Getting a bit worried, is this normal?

[cinnybun2015]

I arrived home from my trip today, and Chomondeley was very excited to see me. He ran around my feet in figure eights and circles, gave me little kisses, binkied and flopped. I was very happy! he was acting completely like normal. I changed his litterbox and gave him food and water, as he had finished that since the pet sitter had left. However, he didn’t poop for a while, and when he did, the poops were slightly smaller than usual and dry too. This was the first thing that worried me. He’s eating normally and everything, drinking water too. But he’s flopping quite a lot in his cage, and he almost never flops in his cage. (I have a cage connected to an Xpen as his “headquarters.”) Could it be because it’s warm? I’m starting to get worried, even though he greets me totally normally. Is this normal? is everything ok?

[Q8bunny]

Keep an eye on him, but as long as he’s eating and pooping chances are he’s ok. Bunny poops sometimes get temporarily abnormal looking due to a scare or some other stress factor. Have you tried putting a wrapped up frozen water bottle for him to snuggle with in his pen?

[Aki]

Is he moulting? It could explain the drier poop and the fact that his belly might be a bit uncomfortable. I would give a big pile of wet greens (with grass if you can get some) to hydrate the guts and lots of hay to help him get over any potential slowing. If there is no underlying problem, it’s should do the trick.

[cinnybun2015]

Q8- that’s a good idea with the waterbottle, I’ll do that. I think the stress might be from having a bunny-sitter; who was, to be honest, not all that great. But that’s a totally different story.
Aki- yes, he’s moulting, and I think that explains most of it! I gave him some extra greens, and now he’s pooping normally. Still flopping, but he has cool tile to flop on and I’m not as worried. Thank you!

[Aki]

Ah, that’s good news then!
Having a petsitter can indeed make some bunny a bit nervous and decrease their intake of food – my 2 bunnies are regularly looked after by a petsitter (who changes regularly as it is so hard to find someone long term) and it is not rare to find some small poops when I come home. Also, I insist about the necessity of giving fresh hay everytime they come, lots of it, even when there is still plenty left over from last visit but I’m not sure they always act accordingly.

[cinnybun2015]

Same! I immediately gave Chomondeley a large helping of fresh Timothy hay, and he dug into it eagerly. He’s all good now; pooping and everything. Sorry to be such a nervous mama!

[Q8bunny]

Oh. We don’t know ANYthing about being nervous mamas. Nothing. At. All.

[Author]

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