Rabbit Digestive Stasis: Recognizing the Vital Emergency

Rabbit Digestive Stasis: Recognizing the Vital Emergency

For rabbits, a digestive system that stops is an absolute veterinary emergency. Digestive stasis (or ileus) is one of the leading causes of death in pet rabbits, and it can happen in just a few hours. The good news is: if caught early, it often treats very well. You just need to know the signs.

⚠️ A rabbit that hasn’t eaten and hasn’t pooped for a few hours is an emergency. Contact a NAC veterinarian without delay.

What is Digestive Stasis?

A rabbit's digestive transit must function continuously. When it slows down or stops, food stagnates, gas builds up, and the gut flora becomes unbalanced. Without intervention, the condition deteriorates rapidly and can become fatal.

The most common causes include:

• A low-fiber diet (not enough hay)
• Stress (moving, noise, predators, changes)
• Pain (often dental, see below)
• Dehydration or lack of activity
• Hairballs during shedding

Signs to Watch For

Keep a close eye on your rabbit if you notice:

• They aren’t eating or even refusing their favorite foods
• They aren’t pooping, or are producing very small poops or poops strung together by fur
• They are hunched up, curled up, and not moving
• Pain posture: hunched back, grinding teeth, pressing their belly to the ground
• A hard or bloated belly
• Lethargy, refusal to interact

In rabbits, the absence of appetite and poop for just a few hours is enough to warrant an emergency visit. Never wait until the next day.

While Waiting for the Vet

Digestive stasis requires veterinary care (rehydration, pain relief, stimulating transit). While waiting for your appointment:

• Keep your rabbit calm and warm.
• Offer fresh hay and water; some may accept fresh herbs.
• Never give human medication or laxatives without veterinary advice.
• Note the time of the last meal and the last poop for the vet.

Preventing Digestive Stasis

Prevention comes down to a few simple but essential rules:

• Unlimited hay at all times: it makes up 80% of a rabbit's diet and is the engine of their transit. Check out our tips on rabbit nutrition.
• Appropriate fresh vegetables every day, and very few pellets.
• Always clean and accessible water.
• Daily exercise outside of the enclosure.
• Regular dental check-ups: rabbit teeth grow continuously, and misalignment can cause pain and stasis.
• Limit stress and brush during shedding.

In Summary

Digestive stasis doesn’t forgive waiting. A rabbit that stops eating and pooping needs to see a NAC veterinarian within hours. With a good diet rich in hay and a calm environment, the risk decreases significantly.

With Boopsy, keep your rabbit's health record up to date, schedule their check-ups, and find tailored advice for NACs, because they deserve top-notch care too.