rabbit butt and it bing red

Question
i have rabbit that i had for over 2 years i got her from school. i look at her bottom and it was coverd in poop and pee it was all dryed up i started cleaning it. it was coming off when i pulled it a little bit when i look at it closer it was red where her fear was. is that normal. when i did it before it never look like it before. there like one more spot with more fear and pee and poop dryed up with alittle bit of white stock to it. should i take her to a vet or is it normal and clean it self? this is the first time it look that nasy before its kinda scaring me?

Answer
Dear Samantha

The redness is due to irritation of having urine and fecal matter sitting on the skin for so long.  Please get her to a good rabbit vet immediately:

www.rabbit.org/vets

for professional care if you are not able to see what's normal or not.  Please also see:

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

If she has a chronic problem with messy bottom covered with soft poop, please read:

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

and for an overview of what might cause urine leakage, please see:

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

Common causes for runny poop are incorrect diet:

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

and pain/stress from dental problems:

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

So you will need a good rabbit vet to help.  You can find one here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Please get her to the vet right away, as this condition is painful and needs appropriate treatment.  She needs to be indoors until she is healed, and preferably always thereafter, as it is much safer than her being outside and at risk of attack by maggots.

I hope she will be okay.

Dana