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Forum DIET & CARE Stange poop — Please help!

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    • LionNPumpkin
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        Hello!

        My 8 (maybe around) 9 year old Lionhead rabbit, Lion, has had these strange poops for a little while now. I can’t quite remember when they’ve started, but it’s probably been at least 2 weeks, probably longer. No, it is not diarrhea, nor is it cecotropes, at least I don’t think.

        They’re strangely pretty big (probably around an inch to inch and a half long) and shaped like ‘logs’, and one was kinda squished because I think he stepped on it. Whenever I saw them, the outer parts of it had dried, but when I tried to scrape them off the wire they broke open and inside it was solid but squishy and goopy and smelled strongly. But not watery at all. I know it is my bun Lion (he lives with his bonded friend Pumpkin) because he has a bit of poo residue on his butt and Pumpkin is always very clean. The poop color is pretty normal, not as dark as cecotropes but about the color of their normal poops.

        The weirder thing is — Lion is fine, or so he seems. He drinks, eats his hay and pellets, poops normally and is his active, grumpy self. He feels like he weighs as much as he always does, and his stomach feels fine. His butt area is slightly poopy, but other than that nothing is wrong – the skin and fur seem fine, and his scent glands were just recently cleaned out so that isn’t clogging anything.

        I will include a picture in just a minute, I need to upload it from my iPod. He’s only had these strange poops two or three other times, and just today he had one. I tried looking around online but couldn’t find anything about the subject, so I decided to turn here.

        I’m just very worried something is up, or maybe I’m just totally overreacting. But I’ve already lost one dear bunny to me due to an abscess, and I don’t want to lose Lion until its his time. 

        So I was just wondering if anyone could help explain this. Thanks in advance!


      • Azerane
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          Hello there. I’m sorry to hear of the trouble you’re having with Lion. When they’re fresh, do the poops have a mucous coating at all? My suspicion would be that perhaps he has some sort of infection, and it’s not making a huge difference to him, but it is there. Otherwise, have you changed anything in his diet at all recently? The type or brand of hay, the brand or amount of pellets? The other option is that it simply could be because he is an older bunn, that he may not tolerate pellets as well in his diet as he did before, and the first thing I would try is to cut his pellet amount a bit, maybe to half of what he’s currently getting and see if it makes a difference.

          You are right to worry, because changes in poop mean that something is definitely going on, it’s just a matter of pinpointing what it is. Since he’s still eating, drinking and pooping well otherwise, it doesn’t sound very severe. As I said, at his age it’s possible his gut just doesn’t tolerate pellets as well anymore.


        • LionNPumpkin
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            Ah, I’ve never thought of that. He did have a change of brands for pellets a little while ago, though I believe it might’ve even been after this started happening. I should’ve kept track of time, but I’ve forgotten. We did it very gradually, but I don’t know if that is the cause. Maybe I’ll try to cut down on his pellets and see if that clears it up. Lion also seems to have more squishy poo after giving him veggies, so I’ve been cutting back on that, too.

            I’ve also been thinking it could be a low-lying infection, but what I don’t know, or if that is even the case. I’ll probably do more research online to see if I can find anything.

            Thanks for the suggestion!


          • LionNPumpkin
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              And no, I dont know if there’s a mucous on the weird poops or not. I never get to see them fresh, only after the outsides have dried.


            • Azerane
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                If he has a tendency to have squishy poops after veggies as well, definitely cut back on them a bit also. It could be the amount of greens, or it could be one particular type of green that doesn’t agree with him, which you can determine by cutting out the different greens one by one. Or cutting greens completely, and then adding them back in to his diet one by one.

                Since you have mentioned that, I would suspect it may be more diet related than due to an infection.


              • LionNPumpkin
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                  http://imgur.com/Mts1boC

                  Here’s the picture, by the way.


                • LionNPumpkin
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                    Alright, well that’s good news. If it’s been all this time and Lion has been acting fine, I don’t see how it could be an infection. Still, I’ll consider it a possibility that it could be just that. I know rabbits are good at hiding their pain. I’ll still do more research, though right now I can’t, so first thing tomorrow morning.

                    It seems to be certain lettuces my mom usually buys, but so far he’s fine with banana and these home made treats consisting of hay, banana, apple and carrots. So it might just be a certain lettuce. I’ll have to see, since we haven’t given him anything else but that in a while. Maybe I’ll try a different kind of lettuce soon to see if greens are defiantly something I need to cut back on.

                    Thanks for helping!


                  • Azerane
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                      Does your mum buy iceberg lettuce? Iceberg lettuce shouldn’t be fed as it does cause gut issues and mushy poops. Other varieties of lettuce such as romaine/cos and dark green and red leaf are fine though If it’s other types of certain lettuce causing the issue, just ask her to buy a different variety if possible, or just reduce the amount you feed/remove it from the diet.


                    • LionNPumpkin
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                        No, she doesn’t buy iceberg lettuce. I think its a variety of spinaches and some other kind of lettuce, she hasn’t bought romaine in a while. Maybe next time we’re at the store I’ll ask if we can get some romaine and see if that causes him any problems.


                      • LBJ10
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                          Is that fur in there? That’s what it looks like in the picture.


                        • LionNPumpkin
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                            Yea, there’s fur in the poop. If you’re thinking about it being hair related problems, he doesn’t have any. (in case you were wondering) I give them little pieces of dried papaya everyday and they have apple cider vinegar water alongside fresh water. : ) (sorry if I’m wrong, I just wasn’t sure if that was were you were going or not, haha)


                          • jerseygirl
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                              Changes in poo can be an indicator of some dental issues also. Worth getting his molars looked at, especially for an older bun.
                              I’d also consider mobility or unknown source of discomfort (like arthritis). It sort of looks like poo when the gut is slower.
                              Maybe part of his grumpiness is related to his being a bit uncomfortable?

                              It’s hard to tell exactly what each rabbit is eating proportion wise when they live in pairs. It might be worth while putting in a divider while they get their pellets and veg at least, to help you narrow down if food or quantity is contributing to the change.


                            • LionNPumpkin
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                                Ah, I had been reading that such things as spurs can happen on a rabbit’s molars. I’d never thought of him having arthritis, either, though I don’t know if he has it or not. He’s always been very active and never seems to be in pain, but yet again I know how well rabbits can hide pain. Actually, Lion has always been grumpy, it’s just his personality. He’s been grumpy for years, pretty much ever since I got him. But, I know he has his days whenever he’s grumpier than usual or sweeter, so that actually might be something contributing to this strange thing.

                                I’d hate to separate them again for a little while, but I might want to do that to really help narrow down on this problem. If he keeps having the strange poops even after I’ve lowered his pellet and veg intake, I’ll ask my mom if we can take him to the vet to check for molar spurs.

                                Thanks for the suggestion!


                              • LBJ10
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                                  Fur is the symptom, but not the cause. You said he is eating his hay. Is it the same amount as before or has that changed? A decrease in hay consumption would correspond with a tooth problem. From there, it’s a domino effect.


                                • Chelsea
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                                    If he’s been eating lots of spinach, that might explain it. Spinach can upset bunny’s tummies in large quantities because it contains oxalic acid. We cannot give Silas spinach at all. We have to be really careful with the other dark green veggies high in oxalic acid as well. If you scroll down a ways on this webpage, they break down which greens you need to be a bit more careful about:
                                    http://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet/


                                  • LittlePuffyTail
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                                      His age makes me think of a possible dental issue as well. I know my 9 year old boy, who needs molar trims every 5 months or so, will often get mushy poops when his teeth need to be done.


                                    • LionNPumpkin
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                                        See, I know for a fact that he has been eating hay, but how much lately I don’t know. Enough that he isn’t having any problems, at least that I know. I honestly don’t think he has a dental issue, but I’m seriously considering separating him and Pumpkin for a few days to see how much he eats/doesn’t eat to really help narrow down the problem.

                                        He hasn’t been eating a lot of spinach, just the last few times he’s had veggies it has had spinach in it. I don’t think he has had any in at least around two weeks. Thanks for the webpage, I’ll definitely look at it. I’m still hoping to possibly get some carrots and romaine lettuce and give him one at a time to see if we need to cut those out of his diet or not.

                                        Hmm, now that more people are saying that its a dental issue now I’m starting to worry it is… does your boy have any behavior changes at all when he needs his teeth done/get mushy poops? Because Lion has been acting perfectly fine, not showing any signs of pain, eating, drinking, pooping, and acting normal. Just like I had said. I do know bunnies can hide their pain very well, but this has had have been happening for at least around 2 or 3 weeks. I just haven’t done such thorough research because I didn’t know if it was anything serious. :/

                                        Thanks to all for your suggestions!


                                      • LittlePuffyTail
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                                          No, my boy’s behavior does not change nor do his eating habits. He just gets the mushy poops and will often start losing weight.

                                          I suggest you have your vet check out his teeth. Some bunnies are okay to have a vet look in their mouth with an otoscope, others need sedation. The only way to know for sure is to have a vet have a look at the molars. Molar spurs that are left long and sharp can cause abscesses or ulcers. Might not be your bun’s issue but better to rule it out.


                                        • jerseygirl
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                                            I think Bam had said the only clue she got when Yohio needed his teeth done was he’d start chewing wood more. Not other changes in eating habits. So strange, they don’t make it easy, these bunners! Hopefully she’ll confirm that is what she observed with him. Im only going on my dodgy memory!

                                            Would you be able to separate them only for when they get their veg and pellets initially?

                                            What about Pumpkins eating habits? Could it be possible he’s eating more then his share because

                                            she’s been slower eating?


                                          • LionNPumpkin
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                                              Alright, Lion has not been losing any weight but it still could possibly be molar spurs. My mom doesn’t want to get his teeth checked since its so expensive and we’re not sure if Lion will have to be sedated or not, but now I’m thinking I really want to. I really wish Lion would let the vet look in with an otoscope… but nah, it probably won’t happen, haha. I might first wait just a few days to see if lowering his pellet intake will clear it up or not.

                                              I would be able to separate them when they get their veggies and pellets, I usually leave their pellets in their cage all day and not give any at night, so it would probably be separating for a day or for whenever they might finish their pellets.
                                              I honestly think Pumpkin is eating her right amount, she’s the same weight as always and is not acting up, either. If I can separate them for just a few days I can really see how much both eat all by themselves. And I don’t know if Lion is eating more than he should, that’s the problem with having bonded rabbits, haha. I’ll ask my mom if we could separate them over the next few days possibly, since it would a great learning experience asides from figuring out what’s going on with Lion.

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                                          Forum DIET & CARE Stange poop — Please help!