Not eating his edible poops

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 7sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 8 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 06/19/2020 at 2:37 PM
  BrunosMama
  Participant
  1618 posts
  Hello all!
  
  I’m so glad the boards are up and running again! I will pop in to the monthly thread to say hi soon, but for now I have a question.
  
  My eldest bun, Caesar (8 y/o), has recently stopped eating his cecals. Or at least some of them. I have noticed some laying around his pen occasionally and more recently, mushed to his butt. Otherwise, his other poops look normal and solid. His eating/drinking/grooming seem normal as well. He does seem to be having some stiffness in his back end and legs, so maybe he is just not able to reach them as well (he is having trouble reaching the area right above his tail, so I have been keeping that brushed and washed as best I can). I have noticed he will sometimes eat the ones he left laying behind.
  
  I have dealt with general poopy butt before, but not a bun not eating their edible poops.
  
  As always, any advice would be great! Thank you!
- 06/19/2020 at 3:53 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Hi BM! Nice to hear from you 🙂
  
  It sounds like you’ve already put your finger on what may be the problem, some “old bones” perhaps.
  
  How is his weight?
  
  The other thing is food as you know. Have there been any changes in formula? Any extra treats lately? Is he consuming adequate hay? My oldies seem to eat less pellets these days. I’ve always rationed them but some days they’ll won’t polish them all off at once. I do try be careful with treats because I think they are more sensitive as grow older, but they still expect them, for sure!
  
  If arthritis is suspected, starting him on an anti-inflammatory might prove it is a factor if he improves with the cecals. If that is the case, you could look into to other supplements to help and even reduce need for meds in the long run.
- 06/19/2020 at 7:55 PM
  BrunosMama
  Participant
  1618 posts
  Hi Jersey! 🙂
  
  Not too much has changed recently with his diet. He did get a dose of Revolution about a week or so ago for fur mites, so that might be a factor.
  
  His weight is good and he is eating a lot. He is doing good with hay, pellets, greens and treats.
  
  I will look into an anti inflammatory and see if that helps.
  
  Thank you! 🙂
- 06/19/2020 at 9:54 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17228 posts
  Hiya!!!
  
  I agree with Jersey. Considering his age, arthritis pain could be preventing him from reaching back there.
- 06/20/2020 at 5:11 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17029 posts
  Hi Bruno’s Mama! So nice to see you here! 💗
  
  I do agree with the others. British vet Richard Sauders says rabbits dont really like the taste of cecals, but I dont know how he knows this. Anyway, it could explain why they leave them if he can’t reach them straight from the source, so to speak.
- 06/20/2020 at 6:55 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Sorry about my typos. I’ve since edited. Looks like you understood anyway.
  
  @Bam, how did he know, indeed?! Haha.
- 06/20/2020 at 1:14 PM
  BrunosMama
  Participant
  1618 posts
  Thanks everyone!
  
  I went out today and got him some Oxbow Joint supplement treats. He seems to like the taste of them, so hopefully it will help.
  
  @Bam haha, I can’t imagine edible poops would be that tasty. Perhaps he had a bun patient complain about the taste lol.
- 06/21/2020 at 11:47 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  I do think those Joint Support treats help! They seemed to help Bertha perk up in her golden years and 11-12 yo Bun Jovi is still super spry (and loves them). I also noticed Bertha leaving more cecals as she got older, and I was never 100% sure whether it was more a mobility issue or a bit more tummy sensitivity (or a combo of the two).
  
  I also was trying this newer joint supplement called Myristol, that is this pelleted formula that was originally designed for race horses. You just give basically 1 pellet a day. I do think it helped Bertha, but a bit hard to say. Bun Jovi didn’t really like the taste of it so I ended up giving it away.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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