{"id":197,"date":"2026-04-07T08:41:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T12:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allcrittersvet.com\/blog\/?p=197"},"modified":"2026-04-13T08:45:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T12:45:20","slug":"how-spring-diet-changes-can-disrupt-digestion-in-small-mammals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allcrittersvet.com\/blog\/how-spring-diet-changes-can-disrupt-digestion-in-small-mammals\/","title":{"rendered":"How Spring Diet Changes Can Disrupt Digestion in Small Mammals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Has your roaming rabbit started nibbling on fresh shoots of mysterious new growth in your backyard? Are your kids excitedly picking new greens from the garden to give to your guinea pig? While spring is a thrilling time for every creature, it also comes with spring diet risks for exotic pets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what our team at All Critters Veterinary Hospital<\/a> wants you to know about exotic pet digestive problems that can crop up in the spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Spring Can Do a Number on Small Mammal Digestion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Spring brings sudden access to fresh plants, grasses, and veggies your small mammals haven\u2019t enjoyed all winter. Some pets are more susceptible to nibbling on random new plants than others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rabbits, for instance, should spend lots of time hopping around in the evenings and early mornings. They will inevitably spend a portion of that time nibbling on all the green new things they can find during outdoor time<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is one reason why we may see an uptick in rabbit GI stasis cases in the spring. Gastrointestinal stasis is a dangerous condition in which the digestive tract\u2019s normal function slows down or stops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This causes gas, bacteria, and food to build up in the intestines, leading to pain, dehydration, and loss of appetite. The condition requires emergency veterinary care, so keep an eye out for any signs of rabbit GI stasis cases in the spring, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n