Ah, the dreaded poopybutt, also called ISS (Intermittent Soft Stools I think).  This usually happens when bunnies do not reingest their cecal pellets, and the cecal matter gets stuck on them, their pen or other things in their environment.  This can be caused by a few different things:

– stress.  If a bunny is scared, they will often pass cecals without reingesting them.  Is this a new bunny for you?  I have found that when I get new fosters into the house, they often have poopy butt for a few days before they adjust.

– too rich of a diet.  If a bunny’s diet has too many calories, they can overproduce cecals, and then they end up dropping them and making a mess.  What kind of diet does this bunny get?  What kind and how much pellets?  Alfalfa (lucerne) pellets are high in calories and can cause poopy butt.

I use a brush when Kahlua gets them stuck on her…She gets everything stuck on her…Shes a walking dirt tornado…I wouldn’t recommend a lionhead or otherwise fluffy bunny unless you LOVE vaccuming *rolling eyes*

She usually gets them stuck in her fur if she’s been sleeping in the litter box…I just use my slicker brush and gently brush them out.
I also flipped her over, tranced her and shaved the fur immediately around her bum just a touch and ***very*** carefully since she was getting lots of poops stuck there…It was only an option because she insta-trances…

I don’t know but maybe you cut cut back on the starchy stuff, like oats and banana and stuff. Rich foods can make them poopy. You could try and see how it works out! Also, make sure you chop celery! Those great celergy strings can cause stomach problems but if you chop them they are fine!

HI cuppycake, it sounds like a combination of diet and new environment.  Broccoli is a veggie that many rabbits have a sensitivity to so you just might want to eliminate it from the diet to see if it helps.  Also you’ll want to be careful with the oats and how many you give because too much starch can be a bad thing and can cause gas, bloating and digestive upset. I have not given a rabbit coriander (though it is a member of the parsley family) and have not found it on a bunny-safe list and BinkyBunny has quite an extensive one here: https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=144 

As for the removal of the stickyness, try a gentle brush and for very difficult poo try putting some plain corn starch (not regular baby powder) on it to dry it up then wipe away using a towel.

Another thing you might want to consider is keeping a food diary and track what you feed him and when he has an episode of poopybutt (if it is diet related) and eliminate the culprit from his diet. If he gets lethargic, won’t eat, hasn’t pooped or has bad diarrhea, then take him to the vet right away.

Oh OK! Cilantro can cause stinky poo though as it is more aromatic than the usual like parsely.  Are there any nuts, seeds or treats in the Kaytee pellets? Those aren’t so good for a sensitive bun either and can cause a host of problems too.  I’m just brainstorming about the poopybutt.

You’re welcome! I hope all comes out well!

Dry Bath Procedure (snagged from an article by Dana Krempels)

1. Purchase a container of Baby Cornstarch Powder (DO NOT use Baby Powder or any sort of powder that contains talc, as talc is a respiratory irritant and may even be carcinogenic!) from the grocery store baby section. You can use either unscented or scented cornstarch powder. DO NOT use commercial flea powders or other pesticides on your bunny. Use only baby-safe cornstarch powder for best, safest results.

2. Place bunny is a comfortable position so that the soiled parts are easily accessible. This may involve placing him in your lap on a bunched towel so that he feels secure, or simply laying him on the floor in a comfortable position, if he’s calm and won’t try to run off.

3. Liberally apply the cornstarch to the soiled areas, and gently work the powder down into the fur, around messy poops, and down to the skin.

4. Work the powder around any stubborn clumps of debris gently. As the cornstarch coats the mess, it will slide away easily.

5. Once the largest bits of mess have been removed, use a soft-tipped brush to gently loosen any remaining dirt and debris.

6. Pat the powdered areas well to remove loose powder.

Bunny should be clean and fragrant in just a few minutes! Rabbits generally enjoy a dry bath, and will sit quietly as the soothing powder takes away the sting of urine burn.

wow thats very informative… thanks so much!  Baby needs a little help every now & then and this sure beats plopping her bum into a sink full of water.  not that thats not a barrel of fun  but it doesn’t work all that well.  i’ll have to give this a try!

just to clarify on the cornstarch type… can you use cornstarch used in cooking? 

babybunsmum – you want to make sure it’s labeled as baby safe cornstarch powder, which can be found in the baby aisle. it is not the same as the cooking kind.

cuppycake – if you didn’t already work it out of that spot, you might give the cornstarch one more try.  if it still won’t go away –  you can try to soak him in a an inch or so of warm water in a tupperware or small tub and try to work at it.