Excessive, mushy cecotropes

[bree_bun]

My bun, London is just shy of four months old.  He has always been a good eater and pooper.  But for the past two days he has had mushy, cecotropes.  He is producing much more than he can consume.  They are stuck all over the floor, but not mushy enough to stick to his bottom.  I introduced to him to a little bit of cilantro and parsley last week.  He hasn’t had any veggies for the past four days.  So I’m thinking it’s not the veggies.  He prefers pellets over hay.  I give each bun 1/2 cup of pellets a day.  I have two buns.  He lives with his spayed mum, Penelope.  She is about 9 months.  Is this not enough pellets or too much? I’ve read that young buns should have unlimited pellets?  They are on Oxbow Adult Timothy Pellets.  I converted them from the Oxbow Young Adult Alfalfa Pellets about four weeks ago.  My vet recommended switching them from alfalfa to timothy.  I’m not sure what’s causing the excessive cecotropes? 

 

Any ideas?  Should I take pellets away for a period of time or cut back?  I hope London is okay.  I freak out when I see mushy poop…

 

– Bree

[jerseygirl]

I think cutting back pellets is good first step. Some are more sensitive to pellets. His current ration is more then adequete.

What type of hay do you feed?

Excess cecals can often be corrected through modifying the diet but if it continues after that you might have to have his poo tested.
You might like to try a probiotic like bene-bac. See if that helps.

Are the cecals formed or a goopy mess?
I’ve noticed the younger rabbits seem to have this excess cecal thing more then older ones.

My foster rabbit actually marks with cecals. when i let him run around the room he drops them all over. he also produces them more if bit stressed.
He’s had bit of messy poo on and off and it came on at a similar age to yours. His did improve and he’s 10months now.

[jerseygirl]

I freak out when I see mushy poop…

I just found your old thread about Penelope’s litter by accident. That would have been hard. It’s no wonder messy poo is scary for you.
What you describe with London does sound common though. Like over producing. Of course, if you’re super worried you could call your vet and ask. They would know the history.

[bree_bun]

Yeah that was a horrible experience. London was the only one who survived. I was up day and night trying to save the other buns. I must of dropped over $2,000 on trying to figure out what was wrong and no one could figure it out. Absolutely killed me. But I am thankful London made it I cut back on the pellets yesterday and he seems to be doing much better! Only found one cecotrope on the floor of the cage today. I also put some hay in their litter boxes (I didn’t realize they like to eat hay and go potty at the same time) Haha it’s encouraging him to eat more hay! Yeah Penelope sometimes over produces too every once in a while.

Thanks guys!

[bree_bun]

Jerseygirl,

I give them a mix of hay. Timothy hay with some botanical hay by Owbow and sometimes orchard grass. His cecotropes weren’t too goopy. They were formed like a bunch of grapes, but just an over abundance. He was squishing them everywhere.

Good to know that it’s a common thing to over produce sometimes. Thank you!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I hope you’ve figured out the problem. I can see how you are worried, with all you’ve been through.

It’s funny how they love to eat and poop at the same time. I call it “bunny multi-tasking”.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Sounds like you are offering great hay! I bet if you cut pellets back a bit, they’ll eat even more hay and the cecotropes will slow down

It’s funny how they love to eat and poop at the same time. I call it “bunny multi-tasking”.

Everyone asks why mine have hay in the litter box. I say they like to eat while they are on the toilet-same as a man likes to read on the toilet Hehe

[LittlePuffyTail]

lol, K&K.

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