About a rabbit’s digestive system:
- Rabbit’s have a complex digestive system that is specifically designed to efficiently process a high-fibre, plant-based diet, featuring hindgut fermentation and caecotrophy.
- A rabbit’s stomach only has one entry and exit, and unlike most species, rabbits are unable to vomit or ‘burp’. This means that if the exit from the stomach to the intestine is blocked or has stopped moving and accumulated gas then there is nowhere for the fluid/stomach contents to go.
- Because rabbits are hindgut fermenters, this means that the main site for breaking down fibrous plant material is in the cecum. The cecum is a large, blind-ended sac located between the small and large intestines. The cecum contains a dense population of microbes that assist to ferment the digestible fibre. This releases nutrients that the rabbit cannot access through regular enzymatic digestion alone.
- A rabbit’s digestive system is sensitive and requires an adequate source of daily fibre, such as quality hay, to help to maintain healthy microbial populations in the cecum and prevent digestive disorders.
- Sudden changes in diet or inappropriate foods can disrupt fermentation, leading to gastrointestinal stasis or other health issues. When changing a rabbit's diet or introducing new foods do it slowly over a few weeks to ensure that their digestive system can comfortably adapt, reducing the chances or GI stasis or loose stools.
Please see our information on a rabbit's diet and foods that are safe for them to eat.
About GI stasis:
GI stasis (also called gastrointestinal stasis or Ileus), is a dangerous and commonly fatal gut condition in rabbits if left untreated. This illness is characterized by a slowing or cessation of the rabbit’s digestive tract.
Causes of GI stasis:
- Environmental stress - temperature spikes or dips
- Change of environment
- Stress and anxiety
- Medication changes
- Underlying illness or injury
- Dehydration
- Diet changes
- Poor diet or poor-quality food
- Ingested fur
- Intestinal blockage
- Obesity
- Genetics
Otherwise healthy rabbits can quickly end up with a serious case of GI stasis. whichever of the causes above, it may cause their digestive tract to slow down. The food and hair that has already been ingested can then become impacted in the stomach or intestines, gas accumulates, further exacerbating the problem.
As the GI tract comes to a halt, the rabbit will have a decreased appetite. They’ll stop eating and producing faecal pellets. Their body and vital organs will begin to shut down. This is why it's important that it’s treated as an emergency and requires immediate veterinary attention from a rabbit specialist vet for correct diagnosis and treatment.
After your rabbit has had an episode of GI stasis or a significant illness, it’s important to closely monitor their recovery. The timeline for their poops to return to normal can vary depending on how serious your rabbit’s illness was and how quickly they start eating again.
Signs your rabbit might have GI stasis:
- Decreased appetite and food intake
- Decreased fluid intake
- Decreased or no faecal output (poops if present may be smaller, loose or malformed)
- Urinary incontinence or changed toileting habits
- Lethargic, reluctant to move
- Pain postures - hunching, pressing stomach into the floor
- Hiding
- Loud stomach gurgling or no stomach sounds
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Any change in behaviour that is not normal for your rabbit
About gastric dilation:
Gastric dilation (commonly known as bloat) is an acute and often life-threatening condition in rabbits that requires immediate veterinary attention from a rabbit specialist vet for correct diagnosis and treatment. It can cause a perfectly healthy rabbit to become very unwell very quickly.
The most common cause of this condition is an intestinal obstruction caused by a trichobezoar (a hair ball). It is normal for rabbits to ingest hair as they groom, however in some cases the hair can join together with some of the ingesta (food) and can form a ‘ball’ shape. This ‘ball’ is normally slightly larger than the rabbit’s normal faeces. While it sits in the stomach no harm is generally done however if it starts to mobilise from the stomach and moves into the small intestine then in some cases a blockage can occur.
By far the most common cause of this condition is a blockage with pellets of compressed hair, known as a trichobezoar. These pellets are similar in appearance to normal faecal pellets but larger in size. Other potential cause of this condition includes:
- Intestinal cancer
- Carpet fibres
- Post-surgery adhesions
- Intestinal intussusceptions
- Ingested fur
- Other foreign materials that have been eaten when they shouldn’t have been
The rapid increase in the size of the stomach causes a lot of pain and discomfort. This gastric dilation can put pressure on the chest and compromise the rabbit’s breathing and the normal circulation of blood. In addition to this, changes to blood volume and electrolyte levels can occur.
Signs your rabbit might have gastric dilation:
- Decreased appetite and food intake
- Decreased fluid intake
- Decreased or no faecal output (poops may be smaller or malformed)
- Lethargic, reluctant to move, positions in pain postures
- Hiding
- Any change in behaviour that is not normal for your rabbit
- Distended abdomen - may feel hard or drumlike when gently palpated
Signs your rabbit may be in pain:
- Sitting in a hunched position/arching - A rabbit may sit in a hunched position or shift and arch their back multiple times to attempt to relieve their pain and find a comfortable posture while they are in pain
- Stretched out, rigid posturing or stomach pressing - A rabbit may lie flat with their legs extended behind them, stiffly sitting without fluid movement or appear to be stretching out and pressing their stomach into the floor. This can indicate abdominal discomfort or musculoskeletal pain, as the rabbit tries to relieve pressure on sensitive areas
- Shifting weight or position continually/dragging - If a rabbit is favouring one side of the body for resting or sitting tilted this may signal pain in an opposite limb or opposite side of the body which can often be due to illness, injury, arthritis, or neurological issues. They may also drag their belly across the floor to attempt to relieve pain
- Raising the hindquarters - Raising the hindquarters slightly while in a sitting or an almost loafing position that is different to their normal loafing can indicate urinary, reproductive, or pelvic pain issues
- Teeth grinding - Distinctly loud, audible grinding that differs from the soft tooth "purring" sound often heard from content rabbits
- Reluctance to move, lay down or groom - Some rabbits will avoid lying down if it exacerbates their pain and will remain in a hunched or tense position refusing to undertake normal movement or behaviours for extended periods or time
- Hiding - Rabbits are prey animals and will instinctively hide when they are feeling unwell or are in pain as a method of protecting themselves from potential predators
- Aggression - A rabbit suddenly showing aggression can indicate that something is wrong and should be investigated for the cause as it can be pain related from an illness or injury. Much like hiding, aggression is a protective method rabbits may undertake
- Facial tightness - A rabbit may appear tight/pinched in the face especially around their nose and eyes which can indicate pain
- Rapid breathing - Changes to a rabbit's breathing particularly rapid, shallow breaths can indicate pain or respiratory issues
Any of the above pain symptoms requires immediate veterinary attention from a rabbit specialist vet for correct diagnosis and treatment.
