Gastrointestinal stasis is a potentially life-threatening condition in rabbits where gut motility slows or stops. It is often preventable through appropriate diet and husbandry, making owner education critical.
GI stasis is one of the most significant welfare emergencies in companion rabbits and is frequently preventable. The condition causes progressive abdominal discomfort, gas accumulation, and pain as gut contents stagnate and bacterial populations shift. Without prompt treatment - fluid therapy, pain relief, gut motility drugs, and feeding support - the condition can be fatal. Rabbits instinctively hide pain and illness, meaning the condition may be quite advanced before owners recognise a problem. Daily monitoring of faecal output is a simple but highly effective welfare measure: changes in the number, size, or consistency of droppings are often the first indicator of a developing problem. The diet correction needed to prevent stasis is straightforward: unlimited grass hay should be the dietary foundation, with pellets as a small supplement and fresh leafy greens providing variety.