Attention: Refusal to eat is always an emergency and life-threatening for rabbits! Veterinary emergency services should be contacted immediately!

A completely overloaded stomach is referred to as „stomach overload.“

Causes:

  • Expanding foods (pellets, dry food, grains, dried vegetables/fruits, treats) or bedding materials (straw pellets, clumping cat litter), chewed objects, or dry food, especially when consumed in large quantities suddenly.
  • Rapid eating due to food scarcity or infrequent feedings (make sure to feed your rabbit at least twice daily with sufficiently large portions).
  • Blockages (e.g., caused by hairballs), which can, in turn, have multiple causes!
  • Obstructions (e.g., foreign objects, hairballs, etc.).
  • Sudden introduction of dry food when the rabbit was previously fed a fresh diet (rapid dietary changes).

Attention: Veterinarians without rabbit specialization often misdiagnose a gastric dilation as a stomach overload! True stomach overloads are extremely rare; in over 90% of cases, it is a gastric dilation that is incorrectly labeled.

Symptoms: How does a stomach overload manifest?

Affected rabbits are usually lethargic (apathetic), withdraw, and stop moving. They typically stop eating and appear „bloated.“ Some animals show signs of pain (teeth grinding, tense body posture). Circulatory failure may also occur (low body temperature, abnormal breathing). A definitive diagnosis can only be made through an X-ray at the veterinarian’s office.

Treatment: What helps?

The treatment depends on the X-ray results, the rabbit’s condition, and the underlying cause. Information about first aid and therapy can be found here: Gastric Dilation.

Important! Force-feeding must never be done in the case of a stomach overload! It is often fatal, as it can further stretch the stomach and cause the thin stomach walls to rupture quickly.

Sources/For further reading, including:

Böhmer, E. (2005): Röntgenologische Untersuchung bei Hasenartigen und Nagern (Schwerpunkt: Magen-Darm-Trakt, Harntrakt, Wirbelsäule). Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe K: Kleintiere/Heimtiere, 33(02), 115-125.
Böttcher, A. (2017): Untersuchungen zur Magendilatation bei Heimtierkaninchen (Oryctolagus cuniculus) (Doctoral dissertation, Freie Universität Berlin).
Cheeke, P. R., Cunha, T. J. (2012): Rabbit feeding and nutrition. Elsevier.
Drescher B. (2014): Magenüberladung beim Kaninchen. Kleintier konkret 2: 12–16
Eckert, Y. (2020): Stillstand: Der Ileus beim Kaninchen. kleintier konkret, 23(S 01), 2-10.
Feldman, E. R., Singh, B., Mishkin, N. G., Lachenauer, E. R., Martin-Flores, M., & Daugherity, E. K. (2021): Effects of Cisapride, Buprenorphine, and Their Combination on Gastrointestinal Transit in New Zealand White Rabbits. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.
Harcourt-Brown, F. M. (2007): Gastric dilation and intestinal obstruction in 76 rabbits, Veterinary Record 161, 409-414
Harcourt-Brown (2007): Gastric dilation and intestinal obstruction in 76 rabbits. Vet Rec 161 (12): 409–414
Harcourt-Brown TR. (2007): Management of acute gastric dilation in rabbits. J Exotic Pet Med. 16 (3): 168–174
Hein, J. (2009): Anorexie beim Kaninchen–diagnostische Aufarbeitung und erster therapeutischer Ansatz. Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe K: Kleintiere/Heimtiere, 37(02), 129-138.
Hein, J. (2016): Notfälle beim Kleinsäuger – erkennen und reagieren.
Hein, J. (2018). Röntgenbildinterpretation Magen-Darm-Trakt Kaninchen. kleintier konkret, 21(S 01), 12-20.
Kreis ME, Jauch KW. (2006): Ileus aus chirurgischer Sicht. Differenzialdiagnose und therapeutische Konsequenzen. Chirurg. 77 (10): 883–888
Köstlinger, S. (2014): Notfälle beim Kaninchen. kleintier konkret, 17(S 02), 2-7.
Lichtenberger M, Lennox A. (2010): Updates and advanced therapies for gastrointestinal stasis in rabbits. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 13 (3): 525–541
Nickel, R., Schummer, A., & Seiferle, E. (2004): Lehrbuch der Anatomie der Haustiere—Band II Eingeweide. Parey, Stuttgart.
Müller, K. (2014): Magendilatation beim Kaninchen–Was ist zu tun? kleintier konkret, 17(02), 16-20.
Ozawa, S., Thomson, A., & Petritz, O. (2022): Safety and efficacy of oral mirtazapine in New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, 40, 16-20.
Schnabl, E., Böhmer, E., & Matis, U. (2009): Diagnostik und Therapie des Magenbezoars beim Kaninchen: katamnestische Betrachtung von 39 Patienten. Tierärztliche Praxis Kleintiere, 37(2), 107-113.
Schnabl, E., Böhmer, E., & Matis, U. (2009): Diagnostik und Therapie des Magenbezoars beim Kaninchen: katamnestische Betrachtung von 39 Patienten. Tierärtzliche Praxis, 37, 107-113.
Schnellbacher, R. W., Divers, S. J., Comolli, J. R., Beaufrère, H., Maglaras, C. H., Andrade, N., … & Quandt, J. E. (2017): Effects of intravenous administration of lidocaine and buprenorphine on gastrointestinal tract motility and signs of pain in New Zealand White rabbits after ovariohysterectomy. American journal of veterinary research, 78(12), 1359-1371.
Varga M. (2014): Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. 2nd ed. London: Butterworth-Heinemann Elsevier