Accumulation of manure near anus and bunnys tail

Question
QUESTION: I have been rescuing rabbits and rehabilitating aggressive rabbits for over 10 years.  I currently have 12 rabbits.  Over the years I have learned so much about rabbit health, but one health concern has continued to puzzle me.  I have three rabbits that require my assistance to keep their underside clean.  They don't have diarrhea.  They do not exhibit any signs of illness.  They don't have snuffles.  They have had the same diet for at least 6 years.  Their diet consists of a high quality pellet, as much Timothy hay as they want and for these three rabbits I only give fresh food with low levels of sugar, like kale, occasionally.  They all drink plenty of fresh water.  I keep their enclosures VERY clean on a daily basis.  They all seem content and they engage in all their normal activities.  All the research I've done concerning this matter seems to point to their diet.  I'm not sure what else I can do...My 9 other rabbits have no issues and they all vary in age.  Currently, I deal with the issue by wiping and cutting the feces away from their fur.  This is an arduous feat since rabbits produce large amounts of waste and I have three affected rabbits.  My rabbits are very tolerant of this activity, but I would rather they didn't need my cleaning assistance.  Do you have any suggestions and or ideas of what may be causing this?  Could it be their older age and an inability to reach that area?

ANSWER: Dear Sarah,

Your bunnies appear to be suffering from chronic cecal dysbiosis, which is fully explained here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html

While some people mistakenly believe this is due to giving a bunny a diet too rich in fresh greens, this is almost never the problem.  However, it could have something to do with his, if bun is getting the wrong type of food.  Please check that here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

The second most common cause of this problem is probably pain/stress from dental disorders, such as molar spurs or other dental problem.  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html

Another common reason for messy bottom in older rabbits is simple arthritis that makes it harder for the bun to reach down and grab cecotropes straight from the "chute".  They sometimes turn around and walk on them, or squash them onto their bums while trying to eat them.  This can also happen with rabbits who are pudgy.  :)

You will need an experienced rabbit vet to help you, and you can find one via the Vet Referral Listings linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

The vet can also check for intestinal parasites (if possible, bring a very fresh sample of bunny poop with you in a clean ziplock bag), such as coccidia or roundworms. These are not particularly common in adult rabbits, but it never hurts to be sure.

In the meantime, you can safely clean bunny and keep him comfortable with the techniques described here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/buttbath.html

I hope this helps you get to the bottom of the problem and get it under control.

Dana

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

QUESTION: The information you provided me made me realize that each of my affected rabbits has a different reason for their condition.  They have all seen a veterinarian several times and I only received information about diet.  After reading your response I was forced to analyze each rabbits' situation individually.  I am convinced one rabbit suffers from arthritis and I will look into ways to make her more comfortable.  It is my belief that one rabbit may suffer from an unbalanced diet.  This rabbit had been released in a neighborhood prior to coming to my home and I'm wondering if he is used to more fresh food than I traditionally serve my rabbits.  Can each rabbit's dietary needs differ greatly from one another?  The third rabbit has suffered from dental issues from a young age.  He came to my home as an aggressive rabbit and I quickly discovered he had overgrown incisors.  I clip his teeth at least once a month.  He does not display signs of pain, but I would agree that he must be stressed due to his handicap, which greatly inhibits his ability to preen.  Our bond is quite strong because he recognizes that my role in his life is to help him, but I certainly don't want any of my rabbits to be stressed.  Is there anything else I can do to alleviate his stress due to his dental issues?

Answer
Dear Sarah,

Unfortunately, chronic dental problems will always be a source of pain and stress.  The best we can do is to keep them under control with regular veterinary treatments, as necessary, and good diet to promote sideways chewing (fresh grass, grass hay).

I hope all your bunnies will get solutions to make them well and happy.  They are lucky to have such a caring "mom".

Dana