Loose poopies

[Cupcakesmom]

Hi everyone! I feel like I am posting so many questions lately!! Everyone on here is so helpful that I just cant help myself!

So my little Dizzie bunn has been having loose poopies ever since I got her. It isnt diarrhea, but her poo’s are not hard and round like my other bunnies are. They are long and mushy. I feel like I am cleaning up poo constantly and I worry for her. I took her to the vet 2 days ago and they took a sample. Everything came back normal and her belly didnt feel hard or gassy. I feed her about 1/8 cup of pellets each day, as much hay as she wants, and water. She doesnt get veggies at this time, because it makes her poopies even worse, or she bloats up from gas. I dont really know what to think or do…

 

Any ideas?

[Sarita]

Are you sure they aren’t cecals? Do they look like little clusters?

Are you certain she is getting gas from vegetables?

[Cupcakesmom]

Well, they might be cecals….they smell horrendous! But it isnt in little clusters. Its one long poo. Now when I tell you this, please dont be grossed out, but its the only way I can describe it….They look like mini people-poo’s.
The girl who I got Dizzie from runs a rabbit rescue. I told her Dizzie’s symptoms and she thought it was gas. She was really puffed up and lazy (which is unusual for her). Her belly felt soft, so we both thought it was gas. This happens when I give her any sort of veggies.

[Sarita]

I think it still might be cecals – sometimes they aren’t always clustered looking like grapes. But they are stinky.

The things that usually cause GI upset are starchy foods and sugars.

Have you tried feeding her all grass hay diet for a few weeks before offering any veggies?

[RabbitPam]

I’d call the vet back and ask what to do now. Just because she got results of what it isn’t, doesn’t mean it should end there. You want to know what it IS, and more importantly, what to do for her. You don’t need to bring her back in, just ask for a call back with advice on how to proceed.

[Cupcakesmom]

I have a call into my vet right now I am waiting for her to call me back. It turns out that there have been lots of new bunny owners in our town lately!! Which is good…more bunnies need homes.

So you think maybe mostly hay for right now, and a smaller amount of pellets?

[Sarita]

How old is Dizzie again?

[Cupcakesmom]

I’m not quite sure. No one knows. She was left in a box on the rescue’s door! My poor baby was just left behind! But in any case, I’m really glad we have her. She is really bouncy and curious and always seems to have an infinite amount of energy….i like to think of her as my 2 year old…

[Sarita]

Did the vet check her teeth? I know it sounds weird but sometimes they are less likely to consume their cecals if they are having dental problems. Dental problems can also cause mushy stools and gas as well.

[Cupcakesmom]

The vet did check her teeth and everything looked good. I give her those compacted timothy hay cubes, so her teeth have been good….even her back ones.

If it is her cecals, they are big for cecals and still really runny. She also seems to miss the litter box with them.

[Sarita]

Do you give her regular grass hay? That is what is going to keep her teeth trim and her gut moving.

[Cupcakesmom]

I use Timothy hay

[Sarita]

You might try the all hay diet then for a few weeks – take away the pellets – discuss that with your vet when he/she calls you back.

[Cupcakesmom]

Ok, I definately will! Thank you for your help!!

[Cupcakesmom]

I talked with my vet and Dizzie is on an all hay diet. She has been doing really well, but when I came home for lunch yesterday, there were some messy poopies again. They are solid, but messy. I feel so bad. I clean everything up (scrub the soiled areas) and then her poops later are normal. Something is definately not right with her. Now she also stopped using her litter box

[Sarita]

It can take up to 2 weeks on an all hay diet for their gut flora to balance. So you need to give it time and see what happens.

[Cupcakesmom]

oooh! good to know! The vet told me a week and to call her tomorrow…I’ll let her know that I’m going to continue for a bit longer

[Cupcakesmom]

So the messy poopies are definately her cecotropes. She had been on the all hay diet for 2 weeks, but now I have been giving her some pellets. I throw them into her hay bin so she cant just scarf them all down. She is having messy ones again! I dont know what to do…. an all hay diet cant be enough, can it??

[Sarita]

Why kind of pellets are you giving her? They could be the problem.

I would consider starting her on greens and see how she does with them. It could be that the pellets all along have been the culprit.

[Cupcakesmom]

They are timothy hay pellets…i believe they are the kaytee brand. I dont give her much because I just wanted to try it out and the messes arent every day. I gave her some kale yesterday and things have been ok…

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