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soft cecotropes

22 10:37:25

Question
my bunny for the last couple of months has on and off really mushy cecotropes, the other type of feces are normal. I understand this could be caused by a lot of starch in the diet.She is getting a pelleted mix that has little colored biscuits,but i have been slowly cutting back and giving her mainly just pellets all day with about 1 tablespoon of dried fruit mixed in,a little in the morning and a little at night when she goes into her cage. She gets lots of fresh vegetables through the day,and hay is placed around the house in three different areas. The only thing i can think of is my daughter has been giving her raspberries,maybe 4 or 5 a day.I have taken her off them today and will see what happens,but i had to give her a bath this morning,when I went to let her out of her cage her bottom was covered in stool.I dont have a good rabbit vet in this area,but have found one to spay her this spring about an hour and a half away.Any advice I would appreciate. She doesnt look ill,still running around the house and wanting to go outside to dig in the snow. Wont let her out today though as she had a bath. Thanks again.

Answer
Dear Anita,

I think you've hit the nail on the head with the starch hypothesis.  Your bunny is suffering from cecal dysbiosis, and until she gets a more rabbit-friendly diet, it will probably continue.  Please read:

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

and

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

Then find a good rabbit vet here, if possible, within driving distance:

www.rabbit.org/vets

in case her problem is also due to molar spurs, another common culprit of this problem:

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

But cut out the biscuit food and sweet/starchy treats right away, up her *grass* hay intake, and I'll bet you'll see an improvement. Please see:

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

Hope this helps.

Dana