Possible causes:

1. Stress

2. Pain

3. Illness/internal parasite

4. Dehydration

5. Hairball or other blockage

6. Lack of fibre in the diet.

Symptoms may consist of:

1. Small hard faecal droppings or no droppings

2. Rabbit is hunched over or straining to go poo.

3. Decreased or no appetite.

4. Decreased water intake.

5. Loud or unusual gurgling stomach sound.

6. Bloated

7. Pain or teeth grinding

8. rabbit becomes lethargic

Preventative measures:

1. Provide a high fibre diet

2. Lots of hay (Timothy hay being preferred)

3. Fresh clean water daily

4. Limit the sugary/starchy treats

5. supplement diet with bromilin powder.

6. Keep cages & litter boxes clean

7. Brush or pluck excess hair during moults.

8. Don’t allow your rabbit to chew or ingest large amounts of carpets, cloth bedding material, cardboard and other not to be eaten items.

Home treatment options:

1. Abdominal massage to alleviate gases and pain.

2. Oval or 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 pellets.

5. Unlimited hay.

6. Fresh, leafy greens like kale or parsley.

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

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.

Veterinary intervention may include:

1. Subcutaneous fluids for rehydration.

2. Intestinal motility agents 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.