Non-Obstructive Ileus – Rabbit

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Clinical Signs

  • Decreased appetite or anorexia
  • Abnormal faecal production
    • No stool or greatly reduced stool
    • Liquid faeces
    • Mucoid stool
  • Pain
    • Hunched posture
    • Tooth grinding
    • Shallow rapid respirations
    • Abdomen tender on gentle palpation
  • Abnormal intestinal sounds
    • Negative or increased borborygmi – normally these are barely perceptible but can be detected with patience.
    • Increased caecal resonance
  • Hypothermia
  • Radiography: Remember that if you are using barium there is a difference in the time taken for different types of radiopaque material to reach the caecum, solid material being transported to the caecum in 4 hours in a healthy rabbit whereas liquids may take about 12 hours (Girling 2006)

Clinical Procedure

  • Normalise body temperature
  • Analgesia
  • Rehydration
  • Restore GI motility
  • Stimulate appetite


Address underlying causes (the rabbit is an extremely holistic animal)

  • Dental disorders
  • Identify and remove environmental stressors
  • Blood profiles
    • CBC
    • Biochemical profiles
  • Diagnostic imaging
    • Urinary tract disease
    • Skeletal disorders
    • Soft tissue abnormalities
      • Tumours
      • Abscesses