Gastrointestinal stasis is the most common life-threatening emergency in pet rabbits, yet it is often unrecognized until the condition becomes critical. Prevention and rapid response save lives.
GI stasis causes significant suffering — affected rabbits experience intense abdominal pain from gas distension and may go into shock. Because rabbits are prey animals that hide pain, owners often recognize the problem too late. The welfare impact is compounded by how preventable most cases are: a diet of unlimited timothy hay, fresh water, and limited pellets dramatically reduces stasis risk. Rabbits should be seen by a rabbit-savvy veterinarian (not all vets have rabbit expertise) as an emergency. Treatment involves pain management, gut motility drugs, syringe feeding, fluid therapy, and gentle abdominal massage. Owners must monitor fecal output daily as an early warning system.