Also known as: Gastrointestinal stasis syndrome, GI stasis, Intestinal stasis, Cecal stasis, Ileus
In short
Gastrointestinal (GI) stasis is a life-threatening emergency in rabbits where gut motility slows or stops entirely. Triggered by pain, stress, or low-fiber diets, it requires immediate veterinary intervention to prevent fatal complications like dehydration, cecal dysbiosis, and bacterial overgrowth.
TL;DR. Gastrointestinal (GI) stasis is a life-threatening emergency in rabbits where the digestive tract slows down or stops, requiring immediate veterinary care to restore gut motility, manage pain, and prevent systemic infection.
A rabbit showing signs of abdominal discomfort on a veterinary exam table.
Gastrointestinal stasis, often referred to as GI stasis, intestinal stasis, or ileus, is one of the most common and dangerous syndromes seen in domestic rabbits. Unlike dogs or cats, rabbits have a highly specialized digestive system designed to process large volumes of fibrous vegetation continuously. They are hindgut fermenters, meaning they rely on a delicate balance of beneficial bacteria in their cecum (a large pouch at the junction of the small and large intestines) to break down plant walls.
When a rabbit's gut motility slows down or stops completely, the entire digestive environment changes. Food and hair stall within the stomach and intestines, rapidly dehydrating into a hard, impacted mass. Without the continuous flow of nutrients, the beneficial microbial populations in the cecum die off, allowing harmful, toxin-producing bacteria to multiply. As a leading veterinary internal medicine reference notes:
"Intestinal stasis can result in bacterial overgrowth, and the absorption of endotoxin and bacteria can lead to endotoxemia and septicemia."
Furthermore, the rabbit's stomach physiology makes this stasis particularly hazardous. A veterinary surgical guide highlights the extreme environment of the rabbit stomach:
"The stomach acids in the rabbit are among the most acidic of those of any species, with a pH of 1. 2 to 1. 5. This high acidity enables rabbits to use plant proteins more efficiently than most mammals and normally minimizes problems with ingested hair. Unlike other species with incessant grooming behaviors, such as cats, rabbits physiologically cannot vomit."
Because rabbits cannot vomit, any material that becomes dehydrated and impacted in the stomach or intestines cannot be cleared upward. It must either pass through the digestive tract or be surgically removed. If the stasis is left untreated, the buildup of gas, toxins, and dehydrated material can lead to organ failure, shock, and death within a matter of hours.
GI stasis is rarely a primary disease on its own; instead, it is a secondary syndrome triggered by an underlying issue. The most common triggers include:
Inadequate Dietary Fiber: A diet low in indigestible fiber is a primary risk factor. Fiber is the physical engine that keeps the rabbit's digestive tract contracting. As noted in a European pet food scientific advisory statement:
"While not solely caused by a lack of dietary fibre, diets that do not contain enough fibre can compound acquired dental disease by reducing that animal's ability to grind its teeth down normally. Gastrointestinal stasis syndrome, a common clinical sign in rabbits that are in pain or unwell, can also be affected by dietary fibre levels."
Pain: Any source of pain can trigger the sympathetic nervous system to slow down gastrointestinal contractions. Common sources of pain include dental disease (such as sharp molar spurs), arthritis, middle ear infections, or recent surgical procedures.
Stress: Rabbits are highly sensitive prey animals. Environmental stressors—such as a move to a new home, the loss of a companion, the presence of a predator (like a barking dog), or sudden temperature changes—can trigger a stress response that halts gut motility.
Systemic Illness: Underlying diseases such as kidney disease, liver disease, or respiratory infections can cause a rabbit to stop eating, which rapidly leads to GI stasis.
Dehydration: If a rabbit does not drink enough water, or if the environmental humidity is extremely low, the moisture content of the digestive tract drops, leading to impactions.
While GI stasis can affect any rabbit regardless of breed, some genetic factors may play a role. For instance, the Manx Rabbit (a tailless breed) has been noted to have a potential predisposition to spinal and neurological abnormalities that can affect bladder and bowel function, though scientific evidence for this specific breed link remains limited.
Rabbits are prey animals, meaning they instinctively hide signs of illness and pain to avoid appearing vulnerable. Consequently, the signs of GI stasis can be subtle at first. Owners must closely monitor their rabbit's daily behavior, food intake, and fecal output.
A hunched posture and squinted eyes are common signs of abdominal pain in rabbits.
Diagnosing GI stasis requires a thorough veterinary evaluation to determine the severity of the stasis and identify the underlying trigger. Your vet will begin with a comprehensive physical examination. As outlined in standard veterinary surgical guidelines, this assessment includes:
"rectal temperature, pulse count, thoracic auscultation, monitoring of fluid and water intake, monitoring of urination (volume) and defecation (amount and consistency)... In addition, the animals are continually evaluated for signs of pain, which may be obvious, such as vocalizations, or more subtle, such as changes in posture or activity levels."
Following the physical exam, your vet will perform specific diagnostic tests:
Abdominal X-rays help veterinarians distinguish between functional stasis and a physical blockage.
Treatment for GI stasis must be aggressive and multifaceted. It focuses on rehydrating the gut contents, managing pain, stimulating motility, and providing nutritional support.
Fluids are the most critical component of treating GI stasis. Dehydrated gut contents cannot move. Your vet will administer fluids either intravenously (IV) through a catheter or subcutaneously (under the skin) to rehydrate both the rabbit's body and the impacted material in the digestive tract.
Pain is a primary cause and consequence of GI stasis. Uncontrolled pain prevents the gut from restarting. Your vet will use a combination of pain medications:
Once your veterinarian has confirmed via X-rays that there is no physical obstruction in the digestive tract, they will prescribe prokinetic agents to stimulate the muscles of the gut to start contracting again.
If your vet suspects that the stasis has caused a dangerous shift in the cecal microflora, leading to the overgrowth of harmful anaerobic bacteria, they may prescribe targeted antimicrobial therapy.
Unless a physical obstruction is present, keeping the digestive tract moving with food is vital. Your vet will instruct you to syringe-feed a high-fiber, powdered recovery formula mixed with water. This assist-feeding provides essential nutrients, prevents hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease, a common complication of anorexia in rabbits), and physically pushes the stalled material through the intestines.
The prognosis for rabbits with GI stasis is highly variable and depends heavily on how quickly veterinary care is sought.
If the condition is detected early and medical management (fluids, pain relief, prokinetics, and assist-feeding) is started promptly, the prognosis is generally excellent, and most rabbits make a full recovery within a few days. However, if the stasis is left untreated, or if the rabbit has developed a complete physical obstruction or severe abdominal bloat, the prognosis becomes guarded to poor. These cases can rapidly progress to shock, systemic infection, and death.
For rabbits that experience chronic or recurrent bouts of GI stasis, long-term management involves identifying and correcting the underlying cause, such as managing chronic dental disease or arthritis.
Preventing GI stasis relies on proper husbandry, diet, and stress management:
Because of their status as prey animals, a rabbit showing obvious signs of illness is already in a critical state. If your rabbit has not eaten or produced feces for 12 hours, you must contact your veterinarian immediately. This is a true medical emergency.
Do not wait to see if the rabbit improves on its own. Watch for these emergency red flags:
If you own a Manx Rabbit (a breed characterized by the absence of a tail), you should be especially vigilant. Because the genetic mutation that causes taillessness can sometimes affect the development of the lower spine and the nerves controlling the bladder and bowel, these rabbits may have an increased risk of neurological issues that impact gastrointestinal motility. Regular veterinary checkups focusing on spinal health and digestive function are highly recommended for this breed.
Treatment must be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian based on your pet. Specific drug doses are intentionally not shown here.
Gastrointestinal (GI) stasis is a life-threatening emergency in rabbits where gut motility slows or stops entirely. Triggered by pain, stress, or low-fiber diets, it requires immediate veterinary intervention to prevent fatal complications like dehydration, cecal dysbiosis, and bacterial overgrowth.
Anorexia、Dehydration、Depression、Hunched posture、Lethargy、Minimal to no fecal production、Weight loss、oligodipsia
Abdominal palpation、Contrast radiography、Survey radiographs
Treatment must be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian based on your pet. Specific drug doses are intentionally not shown here.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please consult a veterinarian.
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