Excessive normal stool

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

My 8 month old rabbit has been producing excessive amounts of stool. The stool however, is the normal kind. He usually runs back to to his litter box/cage but now he is dropping stool everywhere. His diet has been normal, except for the change in pellet brand. His sister, from the same litter and of the same age, seems to be fine. He has also been rather quiet and not his usual self. He is usually very active. I'm wondering if it is anyhing serious. I give them vegetables twice daily, once in the early morning and later at night. I give them hay when they finish their supply.

Thanks.

ANSWER: Dear Maryann,

Lots of poop is a good sign of a healthy bunny.  Herbivores produce a LOT of waste, due to their high fiber diet.  But if he's leaving his pellets everywhere, that means he's starting to mark his territory, and has reached sexual maturity.  Time for The Big Snip.

Please read:

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

and find a good vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Once he's neutered, his litterbox should improve, but if he needs a little bit of coaching, this should help:

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

I hope this helps.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks,

But he's been neutered. I had him neutered when he was 4 months and started humping his sister.

But he's back to his usual self. Just lots of poop.

Thanks though.

Answer
Dear Maryann,

Uh oh.  I hope your bunny isn't one of those "I just won't use the litterbox" bunnies, which do pop up from time to time.  We have a few that just don't understand the concept at all.  And all it takes is one to make a mess!  Fortunately, a little portable vacuum does the trick to tidy up, since rabbit poops are about the least offensive poops you can imagine.  

Still you can try to retrain him with the tips here:

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

and

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/litter.html

I hope that helps!

Dana