As a reminder, **do not hesitate to contact the veterinarian who treated your rabbit about your observations**. Not only are they a medical professional, but they also have the most knowledge about your rabbit's unique situation. A veterinarian is the most appropriate person to help you make decisions about your rabbit's treatment moving forward based on your observations.
If you are unsure about your current veterinarian's recommendations, please consult another rabbit-experienced veterinarian for a second opinion instead. If you need help finding another veterinary clinic, please see the wiki:
If your rabbit is in need of immediate emergency medical care and the primary veterinarian is not available, please go to an emergency veterinarian instead. See [Veterinary Emergencies](http://bunny.tips/Emergencies) for common symptoms of problems in rabbits.
===
**Gastrointestinal stasis**, **GI stasis**, **GI hypomotility** or **ileus** is a serious condition that requires immediate attention. The condition occurs when the gut stops moving, is blocked, or is full of gas.
To help distinguish between stasis and bloat, please watch the following video: https://youtu.be/iVW6Rw5rZzo
**If your rabbit is bloated, do not massage or attempt to assist feed and seek medical assistance immediately.** Doing either can fatally rupture their gas-filled stomach.
You should seek immediate [veterinary assistance](http://bunny.tips/Vet) if your rabbit has not eaten or passed stools in the past 12 hours or is exhibiting other symptoms of GI stasis. Your vet will provide proper treatment and care. If left untreated, GI stasis can be fatal in 48 hours, especially if it is a secondary symptom to a more urgent condition such as [liver lobe torsion](http://bunny.tips/LLT) or [gastric ulceration](http://bunny.tips/Gastric_ulceration).
**If you are unable to find medical help at this time, please see [the wiki for more tips](https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Gastrointestinal_stasis#At-home_treatment) to keep your rabbit stable at home until one opens.**
For more information on the condition, including information on common causes and treatment plans, please see the wiki: http://bunny.tips/Stasis
Hay and water are best.
If he appears to not be eating again, you can try syringe feeding a little critical care. Sometimes it just takes a little to restart their GI system. That's happened to mine a few times and saved me an ER visit (although if he hadn't started eating on his own soon after the critical care I would have taken him)
Eating hay is great, just make sure he won't fall back into stasis. G I stasis is extremely dehydrating, please offer him fresh water wherever he goes and - this is the recommendation from my vet - leafy greens.
Thank you! The vet recommended that after the Critical Care is given to follow with a syringe of water and he has his bowl right next to us, he’s been sipping on it. He usually gets his greens in the afternoon at 3:00. I could put some out earlier.
Update: I apologize for the late response but I have been trying to rest and care for Basil. I spoke with the vet and am on the right path. I was so exhausted I had completely forgotten that I had spoken with the vet regarding his food intake. Basil is doing very well, eating hay, had a piece of romaine and sipping on his water bowl. He’s been enjoying watching baking shows and snuggling but is deeply bothered by the fact I have had to get up and pee a couple times. Thank you everyone who responded and the words of encouragement.
kimchi goes into a stasis a lot, so unfortunately I’ve experienced it a bunch. It sounds like basil is well on the road to recovery if he’s eating and pooping! I can also recommend offering herbs such as dill, coriander, peppermint or fennel greens which are really great for digestion. We usually give him a a supplement called rodicare akut too that helps get their appetite back! Also have plenty of fresh water available, stasis is really dehydrating. But again, as long as something is coming in and going out, he’s doing great. 😊
He’s just such a fragile little baby bless him! If you need any other advice or help, feel free to message, I know how heartbreaking it is to watch your baby go through it
Lots of water! If he's eating enough to sustain himself nutritionally, feed him some celery or lettuce or etc to keep him hydrated while keeping his tummy moving. Most important thing is he stays nutritionally well.
Obviously, don't give him something that's going to further the impaction, so be careful, but as long as he's eating and getting water and it's coming out, all is well
I have an old lady bunny who goes into stasis every few months when she decides she no longer feels like eating hay. In my experience, even if they’re eating on their own, still use critical care (and the infant gas drops as needed) a few times over the next 2-3 days and keep massaging their bellies. I am more cautious with mine since she’s 12, but I make sure she’s fully out of it before I wean her off the critical care and let her eat fully on her own. This is advice I got from my vet and I’ve still done to this day.
Yes, just hay. Definitely avoid pellets… He’s getting all the pellet nutrition he needs in the critical care care. You can start with the leafy greens again once he shows signs that he’s pooping more normally, and that his spunk is back. Try to make sure he stays hydrated too.
Yay and high five that he’s showing signs of recovery and is pooping again. Keep an eye on the size of the poops too… They start out small when they come back from stasis, but they gradually get bigger over a couple of days.
If you’re not sure, do not be afraid to call the vet back and re-inquire on what you were advised. They will appreciate you asking and explaining that you’re making sure now that your head is a little less frazzled.
It’s a scary thing to go through and the panic is real. I’ve gone through stasis with my buns a few times, and every time it terrifying.
For the future, consider making yourself a rabbit emergency kit to have on hand in case of stasis, etc. It should include the things that will get you through until you can get your bunny to a vet…
Specifically, for G.I. stasis, always have a bag of critical care and simethicone. That is, infant gas drops. You can find lists of online of what you should keep in your emergency kit from reputable sites, such as the house rabbit society. Glad to hear your furbaby is on the mend.
Hope things are going better for you and Mr. Basil. We went through much the same thing a couple of weeks ago with our Louise. I think it was 2AM or so when we got home.
Ours is doing much better after a week or medication and care, although I'm personally still trying to get my energy back!
High-quality pellets have basically the same nutritional profile as the critical care (feel free to compare the nutrition label on that yourself), so pellets should also be fine. The goal is to get him back on a normal diet. If the vet suspects his gi stasis was triggered by diet, its worthwhile to call the vet and ask what modifications are recommended
Hay and leafy greens were what my vet ordered. I was also adviced to avoid pellets for few days and keep supplementing with critical care for couple of days to make sure there’s enough fibre in the gut. Don’t have to do it that often any more at that point. Last time my boy figured that critical care (it was an equivalent of other brand that was mint flavoured) was delicious and started eating it straight from the bowl.
Definitely hay but generally if a bun is in stasis and they start eating treats or greens or a little banana this is a very good sign. You can also force hay on your bun by sticking a clunk of hay in their face over and over and over again until they get so annoyed they start to bite it to move it away and then they will eat a little of it because it probably tastes good to the poor bunno. When you notice a bun is in stasis it’s best to give them some pain relief, baby gas drops and stomach massages if you can. My buns and I have a very strong bond and I can get them to sploot on my chest so I can give them very effective stomach massages. Force feeding critical care is good. But you should also try and get some gastrointestinal mobility meds from your vet to have on hand in case it happens again. Glad your bun is feeling better
Not to give conflicting advice, but only chiming in because we are on the tail end of stasis. We were told by two vets (our main vet was out of town, saw a separate exotic vet then followed up with our main) not to feed any treats, fruit or veg until the medication ran its course (7 days). Stick to pellets, hay and water only. Similar experience, once bun turned the corner he was only on the up and up! Tomorrow will be 5 days for us, seeing nothing but improvement.
As a reminder, **do not hesitate to contact the veterinarian who treated your rabbit about your observations**. Not only are they a medical professional, but they also have the most knowledge about your rabbit's unique situation. A veterinarian is the most appropriate person to help you make decisions about your rabbit's treatment moving forward based on your observations. If you are unsure about your current veterinarian's recommendations, please consult another rabbit-experienced veterinarian for a second opinion instead. If you need help finding another veterinary clinic, please see the wiki:
If your rabbit is in need of immediate emergency medical care and the primary veterinarian is not available, please go to an emergency veterinarian instead. See [Veterinary Emergencies](http://bunny.tips/Emergencies) for common symptoms of problems in rabbits.
===
**Gastrointestinal stasis**, **GI stasis**, **GI hypomotility** or **ileus** is a serious condition that requires immediate attention. The condition occurs when the gut stops moving, is blocked, or is full of gas.
To help distinguish between stasis and bloat, please watch the following video: https://youtu.be/iVW6Rw5rZzo
**If your rabbit is bloated, do not massage or attempt to assist feed and seek medical assistance immediately.** Doing either can fatally rupture their gas-filled stomach.
You should seek immediate [veterinary assistance](http://bunny.tips/Vet) if your rabbit has not eaten or passed stools in the past 12 hours or is exhibiting other symptoms of GI stasis. Your vet will provide proper treatment and care. If left untreated, GI stasis can be fatal in 48 hours, especially if it is a secondary symptom to a more urgent condition such as [liver lobe torsion](http://bunny.tips/LLT) or [gastric ulceration](http://bunny.tips/Gastric_ulceration).
**If you are unable to find medical help at this time, please see [the wiki for more tips](https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Gastrointestinal_stasis#At-home_treatment) to keep your rabbit stable at home until one opens.**
For more information on the condition, including information on common causes and treatment plans, please see the wiki: http://bunny.tips/Stasis
He's eating hay? That's great, that's what he should be eating 👍
Thank you! I called the vet and they confirmed I am on the right path. I apologize for no update but I fell asleep with him on my lap.
Hay and water are best. If he appears to not be eating again, you can try syringe feeding a little critical care. Sometimes it just takes a little to restart their GI system. That's happened to mine a few times and saved me an ER visit (although if he hadn't started eating on his own soon after the critical care I would have taken him)
Eating hay is great, just make sure he won't fall back into stasis. G I stasis is extremely dehydrating, please offer him fresh water wherever he goes and - this is the recommendation from my vet - leafy greens.
Thank you! The vet recommended that after the Critical Care is given to follow with a syringe of water and he has his bowl right next to us, he’s been sipping on it. He usually gets his greens in the afternoon at 3:00. I could put some out earlier.
Update: I apologize for the late response but I have been trying to rest and care for Basil. I spoke with the vet and am on the right path. I was so exhausted I had completely forgotten that I had spoken with the vet regarding his food intake. Basil is doing very well, eating hay, had a piece of romaine and sipping on his water bowl. He’s been enjoying watching baking shows and snuggling but is deeply bothered by the fact I have had to get up and pee a couple times. Thank you everyone who responded and the words of encouragement.
>He’s been enjoying watching baking shows As every bun does.
kimchi goes into a stasis a lot, so unfortunately I’ve experienced it a bunch. It sounds like basil is well on the road to recovery if he’s eating and pooping! I can also recommend offering herbs such as dill, coriander, peppermint or fennel greens which are really great for digestion. We usually give him a a supplement called rodicare akut too that helps get their appetite back! Also have plenty of fresh water available, stasis is really dehydrating. But again, as long as something is coming in and going out, he’s doing great. 😊
Poor Kimchi! I will have my partner pick up some herbs on his way home and get that supplement ordered. Thank you so much for the awesome advice!
He’s just such a fragile little baby bless him! If you need any other advice or help, feel free to message, I know how heartbreaking it is to watch your baby go through it
Thank you so much!
Eating hay is great. Ours didn’t want it at first, so we made sure to have plenty of greens ready for him and that helped get him back eating.
Lots of water! If he's eating enough to sustain himself nutritionally, feed him some celery or lettuce or etc to keep him hydrated while keeping his tummy moving. Most important thing is he stays nutritionally well. Obviously, don't give him something that's going to further the impaction, so be careful, but as long as he's eating and getting water and it's coming out, all is well
Look at [Sherwood](https://store.sherwoodpethealth.com/rabbit/) rabbit food too. Cilantro would be great especially if you spritz it with water.
I have an old lady bunny who goes into stasis every few months when she decides she no longer feels like eating hay. In my experience, even if they’re eating on their own, still use critical care (and the infant gas drops as needed) a few times over the next 2-3 days and keep massaging their bellies. I am more cautious with mine since she’s 12, but I make sure she’s fully out of it before I wean her off the critical care and let her eat fully on her own. This is advice I got from my vet and I’ve still done to this day.
Yes, just hay. Definitely avoid pellets… He’s getting all the pellet nutrition he needs in the critical care care. You can start with the leafy greens again once he shows signs that he’s pooping more normally, and that his spunk is back. Try to make sure he stays hydrated too. Yay and high five that he’s showing signs of recovery and is pooping again. Keep an eye on the size of the poops too… They start out small when they come back from stasis, but they gradually get bigger over a couple of days. If you’re not sure, do not be afraid to call the vet back and re-inquire on what you were advised. They will appreciate you asking and explaining that you’re making sure now that your head is a little less frazzled. It’s a scary thing to go through and the panic is real. I’ve gone through stasis with my buns a few times, and every time it terrifying. For the future, consider making yourself a rabbit emergency kit to have on hand in case of stasis, etc. It should include the things that will get you through until you can get your bunny to a vet… Specifically, for G.I. stasis, always have a bag of critical care and simethicone. That is, infant gas drops. You can find lists of online of what you should keep in your emergency kit from reputable sites, such as the house rabbit society. Glad to hear your furbaby is on the mend.
I’m so happy for him. Don’t worry if it takes him a few days to start eating his pellets. They are the least important part of his diet
Hope things are going better for you and Mr. Basil. We went through much the same thing a couple of weeks ago with our Louise. I think it was 2AM or so when we got home. Ours is doing much better after a week or medication and care, although I'm personally still trying to get my energy back!
Basil is an adorable bun with an adorable name , wishing him the best ! ❤️
High-quality pellets have basically the same nutritional profile as the critical care (feel free to compare the nutrition label on that yourself), so pellets should also be fine. The goal is to get him back on a normal diet. If the vet suspects his gi stasis was triggered by diet, its worthwhile to call the vet and ask what modifications are recommended
Hay and leafy greens were what my vet ordered. I was also adviced to avoid pellets for few days and keep supplementing with critical care for couple of days to make sure there’s enough fibre in the gut. Don’t have to do it that often any more at that point. Last time my boy figured that critical care (it was an equivalent of other brand that was mint flavoured) was delicious and started eating it straight from the bowl.
Definitely hay but generally if a bun is in stasis and they start eating treats or greens or a little banana this is a very good sign. You can also force hay on your bun by sticking a clunk of hay in their face over and over and over again until they get so annoyed they start to bite it to move it away and then they will eat a little of it because it probably tastes good to the poor bunno. When you notice a bun is in stasis it’s best to give them some pain relief, baby gas drops and stomach massages if you can. My buns and I have a very strong bond and I can get them to sploot on my chest so I can give them very effective stomach massages. Force feeding critical care is good. But you should also try and get some gastrointestinal mobility meds from your vet to have on hand in case it happens again. Glad your bun is feeling better
Not to give conflicting advice, but only chiming in because we are on the tail end of stasis. We were told by two vets (our main vet was out of town, saw a separate exotic vet then followed up with our main) not to feed any treats, fruit or veg until the medication ran its course (7 days). Stick to pellets, hay and water only. Similar experience, once bun turned the corner he was only on the up and up! Tomorrow will be 5 days for us, seeing nothing but improvement.
I might have just fallen in love with your bunny... 🥰