Bonded bunnies eating each other's cecals?

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This topic has 5sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 12 months ago by Karla.

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- 03/29/2010 at 7:57 PM
  Barbie
  Participant
  1581 posts
  Recently I’ve noticed that both Jeannie and Leroy stick their noses under each other’s bums… I think they’re looking for cecals?! I’ve never seen either of them come away chewing anything but I was just wondering if they are eating each other’s cecals, is this is ok? Jeannie is still on alfalfa pellets, and I need to be careful becasue I think Leroy has gained some weight, so he doesn’t get the alfalfa pellets, but if he nabs Jeannie’s cecals, will that be a problem?
- 03/29/2010 at 8:02 PM
  MirBear
  Participant
  1412 posts
  umm… eww?
  
  like i know bunnies eat cecals, but eating somebunny elses cecals… YUCK!
- 03/29/2010 at 8:06 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  They’re probably just smelling the scent glands – being Spring and all. I see mine do it. As to cecals, I wouldn’t think it a problem, it’s all good nutrition. I’d only be concerned if one was dropping them and the other ate them so one was missing out. But mostly they’d be getting their own “direct” delivery so you probably needn’t be concerned.
- 03/29/2010 at 8:09 PM
  Barbie
  Participant
  1581 posts
  Miranda, that was my reaction! Eww
  
  Jers, I didn’t think about the scent glads… I’m glad I can’t smell them! Then again, I don’t go sticking my nose in their bums either! No, I’m not seeing any dropped cecals. Plenty of poo though.
- 03/29/2010 at 8:16 PM
  MirBear
  Participant
  1412 posts
  lol, mt old dog used to walk up behind another dog and drink its pee…
- 03/31/2010 at 2:33 AM
  Karla
  Participant
  1624 posts
  Actually, it is common for bunnies living closely to eat each other’s cecotrophes – they share the bacteria, and it keeps them healthy. So no worries about it.
  
  Karl occassionally sniffs Jack bottom, but that is because he has loose stools hanging under his tail, and I think Karl just wants to clean him up, so he doesn’t smell so badly. So if there is a lot of sniffing going on, you could check this as well.
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