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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Poopy butt

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    • skibunny8503
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        The shelter told us that Gracie does have some soft poo every once in awhile.  When I took Gracie to the vet they asked for a sample and I’m still waiting for the results.  Pretty much every other day she’ll have soft poo.  It might be cecals because there are a lot of little ones bunched together; are those cecals that she’s not eating? 

        I’ve only given her romaine lettuce to see if it would stop with a steady diet.  She eats like crazy, probably making up from her previous abusive owners.  When I looked at her back side today, her butt was all matted.  We tried using a paper towel but didn’t really work to well.  What do you guys use to clean a rabbit’s poopy and pee stained butt?  Any special soap?

        This might be why Archie digs at her or is agressive sometimes because her bottom smells a lot.

        She also poops everywhere, but I think that might be just marking her territory right now.  She peed in one spot and I think she sat in it all night.

        Thanks guys!  I hope to hear something from the vet soon…hopefully all good.


      • Sarita
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          I just use water on my poopy butt rabbits. I use warm water and I have a special cup that I put the water in and just pour it on the poopy area – my sink is too shallow to stick them under the faucet which would be ideal. I sometimes get my poopy butt rabbits a sanitary shave from the vet to help keep them clean.

          It certainly sounds like cecals to me by your description.

          I think at this point you need to see what the results of the test are and also just continue to try to get her on an appropriate diet.

          Let us know what the vet says too.


        • Beka27
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            Here’s an article all about bunny poop…  http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html 

            In most cases, poopy butt is caused from excess cecals that are not getting eaten.  Cecals are very stinky, so that is probably what you’re smelling.  If nothing is physically wrong, it is most likely her diet.  What is she eating specifically?  Any pellets at all?  How much hay does she eat daily and what kind of hay?  And you’ve only given her romaine lettuce for her veggie?

             


          • skibunny8503
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              Thanks guys!  I have one of those toiliet paper holders that fits 4 rolls and I fill that 1/2 way with timothy hay and she eats all of it.  I give her a cup of romaine in the morning and another cup at night and I give her about a 1/4 cup of the oxbow basic t pellets.  She’s a little piggy, she inhales everything!  But she hasn’t been feed well for most of her life.  I’m going to give her a little bit of parsley today and see how she does with that.  I didn’t want to give her too much of different stuff and mess up her system. 

              That’s what I thought it was, uneatten cecals.  I think I saw her eat some before but can’t tell how good she is eating them yet.  I’m going to try to see if her scent gland needs cleaned.


            • Balefulregards
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                Have you read BB’s section on her struggle with poopy butt and Bailey’s diet in the Bunny Info section? She does a nice thorough job of step by stepping it through the diet.

                You may have a tummy sensitive rabbit who is going to have poopy butt no matter what you do – but perhaps the salad in the bag trick described by BB will help with the super fast consumption. It may take her a long time to know that food is available – but I would also give her more hay – to fill her belly and firm things up.

                I had to wean my Coco off pellets for a couple of months to clear up her poopy butt. When I finally re-introduced them ( like LAST week), I sprinkle a tiny amount in her hay so she has to forage. Otherwise she would stuff her nose in the pellet bowl and chow down – which, for us, led to poppy butt.

                Good luck!


              • skibunny8503
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                  Thanks!  I looked it up and will def. try the bag because she does eat everything at once.  The vet just called and she said the results came back that she had….I can’t remember the name of it but she said she ordered the medication and it’ll be in tomorrow morning, it’s a deworming medication.  So I guess she has worms I guess.   Would that affect Archie at all?  Their cages are right next to each other and we have been bonding them.  But I haven’t switched cages yet because I was waiting for the results.


                • Beka27
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                    It could affect Archie. It’s probably a good idea to stop bonding until this is cleared up. How long are the meds for?


                  • skibunny8503
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                      She didn’t say, she wasn’t even sure how much they cost exactly but she said not much at all.  I will pick them in in the morning and I am going to disinfect both of their cages right away and seperate them as far away from each other.  I’m glad I took her so soon and didn’t wait!


                    • Sarita
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                        I would let the vet know about Archie – she may want to put him on the medication as well.


                      • skibunny8503
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                          Posted By Sarita on 03/12/2009 12:38 PM
                          I would let the vet know about Archie – she may want to put him on the medication as well.

                          Called the vet up and she said it’s more in the poo (like if he would eat hers which he hasn’t) and to put them together after she’s done with her meds.  After her meds, we wait two weeks and then they’ll do another test to make sure everything has cleared up. 


                        • Sarita
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                            I’m glad you took her in for a fecal test! Does she have hook or pinworms? That’s usually what they use a dewormer for (like panacur).


                          • KatnipCrzy
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                              I wonder if she has coccidia?- it is not an intestinal worm, but if they vet did not explain it well I can see the misunderstanding.

                              So the meds should definitely help.  Can you please post on here what the diagnosis is and what meds?  One thing that will be important is keeping her litter and cage clean to prevent recontamination during her treatment.  Even when they are on meds the poos can still be contagious so a rabbit can reinfect themselves from exposure to the poo.  Plus rabbits have furry feet and are such clean animals that their feet can touch the poo and then they lick their feet to groom.  Cleaning up daily or twice daily would be sufficient.  And it should not take long if you are cleaning that often.  i would use less litter in her box since you will be dumping it more often, and I line the box with newspaper so it dumps out cleaner.

                              One thing that I have found helpful for cleaning rabbit dirty butt is it if is dry poo and not in huge chunks- try combing it out- the comb will pull some of the dry poo off the end of the fur.  If it is wet poopy butt I filled the tub with an inch or 2 of warm water- put the bunny in toward the deeper end- keeping my hands on her at all times- and used one hand to clean the fur.  Only the feet and underneath butt area got wet.  It was gross but necessary at the time.  It took 3 towels to dry Cotton since she has thick fur she sopped up a lot of water- and I was wet too after holding her to dry her.

                              After I adopted Schroeder- he also had not been on a great diet- limited hay, el cheap pellets and no veggies- he did have looser stools for awhile and I went slow with the veggies and variety to let his system adjust.  He is just like Gracie- inhales food.  I think once a bunny has lived in deprived situations I can see why they would feel the need to eat pellets and veggies immediately.  Hopefully Gracie will realize that she does not have to snarf everything up right away and that will always be offered- but that can be a hard survival instinct to overcome.


                            • skibunny8503
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                                Oh gosh I wish I could remember what she said over the phone, but when I go tomorrow morning I will ask her about the specifics.  For some reason that word does sound a bit familiar, she might have said that.  Thanks for the tip I will definately clean her cage every night then!  Oh no…..I just thought of something; when we did the car ride together, she peed everywhere and it got on him, she also peed in a corner where part of it did go into his cage but I don’t think he stepped in it.  I don’t know if I’m being parinoid or not but maybe I should bring in Archie’s poo to be checked. 

                                She doesn’t have solid poo on her but mostly dried up pee and some of the soft poo that smeared on her…yuck!  I bought some hypo allergentic pet shampoo today but will have to do that tomorrow because I’m afraid to do it by myself and husband is working midnight shift tonight. 

                                I moved her cage more towards the wall and sprayed some vinager water mixture on the floor where they both peed.  and will change her litter tomorrow right after she gets her meds. 


                              • KatnipCrzy
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                                  It is most likely not something that can be transmitted thru urine- but double check that with your vet tomorrow.   Coccidia and intestinal parasites are usually transmitted thru fecal matter only- and things that touch the contaminated fecal matter.

                                  If it is coccidia that can commonly be transmitted thru wildlife.  For example- dogs can get it from eating infected wild bunny poo, and it is also possible to get it from drinking out of water that is contaminated with it- like a puddle, or a dog dish that birds with coccidia have poo’d in.  So hunting dogs that are kept in outdoor kennels can get it if birds are attracted to their bowl as a water source.  Coccidia is also commonly found in puppies and kittens and it is a lot more serious in young animals than adult animals.  But it sounds like you actually caught it before any serious problems showed.


                                • skibunny8503
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                                    It sounds like that might be what she has because her previous owners kept her outside without any shelter.  I also saw a picture of when they first got her at the shelter and she had poo caked all over her bum, it was horrible!  It wasn’t just a little but big chunks because they probably hardly ever cleaned her cage out and she just had to sit in it all the time. 

                                    The vet did say it can be transmited through fecal matter and I wasn’t sure if that was urine too or not, but I will let her know tomorrow.  I’m also going to have her write down what it is that she has because the lady at the shelter wanted to know in case any of her buns at it too, which I doubt.  She was kept in a cage by herself.


                                  • skibunny8503
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                                      I went to the vet today to get Gracie’s meds and asked what the name was she had and indeed it was a form of coccidia! The meds she gave me was SMZ Oral Suspension. I give her 1 and 1/2 ml every 12 hours for 7 days and then after 3 weeks she’s checked again and I’m also checking Archie just to make sure he didn’t get it.


                                    • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                        WOW This is a fantastic example of why you shouldn’t wait to go to the vet. That stinks that there is something but what’s great is that your vet found out what it is quickly and already your treating it! That’s great news!! {{Gracie}}


                                      • sharper
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                                        • oldhaus
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                                             …poopy butt rabbits… 

                                             

                                            Stress causes rabbits to have soft stools, yes they are suppose to have the “stinky” ones once in a while, but stress is a factor.

                                             

                                            give them grassy Timothy Hay, a spoon of strawberry yogurt…. they love it… that helps keep their system happy.

                                             

                                            hang in there… 

                                             

                                            JLH 


                                          • Bunbun007
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                                              Has anyone tried coconut oil? I hope it’s not toxic to buns’ bums. My old gentleman Thor (9 years) has poopy bum. He tries to eat his hay and gets beg everyday. He’s had a bikini trim at vet but so expensive! Anyone learned how to bikini trim at home? Their skin is so fragile I’m terrified of cutting him.


                                            • LBJ10
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                                                This is a very old thread. We ask members to start a new thread instead of digging up old ones. This helps avoid confusion.

                                                To answer your question – Coconut oil isn’t very good for rabbits. It isn’t toxic, necessarily, but I wouldn’t suggest putting it somewhere it could be licked off.
                                                http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/2009/2/bunny-ointment-coconut-oil.htm

                                                As for shaving, it can be difficult to do at home. You would need small clippers, preferably ones that are quieter.

                                                I’m going to lock this thread. If you have questions about sanitary shaves, I would suggest starting a new thread so people will see it.

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                                            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Poopy butt