GI Stasis versus "Hairballs"

 

Click here to view a GI Stasis Cause/Symptom/Prevention summary

 

Every rabbit owner cringes whenever they hear “GI Stasis” and rightly so. Gastrointestinal Stasis (GI Stasis or Ileus as it is sometimes called) is a serious, life threatening, often fatal ailment common to rabbits world wide. 

 

What is it? You might ask. When the normal digestive process is slowed or stopped, food matter no longer passes through the intestines but rather accumulates in the intestine creating a blockage, sometimes referred to as a “hairball”.

 

A common misconception is that GI Stasis and “hairballs” are one in the same when in fact very few cases of GI Stasis are actually caused by “hairballs”. It is true however, that “hairballs” can be a side affect of GI Stasis.

 

An informal comparison between pet rabbits kept indoors and allowed free run versus rabbits kept outdoors in metal cages found higher numbers of reported GI Stasis in the pet rabbits. It is thought that pet rabbits are more susceptible to GI Stasis for a number of reasons. Pet rabbits are often fed various treat foods or an improper diet that are not given to breeding rabbits. Pet rabbits also have more access to non food items such as carpet, cardboard, towels, clothing, wire etc., where as these items are inaccessible to the caged rabbit. Another comparison found that pet rabbits which were avid chewers of carpet, cardboard or fur were more likely to develop GI Stasis than those who weren't avid chewers.

 

Whether ingesting various treat foods or non-food items actually results in more cases of GI Stasis still requires a detailed formal investigation. However, if limiting treat foods and maintaining a well balanced high fibre diet in addition to preventing access to non-food items aids in keeping our rabbits healthier isn't it worth our efforts to do so?

 

Gastrointestinal Stasis (GI Stasis)

 

GI Stasis, Gastric hypomotility or ileus as it is also known as, is defined as the slowing down or cessation of the peristalsis or wave like muscular contractions in the intestine. GI Stasis is also one of the more commonly diagnosed problems for which there may be several possible underlying causes.

 

Some of the more common causes are stress, pain, illness or internal parasites which often upset the normal bacterial flora of the gut. Dehydration, intestinal blockage/”hairballs”, or the lack of fibre in a diet all physically affect how things move through the intestines. The symptoms all in one way or another interfere with the normal operation of the intestinal tract creating GI Stasis. Regardless of what caused it, the most important thing is to recognize the symptoms and treat it as quickly as possible.

 

The most common symptoms associated with GI Stasis are small or no faecal droppings and a decreased appetite. Other symptoms include; bloating, abdominal pain, arched/hunched back, straining to go poo, dehydration, weight loss, unusual/loud gut gurgling/no gut gurgling and in some cases diarrhea.

 

Any or all of the above symptoms may be present for several days or appear to happen over night. Whenever you notice any symptoms of GI stasis get your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible even if there are no other symptoms present other than a change in your rabbit's eating or bathroom habits. GI stasis can result in death in less than 24-48 hours but if it is caught early enough it can be treated. 

 

GI Stasis by itself, is not an actual cause of death. Whenever the gut or caecum slows down or stops working altogether, for whatever reason, it opens up the door for a variety of complications including organ and system failures that can lead to death.

 

A relatively simple ailment such as dehydration can lead to an intestinal blockage which in turn leads to a decreased appetite. Left unchecked the process allows a build up of toxic bacteria and liver enzymes causing liver damage and finally total renal failure, shock and death.

 

When a rabbit experiences a decrease in water consumption it forces the body to draw fluids from the body resulting in dehydration. Fluid is necessary to aid in the smooth transition of food, fibre and sometimes fur from the stomach through the intestines and caecum. Without fluids the digestive process slows down which allows the contents of the intestines to become even more dehydrated and ultimately resulting in an intestinal blockage. Intestinal blockages will trick the rabbit into thinking it is full and result in a decreased appetite.

 

When a rabbit stops eating, or eats a diet too low in the necessary nutritional values, a process called Ketosis takes place. Ketosis is when the liver extracts nutrients from the body's reserve. Unfortunately, this process is not as beneficial and effective as it would have been if the rabbit was eating properly. Nutrients taken from the body's reserve are often incompletely processed which leads to Hepatic Lipidosis or Fatty Liver Disease. When the liver becomes overwhelmed with fat it no longer works properly and eventually leads to complete liver failure.

 

Intestinal blockages are not without their own inherent problems and complications. When the intestinal tract becomes blocked it allows for bacteria such as Clostridium (which is normally found in the gut), to flourish and overwhelm the good bacteria. If the blockage is left untreated and the deadly toxins continue to build up it can cause painful gas, Enteritis and/or Enterotoxemia (also called Necrotic Enteritis) where parts of the liver, intestine and caecum start dying off and it will eventually lead to complete liver and system wide failures, shock and eventually death.

  

One may think the process of a rabbit not eating to system wide failures, shock and death will take a period of several days, weeks or months but it cannot be more wrong. A rabbit can die in a matter of hours as a result of any one of a multitude of ailments and diseases. That is why it is so important that you seek veterinary attention as soon as you suspect your rabbit is sick or is showing signs of being sick. In the case of GI Stasis it is not the actual slowing down of the gut that kills the rabbit. GI Stasis is much like a rock thrown into a crystal calm lake that creates a ripple affect which disrupts the whole lake. 

 

Trichobezoars (Hairballs)

 

Trichobezoars or "hairballs" are known to affect rabbits but not as often as one might think. Most intestinal blockages are comprised mostly of impacted faecal matter and partially digested food with only a little hair put into the mix. (Please see GI Stasis for more information on intestinal blockages)

 

"Hairballs" are found primarily in rabbits that tend to chew hair and ingest large quantities of fur. If the behaviour is allowed to continue the hair accumulates in the stomach and blocks the pyloric sphincter or opening leading out into the small intestine. It was once believed that GI Stasis and "hairballs" were one in the same or that "hairballs" caused GI Stasis. It is now understood that "hairballs" are merely a side affect of GI Stasis and not the primary cause.

 

Fur Chewing

Rabbits will chew hair if there isn't enough fibre in the diet or out of sheer boredom. By providing your rabbit a diet high in fibre and an interesting environment the habit of hair chewing should abate.

 

Treating Gastrointestinal Stasis (GI Stasis) and/or Intestinal Blockages

 

GI Stasis is one of those ailments that is easier to prevent than to treat. Preventative measures to help reduce the chances of your rabbit developing GI Stasis are first off to provide a diet high in fibre with lots of hay (Timothy hay being the preferred choice) and fresh clean water daily. Supplements to your rabbit’s diet such as pineapple, papaya or bromilin powder may also be used. Limit the sugary/starchy treats, keep cages & litter boxes clean, brush or pluck excess hair during moults, provide lots of opportunity for exercise and don’t allow your rabbit to chew or ingest large amounts of carpets, cloth bedding material, cardboard and other non-food items. There are no guarantees that these or any other preventive measures will prevent GI Stasis but it should help reduce your rabbit’s chances of developing it and provide for a healthier lifestyle.

 

In the event your rabbit has been diagnosed with GI Stasis there a few treatment options available. Your veterinarian might suggest home treatment such as the following:

 

1. Abdominal massage to help alleviate abdominal gases and pain.

2. Simethicone - paedatric medication to relieve gas pain 1-2cc (20mg/ml suspension) every hour for 3 hours after which 1cc every 3-8 hours.

3. Oral fluids such as pedialyte or herbal teas (chamomile) to rehydrate your rabbit.

4. Force feeding critical care or crushed rabbit pellets. The longer a rabbit goes without food the worse things get.

5. Unlimited hay.

6. Fresh, leafy greens like kale or parsley.

7. Lactobacillus acidophilus or probiotics powders to help restore natural bacterial flora in the gut.

8. Caecotropes to restore natural bacterial flora.

9. Enzymatic digestive aids such as fresh pineapple, papaya or bromilin powder to help break down any blockages.

 

More serious cases of GI Stasis may require veterinarian interventions such as:

 

1. Subcutaneous fluids for rehydration.

2. An intestinal motility agent such as cisapride (Propulsid) or metoclopramide (Reglan) to stimulate the gut.

3. Appetite stimulants to aid in encouraging the rabbit to eat.

4. Surgery if all else fails or the blockage is severe.

 

Whatever treatment option is used you must remember that the underlying cause must also be treated in order to avoid recurrences.

 

 

References:

 

Books:

Harcourt-Brown, F. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Great Britain. Elsevie Science. 2004

 

Harkness, JE., Wagner, JE. The Biology of Rabbits and Rodents. 4^th Edition. Baltimore. Williams & Wilkins. 1995

 

Hillyer, E., & Quesenberry, K. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine & Surgery. WB Saunders. 1997

 

Okerman, L. Diseases of Domestic Rabbits. 2^nd Edition. Oxford. Blackwell Science Publications. 1994

 

Pavia, A. Rabbits for Dummies. New York, NY. Wiley 2003

 

Richardson, V. Rabbits Health, Husbandry & Diseases. Malden, MA. Blackwell Science Ltd. 2002

 

Smith, K. Rabbit Health in the 21^st Century. 2^nd Edition. Lincoln, NE. iUniverse Inc. 2003

 

Articles:

KREMPELS, D., COLTER, M., STAZIONE, G. (2000) Ileus in Domestic Rabbits. Exotic DVM, Vol. 2.4: 19-21

 

Web-Articles:

KREMPELS, D. GastroIntestinal Stasis, The Silent Killer <www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html> Accessed 1 January 2008

 

LOGSDON, A. Nursing Your Rabbit Through GastroIntestinal Stasis <www.mybunny.org/info/gi_stasis.htm> Accessed 1 January 2008

 

Disclaimer: Raising House Rabbits takes no responsibility for the use or misuse of any information in this article. If you are suspect your rabbit is sick consult your local veterinarian.

 

This page was last updated on: January 23, 2008