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You Dirty Bunny, You...

22 11:31:09

Question
Hi, Dr. Krempels - hope you can help us... the kids brought home a Dutch Dwarf a couple of years ago and we're all very fond of her, tho she has never really enjoyed being held since reaching maturity. For the last several months she has been unable to keep her anal area clean. I've tried both solid-bottomed and wire-bottomed cages and changes to her feed, but there is no improvement. As clean as we try to keep her surroundings, she still accumulates large wads of hair and feces over a short period of time - and cleaning her traumatizes her so much that I fear she will become ill if we try to tend to her too much. She remains very healthy and alert otherwise.
I've been unable to find anything on this problem. Any suggestions you might care to offer would be greatly appreciated. And thanks so much for making yourself available to 'the rest of us'.

Cheers,

Craig R.

Answer
Dear Craig,

This is actually a fairly common problem, and you can read about its various causes here:

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

The condition is caused by cecal dysbiosis, an imbalance of the normal intestinal flora.  The most common causes are a diet too rich in starch and too low in crude fiber:

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

and dental problems (especially in dwarf and lop rabbits):

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

Please have a look at those articles, and then write back if you have additional questions.  You can find a good rabbit vet in your area here:

www.rabbit.org/care/vets.html

Hope that helps.

Dana