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Gastrointestinal Disorders

LOSS OF GUT MOTILITY

  • Gastric Stasis

The onset of gastric stasis is usually gradual, and is related to a chronic gastric hypomotility. Both appetite and output of faeces decreases. Once complete stasis occurs the animal becomes anorectic, but the rabbit may remain alert and active for a few more days before intestinal ileus sets in. Gastric stasis can be determined by radiography - the rabbit has a full stomach containing very dense ingesta surrounded by a halo of air. Any gastric immotility can leads to ulceration as when they dry out the stomach contents can rub on the stomach lining. Ulceration may progress to perforation and peritonitis, and so must be treated.

  • Intestinal Ileus

The signs of intestinal ileus are characterised by symptoms similar to those of gastric stasis, and indeed the two conditions may occur together. Radiographs usually show gas throughout the GI tract, and may show gas around the compacted contents of the stomach and/or caecum.

  • Caecal Ileus

Signs and symptoms of caecal ileus are as for intestinal ileus, but dense material in the caecum may be noted.

Many factors affect gut motility, including the composition of the ingesta (presence of fibres) and the gut microflora, and stress (physical and environmental). In response to stress catecholamines are released which act at gut level (impact upon the fusus coli) and almost shut the gut down. Therapeutic agents like anaesthetics can have the same effect.

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