Mini Dwarf Lop Flopsy

Question
Hi, Flopsy has had an on/off runny stool problem since we adopted her when she was 6 weeks old, she's now 6 years old. We love her dearly and try to have her inside, out of her hutch as much as possible but obviously this is difficult and I now have 2 small children. I can't even let her run around the back garden because I find the more she eats the worse it gets. Her current diet is unlimited hay (we buy a bale of good quality hay) 1/3 of a carrot & one small piece of broccoli each night. We take her to a good vet that understands rabbits (he has given her special gut powder treatment, but I don't think this ever really worked) and we have taken her to a specialist twice. On the last visit he basically said put her down if it is too much for me to cope with!!!! This was over 2 years ago. She has normal stools and then very messy ones in a 24 hour period. Is there anything you can suggest. Thanks Sarah

Answer
Dear Sarah,

Your bunny is suffering from cecal dysbiosis, which is explained here:

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

Fortunately, your kids won't get sick from contact with the mushy cecotropes, though they are kind of stinky and disgusting.

If Flopsy's diet is healthy (check this at www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html), then in a LOP in particular, my first suspect for the cause would be molar spurs or other dental problem causing pain/stress.  Please read:

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

and find a good, experienced rabbit vet who can check the molars and find any problematic spurs and file them:

www.rabbit.org/vets

It can help, at least temporarily, to give her probiotics such as Benebac, or even Lactobacillus acidophiuls (available in capsules from health food stores; just suspend the contents in clean water or give on a tiny bit of banana, and presto!).  This problem is caused by an imbalance of the flora of the cecum, so getting that flora back on track will solve the problem.  Intestinal motility drugs such as Reglan and/or cisapride may also help.  Please ask the vet.

I hope this helps.


Dana
P.S. - If it's any consolation, this is a very common problem.  It *can* be treated!