new baby lionhead not pooping = (

[jamielynne1]

2 days ago i brought home a new baby lionhead as a gift from my wonderful boyfriend. the woman at the pet store informed us that they were about 7 weeks old. i was sent home with my new baby bunny "Yoshimitsu" some pellets and some timothy hay. since then she has been eating her pellets normally, (about half of a cup and half sized bowl so far) and she is very energetic when i let her out (about twice a day). i have not really seen her eat or even chew on her timothy hay yet though. but anyways i check her cage everyday and i cant find any poop. i know bunny poop is supposed to be round pellet type poop but i have never had a baby bunny before so im not sure what to look for. im pretty sure i would know though if i saw her poop? help im very worried and dont know what to do!

 

[Pipp]

The baby should be pooping, but really make sure she's drinking.

A probiotic like acidophilus may be a good idea as well.

Its good that she's eating, the stress could have just slowed her down for a bit. But watch her like a hawk for any signs of lethargy or if she doesn't poop soon or her poops are runny, get her to a vet.

The poops won't be this big, she's a small bunny, but here's an idea.

The photo on the right shows cecotropes (we call them 'cecals'), and those are normal, too, except that the rabbits are supposed to eat them (a self-generated 'vitamin' of sorts) so you're not supposed to see them.

PS: Now may be a good time to introduce her to a little canned pumpkin. It full of wet fiber and easily digested.




:litterhealthy:

sas :clover:

 

[tonyshuman]

I agree with the things Pipp said, but in addition I would recommend pedialyte (pediatric electrolyte drink), Bene-Bac or Probios (both are probiotics, they're available at pet and farm stores respectively, and they're a bit better than acidophilus), and simethicone infant gas drops. The stress of going home may have made her stomach upset, causing pain and gas. Also get some baby ibuprofen if you can. If you do get acidophilus, make sure it is NOT in yogurt or any dairy product--powdered capsules are a much better way. Bunnies do not digest dairy products well.

Here's dosing info for simethicone and ibuprofen:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html

You may want to syringe her some pedialyte to get her hydrated--it really helps with getting the GI tract going well. A baby feeding syringe can be found in the baby medicine section of the store and it will help.

 

[jamielynne1]

thanks guys! the morning after i put this up she started pooping like crazy and its been better ever since! im pretty sure she was just stressed because of getting used to her surroundings and new home. but yes her poop looks very normal tiny little nice hard pellets. a tiny bit is getting stuck to her behind though. i was wondering if using regular baby wipes would be okay to clean it off? i dont want her to get wet and cold washing her butt in the sink or to stress her out anymore. she is very active and friendly and loving and pooping all over my bed when i take her out. anyways does anyone have any tips on potty training her? she pretty much is an inside rabbit she sleeps in a kennel at night lined with news paper and she has a stuffed animal her food and water in there also. during the day she is running around in my room and i have a litter box on the floor. i was told to put a litter box in her hutch in the corner she chooses to poop in but the problem is her kennel is to small and she is not in there very much either. i was also told i could just put her in the litter box a few times and she will just know what to do. any tips?

 

[Pipp]

You really have to get a small corner litter box or even a small box lid with a little litter in it to put in her 'bathroom' corner so she knows that's what the litter is for. The kennel should be the place she runs to when there's danger and the place to go 'potty'.

If you can put a second level in it, that might give her more room. Is it a wire kennel?

Main thing, though, is that she shouldn't have any poop stuck to her at all. The poops should be dry and firm, and she should be eating her cecals. They shouldn't be runny. If they are, she may be not getting enough fibre, too many carbs or its just that her body is still adjusting to the changes. She really has to eat hay. Also try a little pumpkin.

What kind of pellets is she getting?

Don't use baby wipes, just a wet paper towel should do the trick. Or put her in a few inches of warmish water in the tub.


sas :clover:

 

[Pipp]

PS: Keep putting the poops and tissues with the pee on them in her litter box, she'll get the idea -- although very young rabbits will take a bit to control and 'hone' their habits. She'll also do better once she's spayed, if that's in the plan.

ETA: Vinegar is your new best friend. Anywhere she pees where you don't want her to should be washed thoroughly with vinegar, otherwise she'll go there again.

sas

 

[jamielynne1]

ok sounds good. her kennel is not a wire kennel and theres no way to add a second level but i will get a smaller litter box for her to put in there. its a good idea to put her poop in there to get her used to the box so she knows i will definatly try that. she gets a little poo stuck to her fur kind of like staining it. i give her timothy hay but i will try the pumpkin. what kind of canned pumpkin and how much should i give her? and how should i feed it to her? in her food or just on the side? shes not to young for it? at what age could i start giving her carrots and treats?

 

[Pipp]

What kind of pellets is she getting? Is she eating her hay yet? If not, might be an idea to introduce her to different types, and even try a little grass. She's too young to restrict her pellets, but she does need to eat fewer pellets and more hay, depending on the type of pellet.

You can start by giving her less than a teaspoon full of canned pumpkin, just make sure its the kind that's pure pumpkin only, nothing else added. (No sugar, spices, etc). If she gets it now and considers it a treat, if she needs it when she has problems, she'll be far more receptive.

You can also start giving her very tiny bits of veggies. A lot of their ability to adjust to veggies depends on what they grew up eating.

Ultimately the healthiest bunnies seem to those who get a wide variety of food, though. It just has to be introduced very slowly and in very small amounts.

sas :bunnydance:

 

[juliew19673]

Alfafa hay is good when they are this young, and yes, as Pipp said unlimited pellets. Check her tummy and see if it feels hard (now is a good time to get to know how her tummy feels as hard is bad - soft and squishy good). If its hard try massaging it gently to help the digestive track there is also Simethicone drops for babies that you can give them to help if they get gas (buns don't fart - just build up gas and they can stop eating and then go into GI stasis).

Pipp please correct any med's I just suggested by name.

Sounds like she'll be fine, just needs to get her food and digestive track under control.

 

[Pipp]

juliew19673 wrote:

Alfafa hay is good when they are this young, and yes, as Pipp said unlimited pellets.  Check her tummy and see if it feels hard (now is a good time to get to know how her tummy feels as hard is bad - soft and squishy good).  If its hard try massaging it gently to help the digestive track there is also Simethicone drops for babies that you can give them to help if they get gas (buns don't fart - just build up gas and they can stop eating and then go into GI stasis). 

Actually ... a common quote in the rabbit world is:

"A flatulent bunny is a happy bunny."

They can and should fart.

I have yet to actually hear any of mine do so, but I have *seen* them lift their little tails and pass gas.

PS: Worth mixing in some alfalfa hay, she might like that better and it might start her eating the timothy.


sas