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Vetdle Archive

Archive Case #29: Rabbit Gastrointestinal Stasis

Exotic veterinary case - Easy - April 1, 2026

Clinical Clues

  1. A pet rabbit is presented for reduced appetite and passing very few droppings.
  2. The owner reports the rabbit has been quieter than usual and is refusing favourite treats.
  3. On abdominal palpation the stomach and intestines feel doughy rather than acutely distended.
  4. The rabbit is mildly dehydrated and shows signs of abdominal discomfort.
  5. Imaging supports reduced gastrointestinal motility without a clear obstructive lesion.
  6. A slowdown of rabbit gastrointestinal motility commonly leads to anorexia, scant faeces, and gut discomfort.

Diagnosis

Rabbit Gastrointestinal Stasis

This case is most consistent with Rabbit Gastrointestinal Stasis because the rabbit has anorexia, reduced faecal output, dehydration, and evidence of slowed gut motility without obstruction. The most important clues are the progressive reduction in droppings and non-obstructive imaging findings, which support stasis over acute gastrointestinal blockage.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this exotic case supports the provided diagnosis, Rabbit Gastrointestinal Stasis, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

  1. Clue 1: A pet rabbit is presented for reduced appetite and passing very few droppings.
  2. Clue 2: The owner reports the rabbit has been quieter than usual and is refusing favourite treats.

Clues 3-4

  1. Clue 3: On abdominal palpation the stomach and intestines feel doughy rather than acutely distended.
  2. Clue 4: The rabbit is mildly dehydrated and shows signs of abdominal discomfort.

Clues 5-6

  1. Clue 5: Imaging supports reduced gastrointestinal motility without a clear obstructive lesion.
  2. Clue 6: A slowdown of rabbit gastrointestinal motility commonly leads to anorexia, scant faeces, and gut discomfort.

Self-review prompts

  1. After clues 1-2, what evidence from this exotic case shaped your initial interpretation?
  2. When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Rabbit Gastrointestinal Stasis?
  3. How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Rabbit Gastrointestinal Stasis?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.