Netherland Dwarf...

Question
Hello,

I have a Netherland dwarf rabbit (I think)... His name is Becker, and I have had him for about 8 years.  I am not sure how old he was when I got him, perhaps a year or two old.

He is a delightful and very affectionate rabbit.  He does not like the slippery floors (hardwood and linoleum), so he has his own carpetted room and there are runners in the hall and upper foyer for him.  He uses his litterbox and has passed the chewing phase years ago (or maybe the door frames are just old news with no sharp edges now!).

The problem is he gets runny stool regularly...Once or twice a month.  It is hard to keep the carpeting in his room clean.  

It may be his diet... he mostly eats oats.  He has no interest in alfalfa or timothy hay or pellets.  He has even tired of nuts and seeds for the most part.  I give him fresh greens but he doesn't always eat those either.  

Also, I have suspected his litter.  I was using a clumping litter which contained sodium bentonite.  But after reading up, I have switched to "Second Hand News" a recycled paper pellet.  So far, only has been about a month, he has still gotten diahrhea.

It seems as soon as I have his room clean he will get it... Also, I work 5 - 12 hour shifts then am off for 5 days; I think there is somewhat of a correlation there.  Is it, perhaps, partly an emotional problem?

I worry that he is lonely... I did get a second rabbit from the local animal shelter (a much easier going and less demanding rabbit) to keep him company.  Thinking if they got along, I would get her fixed.  She was also not the dwarf they advertised, but atleast twice his size and three times his weight....  She also turned out to be a he.  Needless to say this didn't workout!  She, Tulo, lived downstairs in the family room for a year (didn't have the heart to bring her back to the shelter - which was the worst possible place for her).  Now Tulo lives on my Aunt and Uncle's acreage with a run and a girlfriend.  The whole having another male in the house was upsetting for Becker, but he did get used to it I suppose.

Anyway, I love my bunny but, I need to get the runny stool situation under control.  I have tried being strict about feeding pellets only (no oats) for a while... but I am afraid he will starve!  Maybe the new litter will work and I just need to be more patient.  Maybe I should have a gentle, neighbourhood girl visit on workdays...

Any advice would be appreciated!  Thank you in advance, Iris.

ps   It is a sunny day... Becker and I are going out in the garden!  

Answer
Dear Iris,

Your bunny is lucky to have such a caring "mom."  :)

The combination of runny stool and lack of interest in food that was once appealing points very strongly in a direction very common for Netherland Dwarf rabbits:  MOLAR SPURS.

This common but rarely diagnosed problem can cause enough pain and stress to elicit a slowdown of the GI tract (a rabbit's most common physiological reaction to pain/stress), and this, in turn, causes cecal dysbiosis, an imbalance of the normal bacteria in the cecum.  You can read about this in more detail here:

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

The article also has links to common health problems that cause cecal dysbiosis, including dental problems:

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

and also on how to give your bunny a safe bunny "dry butt bath" to keep him clean until you get the situation treated and under control:

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

You'll need a good vet who is experienced with rabbits and who knows how to look *deep* into the back of the mouth to find and file smooth any spurs, and detect any other dental problems.  This is much more common in older rabbits, so I would definitely have his teeth checked.  To find a good vet near you, use the list linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope this helps.  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana