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Grooming Habits

22 11:36:34

Question
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Followup To
Question -
We have a new bunny, who is very sweet and already ajusting to each of us, however she has the entire undreside from mid stomach to her tail covered in stool. I bathed her to release it gently so I didn't tear out her fur and the next morning she had done this again should I take her in or is this normal for such a young rabbit?
Answer -
Hi Liz,
Right well it is normal for all rabbits to do soft stools and she has probably just done them in her bed rather than toilet compartment and then layed on it. If she is doing soft stools instead of normal round hard balls then take her to the vets and also take her if the stools smell. The only suggestion that I can think of for making her poo in her toilet rather than in her bed is to litter train her and this will be a lot easier when she's spayed but obviously she's too young for this opperation at the moment. If she carrys on doing this then carry on bathing her.
I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help - but I've never heard of a bunny with this problem before!


Reply
Unfortunatly we had to rush her to the Vet this morning and she didn't make it. Our problem was we didn't know how young she was, the Vet put her at 4 weeks and she was eating the food we purchased and some fresh food and her system was not ready for it. She should have still been with her Mother. The same man who sold her to us also sold about a dozen others from the same litter two others only lived a few days, our Vet contacted him and explained the situation to him and the age that they should be before being sold. Thank You so much for trying I certainly appriciate it.

Answer
I am so sorry about you rabbit, I feel terrible for not offering any more help. Hopefully you will get another rabbit and care for that one just as you would have cared for the other one. As this man, like so many others didn't know how to look after his rabbit properly, why not rescue a rabbit from a rescue centre? You can give a rabbit that has been neglected and treated badly a wonderful new home where it can live happily and carefree for the rest of its life. I'm sure that would be extremely satisfying for both for you and the rabbit.
Think about it and let me know how you get on.
Katie