Rabbit gastrointestinal (GI) stasis is a clinical syndrome requiring urgent intervention — hypothermia at presentation (rectal temperature ≤ 36.6°C [97.9°F]) is the single strongest negative prognostic indicator, associated with a 5-fold increased risk of death or euthanasia. Journal of the…

Diagnosis begins with ruling out obstruction before treating for stasis. The most common presenting complaints are hyporexia or anorexia, lethargy, and decreased fecal output — a nonspecific triad that also characterizes GI obstruction, appendicitis, and liver lobe torsion. Journal of the…+1 A diagnosis of nonspecific system involvement is made in more than 30% of rabbit GI presentations, reflecting the breadth of the differential. Journal of the… GI stasis without overt obstruction is confirmed by abdominal radiography or ultrasonography; ultrasonography has limited utility in rabbits with GI stasis due to interference from excessive cecal and intestinal gas. Journal of the…+1

The key radiographic distinction between stasis and obstruction is critical before initiating promotility therapy. In obstruction, the stomach is distended with fluid/homogenous soft tissue opacity and a dorsal gas cap; mean blood glucose of 444 mg/dL (24.7 mmol/L) has been associated with GI obstruction in rabbits with anorexia. Journal of the… Serial abdominal radiographs can be used to assess response to medical therapy — a reduction in gastric size with appearance of new small intestinal gas dilation, followed by cecal gas dilation, is suggestive of aboral passage of an obstruction. Journal of the…

Stabilization takes priority over diagnostics in the decompensated rabbit. Dehydration is frequently masked in rabbits because water is absorbed from the GI tract into the vascular space, preventing the expected rise in packed cell volume. MSD Vet Manuals Decreased food intake rapidly precipitates hepatic lipidosis, which further suppresses appetite and accelerates the downward spiral. MSD Vet Manuals Active warming is required for any hypothermic rabbit. Journal of the…

Medical management of GI stasis centers on IV crystalloid fluid resuscitation, analgesia, and promotility support. Fluid therapy, syringe feeding, meloxicam, prokinetics, and opioid analgesia are the most commonly administered supportive treatments in rabbits with GI dysfunction. Journal of the… Antibiotic use should be approached cautiously, as disruption of GI microflora predisposes rabbits to dysbiosis and intestinal disease. MSD Vet Manuals

Lidocaine constant rate infusion (CRI) significantly improves survival in rabbits with confirmed GI obstruction — survival to discharge was 89.7% in rabbits receiving lidocaine CRI versus 56% in those that did not. Journal of the… All rabbits in the lidocaine CRI group also received at least one dose of buprenorphine. Journal of the… While this survival benefit was demonstrated specifically in obstruction cases, lidocaine CRI is part of the broader medical management toolkit for severe GI dysfunction. Journal of the…

Surgical intervention is reserved for rabbits that fail to respond to medical therapy. Medical management survival rates for GI obstruction range from 63% to 91% depending on protocol; surgical survival has been reported at 47.5%. Journal of the… The rabbit GI tract is highly intolerant of manipulation, and GI retraction during abdominal surgery risks postoperative ileus, which can be fatal within days if untreated. Veterinary Surg…

Overall prognosis for rabbit GI syndrome is good in the absence of hypothermia. Of 117 rabbits presenting with GI dysfunction, 84 survived to hospital discharge; the 15 that died and 18 that were euthanized were disproportionately represented among hypothermic patients. Journal of the… Inpatient and outpatient management were used in roughly equal proportions. Journal of the…

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