Squeeze tightly above the innards, gradually working them toward the rabbit's rear end. You'll see the bulge move easily toward the rectum, and the guts will compress into a ball as it nears the rear opening. Now give the rabbit one final squeeze and the entrails will pop right out of the rabbit's rear end.
You should gut furred small game as soon as possible. Especially rabbits and hares, because there's something about their innards that allows them to sour very quickly. In warm weather, it only takes an hour or so for the thin abdominal muscles to start turning greenish blue.
Gently massage your bunny's tummy.
Be careful, because bunnies are delicate inside and out. Your goal is to encourage the gas to move through the bunny's gut and out.
Medical treatment consists of administration of painkillers (analgesia), fluid therapy and gastric decompression to release the trapped gas using a tube that is passed through the mouth into the stomach. The use of gut motility stimulants (prokinetics) in this case is contraindicated.
The rabbit may quickly lose all interest in eating, cease passing droppings, show a bloated/distended abdomen, and show signs of abdominal pain (grinding the teeth, pressing their abdomen on the ground, sit hunch up with eyes half closed). comes on much quicker than stasis.
Squeezing a rabbit can be terrifying to them and will cause them to thrash and kick in a panic. Your hands should be used to support the rabbit. Never lift a rabbit by the ears or scruff of the neck and never let a small child pick up a rabbit.
Rabbits with GI stasis can quickly become lethargic and may exhibit signs of pain such as teeth grinding and a hunched posture. They may also begin to produce excessive gas and sometimes soft stool or diarrhea. If this is left untreated, severe cases of GI stasis can be fatal.
A rabbit may drink from a syringe that is placed in the corner of its mouth. The water should be offered slowly with frequent pauses so the rabbit can swallow and rest. If the water is just dribbling out of the mouth, stop what you are doing. Try again in 30 minutes.
Massaging or vibrating your rabbit's tummy is one of the best ways to help break up gas bubbles and encourage the gut to 'get moving'. Sit bunny on your lap or on a towel on the counter and with your hands gently knead your rabbit's abdomen, as deeply as she will allow. If she reacts in a painful manner, stop.
The most common presenting complaint in rabbits with GI stasis is a gradual decrease in appetite and subsequent decrease in fecal production. Appetite usually decreases over a period of 2 to 7 days.
If local laws permit, relocate the rabbit at least 5 miles away. Try to release your rabbit in an area that offers plenty of cover for protection. After letting the rabbit go, disinfect the cage with a bleach solution to remove your scent and prevent the potential to spread disease.
It may take several days before any fecal pellets are seen, and it may take two weeks or more of motility therapy before the intestine is moving normally again.
Pain can cause gut stasis and gut stasis itself is a painful condition, so pain relief is very important. Relieving pain reduces stress and helps appetite. Commonly used medications are: buprenorphine (an opioid medication)
GI stasis is potentially life-threatening and should be considered an emergency. If it has been more than 12 hours since your rabbit has eaten or produced feces, contact a rabbit-savvy veterinarian immediately.
Depending on the severity of the offence, a rabbit can hold a grudge from hours to several days. Sometimes, a simple stroke on the forehead or an apologetic treat can remedy a miffed bunny, but if your rabbit is truly offended, they can sulk for quite some time!
Signs of Pain in Rabbits
We know that rabbits have the same neurophysiological mechanisms as humans to produce pain and therefore have the capacity to feel pain in the same manner as ourselves. Often, rabbits do not cry out or make sudden movements like humans, dogs or cats when painful areas are palpated.
Rabbits communicate using body language, and apologizing is one example of this behavior. Rabbits apologize by touching heads.
A rabbit who is choking will look distressed initially. They may have their mouth wide open, show the whites of the eyes, or paw at their mouth. They are unable to make any noise, because no air can move past their larynx.
Often a rabbit in pain will sit hunched up, unwilling to move. A rabbit that sits hunched up, with eyes half closed, and firm teeth grinding is likely in pain and needs a vet check form filled out and supervisor notified.
Most of the time, complete blockages require a stay in the hospital and possibly surgery. But if your bowel is only partly blocked, your doctor may tell you to wait until it clears on its own and you are able to pass gas and stool. If so, there are things you can do at home to help make you feel better.