Older bunny poop problems?

Question
. I have a 7 year old ( best guess - we got her from the Humane Society)
female rabbit but recently she has been having poop problems which she has
never had before. She got a large lump of dried poop attached to her rear
end. The vet removed it and shaved her but she still seems to be having
issues cleaning herself. There is still some dried poop attached to her bare
skin and to some fur and it looks like it its slowly getting worse. I have tried a
damp cloth but that doesnt seem to be taking if off. I saw a post on cornflour
and was curious if that would work on dried hard poop stuck to her skin or is
that just for fur?

Answer
Hi Wendy,

I would double check that you are feeding her a proper diet.

Hay should be the biggest thing she gets.  Unlimited timothy hay.

Food pellets.  No more than 1/4 cup per 5 pounds body weight, per day.  No extra junk in them, just pellets.  The extras are going to make her overweight and cause gi tract problems.

Limit greens.  Too much can cause gi tract problems.

Avoid high carb/high sugar items.  

Good diet will go a long way to ensuring a good gi tract.

That said, older rabbits can have a hard time being able to bend down and eat their cecal pellets (the small soft poop clusters). These are the pellets they need to eat again, to replenish their gut with vitamins and good bacteria.  Some rabbits can have arthritis and/or if they are overweight, they can have a hard time getting down there.

You need to keep working it with a lightly damp washcloth, and I also suggest working the clumps with a (expendable/washable) mens' plastic fine tooth comb.  Do not pull extremely hard, you could tear her skin.  If it doesn't seem to be able to get through it, get the clump damp again with the washcloth and work it a little with fingers, then try the comb.

Cornstarch probably won't do too much for dried, hardened poop.  It still won't be bad though as it might help wick urine or moisture from her bottom and prevent urine scald or irritated skin.

Lee