Bloat

True bloat (not to be confused with stasis/ileus – reduced motility of the intestine, or the presence of some gas in the digestive system caused by food) is a dreaded condition in rabbits, with poor prognosis. True bloat is probably the most painful disorders that a rabbit can suffer from, and rabbit savvy vets often opt to humanely put the rabbit to sleep, to spare it more suffering.

Bloat is due to an abnormal collection of gas that leads to an extreme distension of the stomach, and/or or cecum. The stomach feels hard and the rabbit looks like a “balloon”. It can make noised like a “waterfall”. The rabbit shows signs of terrible pain and has difficulties to breath properly. When bloat reaches a certain point in rabbits, it becomes irreversible. This is due to the facts that the stomach wall of rabbits is not as elastic as in many other animals. The distended stomach (its volume can double) will compress the main blood vessels that lead blood to and from the heart. Blood flow becomes irregular, and rarely blocked, causing disturbances of the cardiac rhythm. At this point, the condition is fatal.

Causes of bloat remain unknown. It may related to overeating, exercising immediately after eating are suspected in most animals, lack of fiber in the diet, change of diet, excessive drinking or stress, or result from a pyloric blockage or other digestive problems.

Dorsa-ventral view of a healthy rabbit, and normal size of stomach with a small pocket of gas

Dorsa-ventral view of a rabbit suffering from bloat, with an abnormally distended stomach

In memory of Ratbag, who suffered a terrible episode of bloat.

Lateral view of a healthy rabbit, and normal size of stomach with a small pocket of gas

Lateral view of a rabbit suffering from bloat, with an abnormally distended stomach

In memory of Ratbag, who suffered a terrible episode of bloat.

Once fully bloated, most rabbits do not survived longer than a few hours to a day after diagnosis. Opioid pain drugs, fluids, antibiotics and simethicone bring little to no relief. Putting the rabbit on its side may help. A handful of rabbits were saved by intubation with a rubber catheter and aspiration of the content and gas of the stomach. The majority died within 24 hours after relief of pressure on the stomach. Rarely, when intubation is difficult, excessive vagal stimulation caused a rapid death of the rabbit.

When in uncertainty about bloat, if the rabbit is hypothermic or not, refrain from feeding it, to avoid overload an already distended stomach, a compromised digestive system, and contact your vet asap.

NSAID analgesic drugs for use in rabbits are described here.

Acknowledgement

Thanks are due to Moe Rosenhek (Canada), Tal Saarony (USA) and Julie Martin-Marrero for the permission to use their pictures.

e-mail: info@medirabbit.com