Gastrointestinal stasis is a life-threatening emergency in rabbits that kills rapidly without treatment, yet remains under-recognised by owners unfamiliar with rabbit physiology.
GI stasis kills rabbits rapidly and causes significant pain from gas accumulation and gut distension. The tragedy is that most cases are preventable through appropriate diet — rabbits fed unlimited hay rarely develop stasis compared to those on pellet-heavy diets. Owner education about the early signs and the need for emergency veterinary attention is essential, as delays that might be acceptable for other conditions are potentially fatal in GI stasis. Rabbits are the third most common pet in the UK but the most poorly understood.