GI problems

Question
My beloved 2 year-old Holland Lop has had two episodes of GI stasis about 10 months apart. Luckily he has pulled through both of them, but I am concerned about it happening again. I feed him all the hay he wants, greens and a tiny number of pellets.  He is very picky about which greens he likes so his diet is mainly limited to romaine lettuce, parsley and then a rotating selection of celery, carrot tops, etc.  In between his GI troubles, he seems to be a healthy happy rabbit. I have noticed that most afternoons he leaves 4 to 5 cecotropes on the floor of his cage. I am worried that the GI stasis and him not eating the cecotropes are all related.  Any thoughts on how to keep his GI tract healthier and encourage him to eat his cecotropes.  Many thanks for helping me keep my adored pet alive and well.

Answer
Dear Jennifer,

Holland Lops are notorious for having molar problems, such as spurs.  And if your vet has not checked that, I would have it done ASAP.  The pain/stress of molar spurs is a very common cause of GI upset including cecal dysbiosis that can lead to ileus:

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

Please see:

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

and also check his diet, to be sure that's not the problem:

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

You can find a good rabbit vet who knows how to do molar work here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope this helps get you on the right track to full recovery.

Dana