A confusing problem with nighttime droppings.

[skooks]

Hi there everyone! I've been coming to this forum for a year now but have only just signed up as I have a bit of a confusing problem with my Dwarf Lop Maxwell.

For the past 4 days Maxwell has been leaving his nighttime droppings untouched between the hours of 10am and 11am. It is only between these hours and he consumes them as normal the rest of the time. We'd recently bought him some new treats and thought that maybe he'd had a bit too much and was simply too full to eat them but since cutting all treats out, and the small amount of nuggets he gets at dinner time and leaving him only on hay, he is still doing it.
He has very occasionally left one or two of these droppings before but they have been tiny and nothing to really be concerned over but these are large and although one is usually formed, the other one seems half formed...though maybe he's stepped in it, I can't seem to tell/find out.

What I find so odd is the specific time it occurs and that he does it mostly in the same places. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do or should I just book an appointment with my vet?

Thanks in advance

 

[agnesthelion]

How do you know it's only between those hours?

Not sure 4 days is a long enough time for this to be going on to be alarmed quite yet. Some bunnies do leave a cecotrope every now and again. For example, I find Agnes's every once in awhile, Archie I've never even seen one or seen him ever eat his! He must be very private about it

Sometimes overweight bunnies have a hard time reaching theirs but doesn't sound like the case here. I would continue to limit treats and veggies and push hay for awhile to see if it stops. Otherwise, if you continue to see it or it gets worse for an extended period of time, it may warrant a vet trip but I wouldn't worry just yet.

 

[Hyatt101]

To be honest, I've only seen a cecotrope for my buns once! Its not concerning yet, but of he keeps it up, then maybe you should be concerned.

 

[Imbrium]

how much pellets does he get/what's his approximate weight and how old is he?

young bunns sometimes leave cecals behind... with adults, if weight isn't an issue than it's often caused by too rich a diet (too many pellets). if the volume of pellets isn't the issue, you might try splitting it up into two feedings (one in the morning/one at night) and see if that solves the problem.

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

Are the cecals totally formed and normally looking? I wouldn't worry too much if they're looking alright.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Some of ours eat them and some don't--this is like 6 years or more, so I don't worry about it.

 

[HEM]

We have found a few every now on then with our bunny too.
I was alarmed at first but found out that it isn't that unusual to find one here and there.
If the problem persists, I would maybe take him if it continues for a while.