Bloat/blockage

Question
Dana,

A friend's bunny is very poorly with bloat. He was taken to the vets yesterday and given various injections,  metachloprimide, metacam and another strong painkiller, which I think is metagesic?

He was x-rayed and they've found food nad fluid are causing the blockage. Since then, Claude improved and did some poos and ate a little but today, he has gone down hill again.

My friend has syrunged some food and water into him but he seems to be deteriorating. I am concerned the vet isn't very confident with rabbits, as she said if he didn't improve, pts would be the only option. She did mention operating to remove the blocakge but was not optimistic.

Please can you help?

In anticipation,

Mel P

Answer
Dear Melanie,

Unless the bunny has a rock-hard abdomen and is not passing *any* stool, then the problem is NOT a blockage/bloat.  Please share this with your friend immediately:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

GI stasis/ileus is a result of some other stress/illness, but it must be reversed first, and then the original cause determined.  Most common causes are incorrect diet:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

and pain/stress from dental problems, such as molar spurs:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html

Please also read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html

and

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html

If he passes any poops at all, he is not blocked, and the therapies in the ileus article will help.  Shallow enema can work miracles, but don't do this unless you are confident you can do it without harming the rabbit.  Instructions can be found in the ileus article.  

I hope this helps.

Dana