Rabbits and other herbivores should never be given laxatives under any circumstance. The clinical presentations of “hairballs”
in different species stem from very different causes, and rabbits should not be treated with products intended for cats. Laxatives
intended for dogs and cats do an injustice to a rabbit’s unique digestive tract. Dangers include: abdominal cramping, gas and
bloating, chemical imbalances in the blood due to a pH imbalance, and loss of salt and minerals due to diarrhea. The loss of
minerals can seriously disrupt the body’s electrolyte balance and lead to severe dehydration. Oil-based laxatives coat the
intestinal wall and can impair vitamin absorption. The oily laxatives coat the mass of hair and food and make it resistant to water.
Water absorption is critical to break down and separate the mass to particle sizes the rabbit can pass. Rabbits instinctively hide
pain, and owners often notice a decrease in appetite after giving laxatives. Gas and abdominal pain further complicate the initial
problem of a slowing GIT and without the intake of grass hay (fibre), the tract stops. Once GI stasis occurs, seek veterinary care
immediately.