: Insufficient dietary fiber impairs normal gut motility.
• **Wool block**: In rabbits with long fur, ingestion of hair can cause obstruction.
• **Intestinal torsion or colic**
• **Moldy or spoiled feed**
• **Underlying illness**, including coccidia or other infections.

Clinical Signs

• Abdominal pain or tenderness
• Bloating
• Reduced or absent fecal output
• Decreased appetite or refusal to eat

Treatment, Prevention, and Control

Treatment

Immediate action is critical for rabbits showing GI stasis. Treatment includes:

1. **Vitamin and Fluid Support**

• 100 cc Lactated Ringer's solution (LR) subcutaneously (SC) with 1 cc B12 or high-B complex added. This helps fight dehydration and stimulate gut motility.

1. **Oral Sugar Solution**

• 3 cc glucose or corn syrup orally every 30–60 minutes. The concentrated sugar helps jump-start gut activity and counteract shock.

1. **Probiotics**

• Administer a pea-sized amount of probiotic paste (e.g., Jumpstart or Probios) or 1 cc water with probiotics hourly to stabilize gut flora.

1. **Gas Relief (if bloated)**

• Baby gas drops (Simethicone/Mylicon) every 15 minutes.
• Gently massage the abdomen to help relieve trapped gas.

1. **Fiber Support**

• Force-feed pellet mash, Critical Care, pureed pumpkin, or Benefiber (3 cc per feed) to maintain gut movement.

1. **Hydration and Stabilization**

• Follow with 3 cc plain water or water with probiotics between treatments.

Treatment sessions should be spaced approximately 15 minutes apart, with repetition every hour as needed.

Address Underlying Causes

• **Bacterial overload or secondary infections**: Treat as indicated (e.g., Toltrazuril for coccidia, Baytril or LA200 for respiratory infections, PEN-G for abscesses, Safeguard for enteric coccidiosis, Ivermectin for ear mites).
• **Surgical or stress-related stasis**: Manage environment, hydration, and pain control.

Prevention

Preventing GI stasis in rabbits focuses on maintaining gut motility, proper nutrition, stress reduction, and proactive healthcare.

• **Dietary Management**
  • Provide a consistent, balanced pelleted diet meeting NRC and WRSA guidelines.
  • Limit fresh fruits and vegetables to 1–2 tablespoons per day as a supplement rather than a primary nutrient source.
  • Ensure adequate fiber intake through Balanced 15-24% Fiber pellets to support normal gut function.
  • Avoid moldy or spoiled feed.

• **Stress Reduction**
  • Minimize environmental stressors, such as sudden changes in housing or handling.
  • Monitor social housing and minimize aggressive interactions.

• **Post-Surgical and Anesthetic Care**
  • Provide supportive care after anesthesia to reduce risk of post-operative GI stasis.
  • Monitor closely for signs of abdominal discomfort, reduced fecal output, or bloating.

• **Probiotic Supplementation**

Recent research supports the use of probiotics to maintain healthy gut microbiota, enhance digestion, and support immune function:

• • Shaheen et al. (2025)** demonstrated that supplementation with *Bifidobacterium*, *Spirulina platensis*, or *Saccharomyces cerevisiae* in low-energy pelleted diets improved feed conversion, body weight, metabolic health, and immune response in New Zealand White rabbits.<ref>Shaheen, M.S., et al. (2025). "Bifidobacterium, Spirulina, and Yeast extracts in low-energy diets for rabbits." *Frontiers in Veterinary Science*, 12:1615203. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1615203</ref>
  • Additional studies confirm benefits across breeds: improved gut barrier function, optimized hematology/biochemistry profiles, enhanced resistance to pathogens, and overall digestive stability (Yan et al., 2024; Kadja et al., 2021; Bouaziz et al., 2021; Guo et al., 2017; Ezema & Eze, 2015; Górska et al., 2016).

• **Regular Health Monitoring**
  • Routine veterinary check-ups to detect early signs of gastrointestinal issues.
  • Early intervention for parasitic infections (e.g., coccidia) or dental problems that can predispose rabbits to stasis.

• **Environmental Enrichment**
  • Encourage exercise and natural foraging behavior to maintain gut motility.
  • Provide safe chew materials and opportunities for gentle activity.

By integrating diet consistency, stress management, proactive healthcare, and probiotic supplementation, the risk of GI stasis can be substantially reduced.

References

• Harcourt-Brown, F. (2002). Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Butterworth-Heinemann.
• Greene, H. (2021). Epidemiology of Neoplasia in Pet Rabbits. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine.
• Varga, M. (2014). Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, 2nd Edition. Elsevier.
• Brodbelt, D.C., et al. (2008). "Risk factors for anaesthetic-related death in pet rabbits." Veterinary Record 162, no. 12: 388–390.