Gut stasis in rabbits - what an owner needs to know

The most important thing for owners of pet rabbits to understand is that the animals have highly sensitive digestive tracts. This sensitivity can result in a medical condition called gut stasis - which can be fatal if it's not treated in time - and can be triggered by a variety of factors, including stress and even air conditioning.

This slowdown and stoppage is, according to the vet, far too common a problem in Hong Kong. "Once the normal gut movement begins to slow down, faecal number and size reduce, and, eventually, the gut stops moving completely. This can all happen very quickly and, when it does, rapid changes occur in the pH level and microbial balance, which can severely affect gut health, leading to ulceration and bacteria leaking into the bloodstream and resulting in sepsis."

In other scenarios, the rabbit's stomach is filled with gas that cannot escape. This causes discomfort to the animal, which further affects food intake. The dilated stomach can put pressure on vital blood flow to and from the heart, leading to severe shock, collapse and death, Blanshard says.

The condition can be caused by anything that makes the rabbit feel unwell or uncomfortable, and thus stop eating. Common triggers in Hong Kong, according to the vet, are overheating due to a lack of air conditioning, and stress caused by noise. "There are also true medical issues that can be a cause, and these include dental disease, bladder stones, arthritis or uterine cancer in females - they are all very common triggers that I see in my clinic."