Bunny with soft stools

Question
QUESTION: I have 2 purebred mini lop females, both spayed and 13months old. One can eat anything and has no digestive problems but the smaller of the two has bouts of soft stools (not runny, just very soft) which through a process of elimination I have traced back to Burgess Excel Junior and Dwarf Rabbit nuggets (from the UK, very high quality). The problem went away for several weeks but came back when I reintroduced the nuggets. She also does normal stools and plenty of them! They have plenty of meadow and oaten hay and Burgess Excel Dandelion and Marigold herbage as well as kale, cauliflower leaves and mint.  They love their nuggets which I usually feed to them by hand. They come running as soon as they hear me open the container. I was wondering if the light nuggets for overweight rabbits might not have the same effect on her as I would assume they wouldn't be as rich. She is tiny only weighing 1.2 kg.  She is active and healthy in every other way and has a good appetite.  I feel that the nuggets form part of their healthy diet and they love them so much it seems such a shame if they can't have them. It is also a lovely time for us a I hand feed them.I have also been giving her Oxbow Digestive support.   I would really appreciate your advice in this matter.

ANSWER: Karen,

It's possible the light formula would work better for her since the fat content would be lower and nutrients would be higher. It's also possible there's just something with the composition of the pellets that just doesn't agree with her. It can't hurt to give it a shot and see, but please be vigilant and stop at the first sign of soft stool.

Also keep in mind that, in the wild, the nuggets wouldn't be a part of their diet, so eliminating it is not going to harm them. You sound like you otherwise provide a really well balanced diet for your buns, so the removal of that element would not be a big deal. To keep with the interaction, maybe sit and share some berries, or part of a banana, with your buns. Hold their leafy greens while they nibble... there are definitely ways to supplement the hand-feeding time you had with them.

You sound like a great bunny mom. Keep up the good work!

Christine



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm still having the soft stool issue and read this article http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=3012. Do you think it is worth trying this approach?  I have also been giving Oxbow Digestive Support and Oxbow Multi-Vitamins. Do you think I should continue with this or stop? The bunnies seem otherwise normal and healthy. They've had no pellets or nuggets for a couple of weeks. Thankyou.

Answer
Karen,

You're still having the soft stool issue after cutting out pellets entirely? Then yes, I'd say this method would be one to try. This was what I was thinking when I suggested that pellets aren't normally part of their diet. Remember this return to normal poo's can take a month or more too.

If you're planning on following this method to a T though, I would stop the vitamins. See what it does to allow your bunny's system to digest just one product - hay. Lots and lots of hay. If the condition worsens, start the vitamins back again.

These next few weeks will require extremely diligent watchfulness on your part. Please keep me posted.

Christine