Author
2,954
edits
Changes
no edit summary
Gastric Stasis is reasonably common in pet rabbits.
Gastric Stasis is reasonably common in pet rabbits.
==Diagnosis of gastric impaction/stasis==
*Careful palpation of the anterior abdomen
*Radiography: Barium, in a healthy rabbit
**solid reaches caecum in up to 4 hours
**liquids may take more than 12 hours
*General clinical assessment, especially for any likelihood of skin disease
Radiography confirms the presence of impacted gastric contents surrounded by a halo of gas (Hillyer 1994). The presence of a small gas “cap” in the fundus is normal. In gastric stasis a “halo” encircles the contents (Girling 2006). The contents vary but are usually composed of fur, fibre (from food), and/or foreign material (usually unsuitable fibre substitute eg. wood-based litter; grass cuttings from a lawn mower, paper). The intake of fur may be inversely related to the fibre content of the diet and mild cases involving gastric trichobezoars may be successfully treated by correcting the fibre content of the diet, but the clinician should also check for pruritic skin conditions and treat as required.
==Clinical signs==
==Clinical signs==
It is possible to palpate the "doughy" mass in the epigastric area – take care. Gastric rupture is easy to produce! As the condition progresses to non-obstructive ileus see below.
It is possible to palpate the "doughy" mass in the epigastric area – take care. Gastric rupture is easy to produce! As the condition progresses to non-obstructive ileus see below.
==Treatment==
==Treatment==