Gastrointestinal stasis — where the rabbit gut slows or stops — is a life-threatening emergency that is the leading cause of death in companion rabbits and is directly linked to diet and stress.
GI stasis causes intense pain from gas distension and intestinal cramping. Rabbits dying from stasis experience significant suffering that is often missed because they hide illness as prey animals. The condition is largely preventable through appropriate diet — minimum 80% hay — and stress management. Understanding the signs and acting quickly when stasis begins saves lives and prevents suffering.