Stool Problem

Question
I have two rabbits that have a problem with their stool. Instead of coming out as "pellets," sometimes it collects on their rectum and forms a hard ball of stool that we can't get off because it gets stuck to them. We feed them LM Bonanza Buffet and Timothy Hay. We also clean their cages and give them fresh water everyday. What can we do about this and how can we prevent it from happening again. Thank you!

Answer
Dear Charles,

I've never heard of LM Bonanza Buffet, but the name alone sends up big red flags.  If the pellet food contains any seeds, corn, dried fruit, nuts, etc., it's very likely that this is what's causing the chronic cecal dysbiosis that's resulting in the mushy, sticky poop.

This is more than an inconvenience.  The mushy poop is a potentially serious health problem that can lead to worse things.  Please read:

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

for a complete description of this common problem, its root causes and how to stop the mush!  In the meantime, here are some tips on how to safely clean up the bunnies' bums:

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

I hope this helps.

Dana