Gastrointestinal stasis — the slowing or stopping of the rabbit gut — is one of the most common and most dangerous conditions in pet rabbits, yet it is frequently missed until animals are critically ill.
GI stasis represents a welfare crisis that is almost entirely preventable through appropriate husbandry. The primary cause — inadequate hay consumption — is directly linked to feeding muesli-mix or pellet-heavy diets that allow rabbits to selectively eat low-fibre components. The suffering caused by GI stasis is significant: gas accumulation causes abdominal pain that can be severe, and without treatment, rabbits experience progressive deterioration over hours to days. Because rabbits are prey animals that conceal illness, owners often underestimate the urgency of early symptoms. By the time a rabbit is clearly unwell to an untrained eye, the condition may be advanced. Rabbit-savvy veterinary care, owner education about normal gut sounds and faecal output, and appropriate hay-based diet are all essential welfare measures.