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FORUM DIET & CARE Long fur and cecals

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    • LittlePuffyTail
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        I’ve noticed lately that Bindi, who has pretty long fur, especially near his bum, has some little cecals stuck to his fur sometimes. Today I found he has a big wad of them (about the size of a small grape) stuck to his fur and one in his bed. I had to use clippers to clip it off his fur. He’s also shedding a lot right now. Is it possible he’s making more cecals than he needs? And, if yes, what causes this? Or maybe they are just getting stuck to his fur so he can’t eat them.

        Another question for long-furred bunny owners: Does your bunny get wadded knots on the bottom and sides of his/her feet? The bottom of Bindi’s feet get really matted and I have to trim big knots out.  This produces a large amount of disapproval.

         


      • LittlePuffyTail
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          I just did some research and read something interesting I did not know  about cecotropes (I thought they could be called cecals too?). Anyways, I sort of laughed as I read this because it is soooo like our fussy, hard to please rabbits:

          Rabbits don’t eat the hard round ‘marbles,’ only the soft clusters. And the rabbit only consumes it directly from the hind end. If a cecotrope should hit the ground without being eaten, the rabbit loses all interest in it.

           

           


        • MimzMum
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            Really? Pip is actually getting a little plump, so her cecals HAVE to be eaten off her floor. (she can’t bend in half to get them) You can always tell because she suddenly sits upright and then looks like she just got bit by a mosquito and then shuffles around and chows down.
            Fiver will do the same, but both of them will leave cecals if they are getting too many carbs/sweets. I have yet to see any of Mimzy’s, he takes them immediately as they exit.
            He has some long-ish fur on his feet, but I often hear him pulling on his feet and then he’ll let them go with a thump. I think he’s combing his pads, I never have to do it for him.
            How’s Bindi’s diet right now?


          • jerseygirl
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              LPT, was it formed cecals or just a mushy blob? Producing extra cecals can be from high protein diet but the mushy, sticky unformed cecal is more to do with an imbalance. To much carbs or not enough fibre or a combo of both. If he’s shedding, a hay only day might help get things back into balance.


            • LittlePuffyTail
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                They were formed cecals in a cluster.

                He eats about 1/8 cup of timothy pellets, 2 crocks of greens (not much of a variety of greens right now due to the price but always romaine and parsley and then another veggie or two) and pretty much unlimited hay (in 3 meals) daily. What should I change in his diet if this keeps up?

                What rabbits foods have a lot of protein?


              • RabbitPam
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                  It sounds like a good diet to me. Also sounds like several cecals got caught together, so not sure if he missed a chance at eating some. Since you got them removed, he will probably eat up the latest batch.

                  I don’t agree about them touching the floor either, since both Spockie ate all of his off the floor (I used to smell some, observe them on the rug, then not bother to pick them up or scold him because two minutes later they were gone.) and Sammy eats all or some. In fact, I just threw out 6 old cecals that he bites out of them before she let them sit there. They had what looked like ground pellets in their centers. Not as mushy as I’m used to seeing.


                • jerseygirl
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                    ditto ^ a great diet. Could be he just had his fill and left some if they look like the regular kind.

                    Things like alfalfa and clovers are richer in proteins. I think possibly orchard and meadow grass too but not alot higher than timothy. As you know, things can vary greatly with hays.

                    As for his hobbit feet, I don’t have any advice…must be awfully cute even though it’s a pain.


                  • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                      Heheh Hobbit feet! Kahlua needs her feeties trimmed a bit, and so does Chuck. Difference is I hate troubling Chuck so I don’t do his as often (often being maybe quarterly ) But yes they get the fur all stickin out funny

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                  FORUM DIET & CARE Long fur and cecals