rectal prolapse

Question
We have 2 7 week old dwarf bunnies.  This am I noticed that one of them has a small amount of beefy red protrusion at it's rectum that appears to be rectal prolapse.  I was curious if this is self-correcting in a rabbit or if it is premonitory of something worse.

Answer
Hi Sarah,

I'm impressed with your knowledge.  In a true rectal prolapse, it is usually the indication of a GI issue.  Most of the time it is an impaction in the last turn of the intestines.  In this case, they stop pooping. That leads to a collapse of the benefical bacteria in the GI that digests food and controls the harmful bacteria that can quickly grow in that gut.  A 7 week old domestic rabbit is not quite weaned (and in fact it is illegal in many states for breeders/pet stores to offer rabbits under 8 weeks old) so the gut is still very very delicate.  Diet is usually the root cause of true rectal prolapse and in the cases we have seen (all have been in older rabbits) the rabbit has usually been fed an improper diet too low in fiber and is always dehydrated.  If this is a prolapse, it is usually not self resolving.  If part of the intestinal tissue gets cut off from blood flow, it will become necrotic and will probably start to serious infection.  In some prolapse situations, it is possible to use a properly lubricated and appropriate surgical tool to "re-install" the prolapse.  Honestly, that doesn't usually work.  Once you have a real prolapse, it seems to indicate a weak spot and the prolapse is chronic.  A highly skilled surgeon can often "tack" the prolapse back inside the body.  It would take a really talented surgeon to perform surgery on such a small rabbit.  If surgery is needed....I might would be willing to pay something to a wildlife specialist to at least consult with the primary domestic vet.  I am primarily rescue wildlife and we have done surgeries on wild rabbits much smaller than your dwarf

We have seen a couple of rabbits that appeared to have a "rose bud" for a rectum.  We didn't have a long history on this rabbit as it was rescued in a park where it had been abandoned...and domestics don't do well on their own in the wild.  She was attacked and severely injured by a dog.  We don't know if that attack added to her problem.  It seemed her problem would almost "come and go"....never got really bad but never really resolved either.  We did get some improvement by deworming her on a regular basis.  It is also possible that this is an indication of rabbit syphillis...chances are remote unless the other is showing symptoms but should at least be considered.

In this case, I would pay close attention to her poop....and poop can tell us a lot about a rabbit.  You might have to separate them to get a true look.  Make sure she isn't having a problem pooping....no straining and that her poops are normal shape...we call them "cocoa puffs".  Make sure she is getting a proper diet.  At this age, she should be getting a baby/teenager diet of unlimited amounts of high quality pellets and unlimited hays....including grass hays such as timothy, orchard grass. brome, oat, etc....and in the case of young rabbits...unlimited alfalfa hay.  All rabbits regardless of age should have hay free choice....just older rabbits should receive limited alfalfa hay.  Rabbits over six months should have very limited pellets.  Hay is essential to keeping the GI moving...if provide fiber which is the pressure.  Hay also is the primary way to keep the teeth at a proper length.  Make sure she is drinking lot of water.  Impactions are usually started by some degree of dehydration.  If she isn't pooping...that can get serious and life threatening quickly.  I would also support the GI by using a probiotic.  I use a product called Bene-Bac.  It's available at most vets and pet stores.  It contains large amounts of colony forming bacteria....Bene-Bac contains some very beneficial strains of L Casei and Entercoccus bacteria.  While most people think using products like this adds bacteria to the gut...it does but that isn't the benefit.  The benefit is that these strains tend to change the pH...it makes the climated more acidic which is what a weaning or adult rabbit's gut should be...a pH of 1-2.  It helps to stabilize that pH and that creates a good climate for growth of beneficial bacteia.  Do not use yogurt as many suggest...milk and sugar are enemies of a rabbit's gut.

Review and adjust the diet...make sure proper hydration....consider using a probitic to assist the weaning that hasn't completed yet (and weaning is a potentially "stressful" event) and it might not be a bad idea to seek out a rabbit savvy vet to take a look.