I just got an 8 week old holland lop a few days ago and noticed some of her poop is diarrhea. She is eating and drinking just fine. I was told by the person I got her from that it is normal for babies to have this issue because their stomach is trying to get use to their diet and just feed her a tablespoon of oats and it should clear it up. Is this normal or should I be more concerned?
8 week old bunny with diarrhea
- Thread starter Sam30
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Is the bunny also producing normal round fecal balls or is all of the poop mushy or watery?
Monitoring a rabbits droppings
https://bunssb.org/bunnies/guide-bunny-poops
True diarrhea where all of the poop is mostly mushy or watery, is an immediate veterinary emergency that requires prompt intervention with the correct meds (cholestyramine, fluids, etc) to have any chance of saving the rabbit.
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Veterinary_emergencies
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Choosing_a_rabbit_veterinarian
https://rabbit.org/veterinarians/
Medirabbit: bacterial and mucoid enteritis, enterotoxemia
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Enterotoxemia
If the bunny is producing normal round fecal balls in addition to some mushy poop, this is likely mushy cecotropes that can usually be corrected by increasing fiber from grass hay consumption, and reducing pellets and eliminating all high carb/sugary foods. Good quality grass hay (no mold or noxious weeds) is usually one of the best foods to help correct most non emergency digestive issues in rabbits, provided the rabbit is eating the hay well. Though if in doubt or you have any concerns, it's best to consult with a knowledgeable rabbit vet.
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952892
I would NOT be feeding a baby rabbit oats or any other high carb food, as baby rabbits digestive system isn't fully developed and they can't digest carbohydrates effectively, leading to improperly digested starches upsetting the microflora in their digestive tract, which can lead to digestive illnesses developing, like enteritis or more serious weaning diarrhea (an emergency). Add the stress of being recently weaned and being in a new home, and if the diet has been changed at all, this all can make them extremely prone to developing digestive illness.
Medirabbit has a good article on weaning diarrhea if you want to look it up. It explains the delicate nature of a baby rabbits digestive function. But the article does contain very graphic necropsy photos.
Monitoring a rabbits droppings
https://bunssb.org/bunnies/guide-bunny-poops
True diarrhea where all of the poop is mostly mushy or watery, is an immediate veterinary emergency that requires prompt intervention with the correct meds (cholestyramine, fluids, etc) to have any chance of saving the rabbit.
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Veterinary_emergencies
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Choosing_a_rabbit_veterinarian
https://rabbit.org/veterinarians/
Medirabbit: bacterial and mucoid enteritis, enterotoxemia
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Enterotoxemia
If the bunny is producing normal round fecal balls in addition to some mushy poop, this is likely mushy cecotropes that can usually be corrected by increasing fiber from grass hay consumption, and reducing pellets and eliminating all high carb/sugary foods. Good quality grass hay (no mold or noxious weeds) is usually one of the best foods to help correct most non emergency digestive issues in rabbits, provided the rabbit is eating the hay well. Though if in doubt or you have any concerns, it's best to consult with a knowledgeable rabbit vet.
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952892
I would NOT be feeding a baby rabbit oats or any other high carb food, as baby rabbits digestive system isn't fully developed and they can't digest carbohydrates effectively, leading to improperly digested starches upsetting the microflora in their digestive tract, which can lead to digestive illnesses developing, like enteritis or more serious weaning diarrhea (an emergency). Add the stress of being recently weaned and being in a new home, and if the diet has been changed at all, this all can make them extremely prone to developing digestive illness.
Medirabbit has a good article on weaning diarrhea if you want to look it up. It explains the delicate nature of a baby rabbits digestive function. But the article does contain very graphic necropsy photos.
