Bianca

Question
Hello. I have two rabbits. Bianca is 7 and Quinn is 3. Both have been spayed/neutered. They are free roamers. Very happy and loved. I have a wonderful vet that care for both. Bianca was just diagnosed with urine scald, and I have been cleaning her messy bottom with duluted Betadine and then applying Mupirocin ointment as instructed by her vet, but the problem doesnt seem to be getting better and she is so uncomfortable and my once cuddly,loving bunny now hates when I come near her cuz I have to groom her but I dont want her to suffer. Yesterday I submerged her bottom in a warm Betadine bath and my question is: is this harming her and adding to her discomfort, or is it soothing for her? Please give me your expert opinion. I am gonna make another appointment first thing Monday morning, but I don't know what to think until then...thank you

Answer
Hi Bianca,

you may have to get back with me for more info.

Besides urine scald, you're saying Bianca also has a 'messy butt' - something I regard as like mushy fecals in her fur around her vent area?

If this is the case, I would look at her diet.  She may be overweight, or being fed too rich of a diet.  With our guys when we were giving them too much, they'd stop eating their cecal pellets and they'd get matted into their butt area.  I'd cut out any sugars/high carbs you give them, like oat flakes, fruits, sugar treats, cheerios, carrots, etc.  

Also, did the vet say anything about her age being a factor?  Is she having trouble raising her bottom when she goes?  If her joints in her hips or back legs are having trouble, you could give her glucosamine and MSM supplements that work both on people and other animals.

Is her litter the best considering her output issue?  Does it get changed often enough so that she isn't sitting in it and getting wet (not accusing you of anything, just throwing things out there).  Good litter we've used is Carefresh, but we have switched to a combo of Yesterdays News and wood stove fuel pellets. Eventually it will be totally wood stove fuel pellets.  They are very absorbent with urine.

To help her deal with the times you have to take care of her, make sure to also visit her several other times of the day just to pet her for awhile, and not do  any 'maintenance' to her.  Maybe just sit nearby and don't even try to pet or reach for her.  You both have to get back to some quality time.  You both need it even more now.

One thing the vet can do to help is shave some of her underside to cut down on the fecal material in her fur.  It will also help in that it won't trap as much urine either.  But it is necessary to make sure infection doesn't set in to her irritated skin.  Some soothing things you could put on irritated skin is baby diaper rash ointment, or preparation H (works very well on their skin).  Bag balm also is good.

Submerging a whole bottom is traumatic and there are cases where this is necessary.  I'd ask your vet if it really is necessary.  If you can apply the betadine and the other ointment without a butt dip, I'd avoid it.  Some rabbits really get stressed out about this.  If she has matted fecal material, you can instead use a lightly wet washcloth (lukewarm) and gently moisten the material and remove by gripping/pulling it out, and using a normal mans' comb - the fine end - to help.

Write back if you need to, or to let me know how your next appointment goes.  Lee