ChelseaWarren4
Member
What will I do it's stuck to his fur it smells disgusting help fast!
Diarrhea HELP ASAP!!
- Thread starter ChelseaWarren4
- Start date
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Actual watery diarrhea or a bit of mushy poop? Have you changed anything in his diet or environment?
ETA: How is your bun behaving? Any differently?
ETA: How is your bun behaving? Any differently?
elleecrawford
Member
If it's watery go to vet asap! But if it looks like a bunch of grapes, it's called cecotropes. Rabbits shed these and eat them at night, it's good for them. Occasionally they don't eat them. If this happens often, call the vet.
I agree. If it's watery diarrhea, get him to the vet immediately!
RabbitGirl101
Well-Known Member
Take him off any pellets or veggies. Give him lots of access to fresh water,hay and rolled oats. The rolled oats are starchy and should help make his poops go back to normal.
jamesedwardwaller
Well-Known Member
--this requires input,-less greens more hay-ie timothy grasses,--or a possible visit to a exotic dvm-for exam,-- try this link http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html this will well on your way to becoming a poopologist..--please watch the bunz behavior for any abnormal signs,---hopefully this is something that can be wipped off to restore his confidence
--sincerely james waller :hbunnysmell::wave2:wink
Imbrium
Jennifer
Actual watery diarrhea is incredibly rare in rabbits and necessitates an immediate trip to the vet or an emergency vet... cecotropes are mushy but NOT runny/watery and look like a tiny bunch of grapes prior to being sat on; they smell horrible.
If a bunny isn't eating their cecotropes (or isn't eating all of them), there are a few common causes. Very young rabbits sometimes forget to eat them. Excess cecotropes can be caused by too much starch or sugar in the diet. Arthritis, injury or obesity could make it uncomfortable or impossible for a bunny to reach down and ingest them directly from their anus like they're supposed to.
The other possibility is that it's not true diarrhea but also not cecotropes - fecal poop can become a bit mushy (and seem like mild diarrhea) if something upsets the bunny's GI system. A new food that doesn't sit right or a sudden food change is usually the cause (switching pellets without transitioning or even switching from grass hay to alfalfa abruptly, like I made the mistake of doing with my 7-8 week old babies when I first brought them home). Reverting back to their usual diet should fix things. If it doesn't or if there weren't any dietary changes, then again, a vet trip is a must.
This site has lots of info/pictures about bunny poop, including cecotropes and true diarrhea: http://imgur.com/a/5N4lD
Imbrium
Jennifer
As for cleaning him, you can try a warm (wet) washcloth or unscented, hypoallergenic baby wipes. If that's not enough, a butt-bath can be given [note: don't give a butt bath if it's true diarrhea, as it could be risky for a sick bunny]. A bunny should NEVER ever be given an actual bath except in extreme cases under the supervision of a very rabbit-savvy vet, as baths can cause them to go into shock and die.
For a butt-bath, fill a flat-bottomed bowl (or a sink, dishpan, whatever) with about an inch of warm-to-hot water (if you can't comfortably rest your hand in the water, it's too hot). A teeny bit of small-animal shampoo (not cat/dog shampoo) or Dawn dish soap (which is animal safe) can be added but is optional.
Hold the rabbit so that you're soaking just their rear end in the bath; keep them there for as long as they'll let you (hopefully 2-5 minutes) then once the poop is loosened, dip a washcloth in the water and use it to carefully work the poop out. Be gentle, as a rabbit's skin is extremely sensitive. Towel-dry the damp fur gently but thoroughly and make sure they're kept warm (75-80F is ideal) and away from any drafts until the fur - including the undercoat - is 100% dry.
If you can't get all of it out, you can potentially cut some of it out if it's not too close to the skin (stay a minimum of 1/3-1/2'' away from the base of the fur) - I strongly suggest using nail scissors or other very small scissors, as they're more precise and offer better visibility. If possible, hold the fur you intend to cut between the index and middle fingers of your off-hand to make sure you can't snip too close to the skin even if the bunny struggles suddenly.
For a butt-bath, fill a flat-bottomed bowl (or a sink, dishpan, whatever) with about an inch of warm-to-hot water (if you can't comfortably rest your hand in the water, it's too hot). A teeny bit of small-animal shampoo (not cat/dog shampoo) or Dawn dish soap (which is animal safe) can be added but is optional.
Hold the rabbit so that you're soaking just their rear end in the bath; keep them there for as long as they'll let you (hopefully 2-5 minutes) then once the poop is loosened, dip a washcloth in the water and use it to carefully work the poop out. Be gentle, as a rabbit's skin is extremely sensitive. Towel-dry the damp fur gently but thoroughly and make sure they're kept warm (75-80F is ideal) and away from any drafts until the fur - including the undercoat - is 100% dry.
If you can't get all of it out, you can potentially cut some of it out if it's not too close to the skin (stay a minimum of 1/3-1/2'' away from the base of the fur) - I strongly suggest using nail scissors or other very small scissors, as they're more precise and offer better visibility. If possible, hold the fur you intend to cut between the index and middle fingers of your off-hand to make sure you can't snip too close to the skin even if the bunny struggles suddenly.
