“Bloat” and Gastrointestinal Blockage in Rabbits
Gastrointestinal obstruction and a stomach
distended with gas and fluid or “bloat” is a
serious health problem of rabbits.
What causes bloat and obstruction?
In many cases, obstruction is caused by a mat
of fur, therefore long-haired rabbits or rabbits
housed with long-haired breeds are at
increased risk for this medical problem.
Individuals fed a diet with inadequate dietary Matt Leyva
fiber are also less equipped to handle the hair
normally found in the rabbit gut. Less
commonly, ingested foreign materials like carpet, cloth fibers, rubber, or plastic
can also block the gut.
Why is bloat a serious condition?
Any blockage involving the gastrointestinal tract can quickly become critical in the
rabbit because rabbits cannot vomit or even belch. When the stomach cannot
empty, saliva and stomach secretions quickly expand the stomach.
As the wall of the stomach is stretched and then stretched even more, blood flow
is cut off and the stomach wall can die. The dilated stomach can also prevent
blood flow to vital organs like the kidneys.
Without treatment, death can occur rapidly. In fact, gastrointestinal obstruction is
the most common cause of sudden, unexpected death in otherwise healthy
rabbits. Unless this condition is caught very early, the prognosis for rabbits with
bloat and intestinal obstruction is guarded even with medical care.
What does bloat look like in the rabbit?
This condition generally comes on suddenly. A rabbit that seems completely
healthy will suddenly stop eating, defecations will stop, and the rabbit will appear
very tired or lethargic.
As the condition continues, signs of abdominal pain such as a hunched posture,
tooth grinding, and reluctance to move may be observed. The rabbit will also
become progressively weaker, eventually lying down often in a stretched-out
position.
Your veterinarian will want to…
This condition is considered a medical emergency and your veterinarian will want
to perform laboratory testing and abdominal imaging like x-rays and sometimes
ultrasound. In many instances, multiple x-rays are needed to see if the
obstruction is moving.
Your rabbit will also require aggressive supportive care including powerful pain
medication and fluid therapy. Although medical care occasionally encourages the
obstruction to pass, most rabbits require exploratory surgery.
Follow-up care
Unfortunately the danger has not passed once the surgery has been performed.
Your veterinarian will need to monitor your rabbit very closely to make sure the
gut begins to move. Veterinary staff will listen to your rabbit’s intestinal tract with
a stethoscope and gently palpate the belly. Your rabbit’s appetite and fecal
output will also be observed carefully. Patients recovering well after 3 days
appear to have a good prognosis for complete recovery.
Prevention
A diet with appropriate fiber levels, that maximizes hay and minimizes pellets, will
allow your rabbit to better handle hair normally present in the gut. Regular
grooming can also reduce the risk of obstruction and some clinicians recommend
regular clipping of long-haired rabbits to minimize their risk.
References
Harcourt-Brown TR. Management of acute gastric dilation in rabbits. J Exotic Pet Med 16(3):168-
174, 2007.
Oglesbee BL, Jenkins JR. Gastrointestinal diseases. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW (eds).
rd
Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3 ed. St. Louis: Elsevier
Saunders; 2012: 193-197.
nd
Oglesbee BL. Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Small Mammal, 2 ed. John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.; 2011.
July 27, 2015