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Forum DIET & CARE Help with poopy butt (Pumpkin…still)…

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    • Little Lion Head
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        I am open to any and all ideas or suggestions in regards to re-occurring poopy butt with Pumpkin. Bear with me through the details and my current thoughts.

        We started noticed poopy butt in Pumpkin about two months ago. Basically hard stuck on mooshed poop (not balls of poop) that was staining the underside of her tail and back legs. The vet thought it could be from either too much veggies or maybe a certain veggie not agreeing with her. So we cut out all veggies and reintroduced small amounts of romaine and kale, which she did fine with for two weeks. She also did 2 weeks of Bene-bac during this time. 

        A few weeks later, poopy butt came back, so we cut out veggies again. Poopy butt got better.

        Then out of nowhere this week, poopy butt is back. Pumpkin has had VERY LIMITED veggies. We’re talking a little piece of romaine or kale or parsley every other day. But she was getting a little fruit almost every day.

        Today the vet prescribed Panacur for both bunnies (Rocky has not had any issue–just trying to be safe) thinking it could be a parasite. He wasn’t able to test any poop since she didn’t produce any at the vet visit, so going off a whim, basically.

        Here’s the thing–I’m not completely CONVINCED its a parasite. Rocky is fine; although I realize Pumpkin might have a more worn-down immune system than Rocky (she did have syphilis and went through two rounds of treatment for it earlier this year).

        Another thought for me is that it could be an over-production of cecals?

        Pumpkin eats and drinks just fine (unlimited hay, 1/8 cup pellets) and her other poops are normal. 

        Any other thoughts as to what could be going on? I’m open to any suggestions/ideas!


      • Boing
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          I know nothing about this condition, but since you say you’re open to anything, why not try the BB Nibble Noms Chamomile? It states that it’s a digestive aid. Maybe it will work. I just put in a BB order, and got some of this, partly just in case and partly because it’s so fun to feed bunnies. Good luck!


        • lillian
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            Well you did say she was on bene-bac and got better? It may be something else isn’t fully agreeing with her tummy! Midnight (my oldest) is super sensitive to foods. I would say try cutting those veggies out fully. I know you said you did but also said you were giving her limited ammounts. Sadly, if they don’t agree with her belly, they wont agree any better in smaller doses. So try to cut them fully for a little bit. Might make her a bit sad but it will give you a chance to try to solve the problem

            Now, if it does stop the poopy butt again, its time to play detective! Slowly introduce 1 veggie at a time, maybe 1 veggie for 2 weeks, then the second veggie for another 2 weeks. When the poopy butt comes back, you may have found your culprit!

            If the poopy butt comes back before you begin introducing the veggies back, then maybe the food or hay is your culprit! Some foods have little bits of seeds, dried veggies, etc in them, which may upset their bellies, and sometimes just the pellets themselves can too. As for hay, some hay just isn’t good for a growing bun, and some hay also contains little chunks of veggies or flowers. What type of hay and pellets are you using?


          • Hazel
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              Generally poopy butt happens because the diet is too rich, of course you know that I’m sure. Some rabbits can deal with a rich(er) diet, others can’t. Back in the day when I didn’t know better, all three of my bunnies were being fed junk food, two never had a problem with it, one struggled with poopy butt.

              Vegetables aren’t particularly rich, so if Pumpkin has poopy butt rather than loose stools, I wouldn’t necessarily blame the veggies. As far as I can tell, it could have been the fruit. I would cut out any rich foods like fruit, treats and so on and just feed her hay, pellets and veggies and see how she does. If it doesn’t get better, I would cut back on the pellets. Of course you would have to watch her weight to make sure she’s not getting skinny.

              Did the vet explain how a parasite would cause this? I’m not saying he’s wrong, I just never heard that before. I can see them causing diarrhea, but that’s not what’s going on right? You think it’s an overproduction of cecals, correct?


            • Bam
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                You could perhaps try benebac again and I agree that cutting out all veggies may be necessary. You can dry parsley and mint and dandelion, aplle-leaves and willow too, for some reason dried vegs seem more easily digested. I’ve heard about putting the bun on a hay-only diet for like 3 months. I struggled with my Bam’s poopy butt for a long time (he got it because of bunny muesli I think, but he does have a sensitive stomach and can’t have carrots f ex), but we managed it with lots and lots of hay, very little pellets (barely any) and no treats. I think I gave him greens though, but not a lot. It took more than 6 months to get it right, I had to do butt-baths every week, sometimes more than once week. I have read that when a bunny tummy goes off, it takes a long time to re-establish a healthy bacterial flora.

                Sometimes vets will prescribe just-in-case anti-parasitic drugs, simply to rule out the possibility of a parasite being the culprit. As I understand it, Panacur has relatively few side-effects.


              • Roberta
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                  Starsky has had poopy butt for quite a while. I was going to take him in and get it checked but he went into bloat and stasis before then. He had a very high temp and a lump in his tummy. The antibiotics seem to have also resolved the poopy butt so I am thinking it was the result of a long term infection.


                • Bam
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                    Yes. Roberta, I was thinking the same thing, sometimes abs are needed for persistent tummy issues.


                  • Sarita
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                      Has the vet checked Pumpkins teeth? This condition can very much be the result of dental problems (like spurs) much more so than diet.


                    • Little Lion Head
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                        Thank you for all of your responses!! Teeth have been checked a few different times these past few months and they don’t seem to be the issue.

                        I guess I don’t know if it’s too many cecals…I mean I don’t actually see any formed poop on her tail or legs. More like soft wet poop that is now hardened to her fur. I do think the vet prescribed the Panacur to rule out a parasite.

                        JR suggest trying Oxbow tabs even though there is no proof it helps in digestion, but it might be nice to have some kind of treat to offer Pumpkin.

                        In regards to the vet thinking maybe a parasite…he was thinking possibly from the garden? I soak and wash the veggies soooo well though so I don’t think that’s it. He seemed to think it might still be a possibility. I’m happy to hear the Panacur is not too hard their little systems.


                      • Avantika
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                          You said she was getting a little fruit almost everyday. You can try cutting fruits and see. Lettuce can also cause watery stools. My bun Moshu does soft poops after having romaine lettuce. Maybe she realized this and stopped having lettuce altogether. xD

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                      Forum DIET & CARE Help with poopy butt (Pumpkin…still)…