My rabbits stool...

Question
Hello Dana Krempels,
 Lately my polish rabbit has been having some mushy stool samples (the past week or so) and only recently has he been having an oder issue. It happens a few times a day but mostly his stool is still round and hard like normal stool should be. I've also been noticing that he isn't going as much. He will be 2 years of age in september and is getting neutered this month on the 28th. I know I was not supposed to post pone it for so long but a few months ago when I took him in to get neutered he had some digestive problems and was constipated for about a week. The vet gave me some medicine and within a week he was feeling better. I'm very concerned that he might be experiencing another digestive problem, or even worse, he might have worms! Should I tell my vet about the problem before the surgery and postpone it again? Today I am going to restrict his diet to timothy hay ONLY (I give him treats in the morning and at night before I go to bed). I appreciate the help. Thank you!

-Rachel

Answer
Dear Rachel,

Sorry for the delay in answering.  This week was rabbit crisis week, and my email took a beating.

Your bunny should probably not have surgery if he's not 100% himself.
Dwarf rabbits tend to get dental problems such as molar spurs, and these can elicit mushy stool via GI tract slowdown, as per the information here:

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

To find out more about the dental connection, please read:

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

If your vet is not experienced enough with rabbits to check and fix problem teeth, please find one here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Another common culprit of mushy stool and GI upset is incorrect diet:

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

so do check that, too.  

I hope this helps.

Dana