Tummy Issues?

[clouise]

I have a bunny named Chester...I think he's about two. He's a Norwegian dwarf rabbit...a neutered male. He eats hay, fresh greens, and the occasional pellet. He doesn't really like the pellets. Anyway, two days ago I noticed his poop looked odd. Like not quite round and kind of dry. I watched him carefully, he was still eating and drinking, and then his waste looked normal again. Today though his bottom looked very dirty, so I gave him a bath. A few hours later and it is already dirty again. Not like diarrhea or anything, but I just feel like something is not quite right. He is normally a very clean animal.

Any ideas on what to do for him? At the moment making a vet appointment for him tomorrow. Which would require some schedule juggling with work and what not, but if he needs to go in I will figure it out. But then I thought maybe I should just try to change his diet and watch him a bit longer. He is eating, drinking, going to the bathroom, and energetic, so he can't be that sick. But yet I am concerned...

Thanks for your input.

 

[JBun]

Is there anything new that you have introduced into his diet, any new veggies, does he get treats, fruit, and/or carbs? How random is the pellet eating, how much does he eat, and what kind of pellets are they? Is he also producing normal fecal poop or is all of his poop mushy?

 

[clouise]

He does like treats, but I haven't given him any in a few days since his tummy issues start. The food just says pet rabbit food. The ingredients say it has wheat and alfalfa in it. I really don't think he eats much of it at all. I put some in there in case he wants it, but all he really likes is the hay and the spinach mix. He eats timothy hay. He might not be eating enough hay either. I know he really prefers the greens, but I do see him picking at the hay. He gets fresh every morning.

His poop looks normal right now, other than the dirty bottom. I don't think it has ever been mushy. He doesn't seem to be going nearly as much as normal though.

 

[JBun]

By a dirty bottom, do you mean there is poop stuck to it or it's dirty from pee?

At least with the irregular dry poop, that is an indication of a gut slowdown, or the start of GI stasis, which can eventually result in a blockage(commonly referred to as a blockage). Often it is caused by diet problems, usually too many carbs and sugars, though other health issues can cause it to occur as well. But it doesn't sound like your bun is really getting much of that unless he is eating more pellets than you realize. This link explains stasis pretty well.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=484#.UZ8FPbx7LTo.twitter

 

[clouise]

Yes, a poppy bottom. Thanks for the link....it was very helpful. He looked good this morning. His litter box was pretty full, and he was happy to get breakfast. So I guess I will just keep an eye on him and his diet.

 

[JBun]

If you are seeing normal fecal poop, but he is having soft poop also sticking to his bottom, that is mushy cecotropes, and that is caused by a bacterial imbalance. Usually this is caused by too many sugars and carbs in the diet. Often it is from too many pellets and/or treats. Fiber from a good non grain grass hay(unlimited amounts), stopping all sugary treats and carbs, and reducing or stopping pellets, are usually the best things to help get this cleared up. These links help explain why this happens. It's called cecal dysbiosis or Intermittent Soft Stools or Cecotropes. If you are also seeing soft fecal poop, that is a more serious problem, and needs to be addressed by a vet immediately.

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/drop/Drp_en.htm
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=3012
http://www.sawneeanimalclinic.com/downloads/chronic_intermittent_diarrhea_in_rabbits.pdf

 

[tonyshuman]

I would try to find a different pellet. The first ingredient in a rabbit pellet should be timothy hay if the rabbit is an adult, and alfalfa hay if the rabbit is younger than 6mo-1yr (depending on breed). Wheat shouldn't really be in there as a main ingredient. That would add too many carbs which cause the problems JBun mentioned.

With a bunny of that breed (I assume you mean Netherland Dwarf) and the symptoms, I would look into getting his teeth checked. Dwarf breeds frequently have tooth issues due to their face shapes, and the first sign of tooth pain is often stopping eating just one type of food, usually pellets. They are harder to chew. This then leads to abnormal poo. You may want to read this info on tooth problems in rabbits
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Dental_diseases_main.htm