Gastro-Intestinal Symptoms In The Rabbit
Here is a chart of common gastro-intestinal symptoms and possible causes to help you figure out what is wrong with your rabbit. Bolder text is a link to our article on the subject. I plan to have articles made on most causes but some conditions I don't have experience with so before I post an article, I'd like to gather information and research.
| Symptoms | Possible Causes |
| -One rabbit in the herd refusing to eat or has reduced feed intake |
-Gus
Statis -Woolblock, Furball -Lack of palatable water -Feed-overfed, spoiled feed, micotoxins -Doe about to kindle within a day -Acute dental issue -Abscess in mouth or vicinity -Stress-from recent change or new activity -Injury -Recovery from antibiotics, wormers, medications or surgery -Beginning of illness |
| -Multiple rabbits in the herd not eating or have reduced feed intake | -Feed - change in
brand, spoiled or micotoxin poisoning -Lack of palatable water -Heat stress/sudden weather change -Herd treatment with worming meds -Stress-predator in rabbitry? -Stress-change in routine/caretaker -Coccidiosis outbreak -Beginning of illness |
|
-Reduced feed/refusal to eat -Rabbit is usually molting -Fecal pellets noticeably smaller and fewer or absent altogether -Rabbit 'hides' in back of cage -Usually doesn't show a lot of pain but may grind teeth if acute -Gradual loss of condition -Can be a chronic or acute condition |
-Woolblock, Furball |
| -Reduced
feed/refusal to eat -Rabbit is listless which worsens rapidly without treatment -Little or no fecal pellets -Rabbit appears in pain-grinding teeth, hunched position -Loses condition fast - dehydrated -Usually an acute condition that must be treated right away |
-Gut Stasis - general |
|
-Mushy or excessive cecotrophes Cecotrophes may stick to fur |
-Carbohydrate overload -Too much protein in diet |
|
-Reduced feed/refusal to eat -Jelly-like stool, may be tinged with blood -Unsatisfied thirst-often the rabbit sits up on the edge of water bowl for long periods -Dehydrated despite drinking water -Sloshy-sounding belly -Subnormal temperature -Initially can hear loud or rumbling noises from gut -Often in pain-grinding teeth -Sometimes straining as if trying to defecate -Loss of bladder control |
-Mucoid Enteropathy |
|
-Refusal to eat -Sudden or severe diarrhea -Sudden loss of condition -Dehydration -Complete listlessness -Death often occurs quickly |
-Enterotoxemia* article coming soon.... -Tyzzer's Disease* (watery diarrhea) |
| -May have reduced food intake -Poor condition-failure to maintain condition -Periodic small bouts of loose stool may be seen -Molting too often or never seeming to complete the molting process |
-Coccidiosis (chronic or acute) -Internal parasites (poor condition/hair coat can by symptom of external parasites) |
| References: *Rabbit Production 8th Edition (2000) Interstate Publishers, Inc. Danville IL ch 10 |
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Good luck with your rabbit! Cathy, February 2009