Gi Stasis/Ileus

Question
QUESTION: Hi Dana,
I asked you a question about our rabbit Mittens a few days ago who passed away.  What I wanted to know now is if you do a necropsy on a rabbit to find out the cause of death how soon after passing away does this usually have to be done and also if the rabbit died of GI would it still pass urine and some faecal matter after passing away.  Also as I did not see it happen how can I try to work out how many hours prior to finding my rabbit that it happened.

Leanne

ANSWER: Dear Leanne,

If Mittens passed away a few days ago, it is probably too late for a necropsy unless the body was kept *very* cold (not frozen).  Call up your local rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to get an opinion on this, but it is very unlikely that a body that has been stored for more than a few hours will yield much information unless there is a *gross* abnormality visible upon post mortem exam.

GI stasis/ileus is a progressive problem, and a bunny will generally not pass fecal pellets if there is a blockage or stasis.  Urination should be unaffected.

I am very sorry.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dana,

what I mean't is if my rabbit did die of GI Stasis/Ileus would it pass fecal matter after it has passed away and its muscles have relaxed. I am just trying to understand if this is the possible cause of its death. I know it is too late to do a necropsy on Mittens and I don't think I would have had one done as it wouldn't have brought Mittens back to me.

Answer
Dear Leane,

In my experience, rabbits who are suffering from ileus will not usually have fecal matter in the rectum, which is where it would have to be in order to exit the body upon death, when the muscles relax.

Ileus is not a proximal cause of death, and from what little I know here, it does not sound as if this is why Mittens died.  Ileus is a *complication* of illness, but it is rarely an actual cause of death unless it goes untreated for a long enough time for other intestinal problems (e.g., Clostridium overgrowth) to occur.

I hope this helps.

Dana