3year old mini rex

Question
Well i have a 3 year old mini rex. He has been really healthy and active up until lately. His behvaior is really worrying me. He has completley stopped eating his pellets, however he continues to eat everything else, romaine lettuce, hay, carrots, raw cashews, fruit, etc. It seems as if he's still hungry though. Also, there has been a lot of berry-like poos around his cage, which he more often than not likes to consume. And his bottom is dirty, and has a hard time peeing. i try to consistently clear his bottom and cut off dirty, excess fur.
he seems okay. but i'm real worried, and there are no good bunny vets in my area.

Answer
Dear Hawa,

His diet may be promoting cecal dysbiosis, which is giving him a poopy butt. Please see:

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

and

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

If he is straining to urinate even when his bum is clean, he may have a urinary tract problem that is *also* contributing to his stress and cecal dysbiosis:

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

and his odd change in eating habits suggests he may have molar spurs that need filing:

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

In any case, I hope you will be able to find a rabbit-savvy vet near you with the list linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If not, please write back and tell me your general location, and I'll see if I can help with a referral.

Hope this helps.

Dana