Reply To: Gus has poopy butt, and it’s bad – advice please?

[BrunosMama]

Oh no, I’m sorry to hear Gus is having problems!

Have you made your long drive yet? I’m wondering if some of his change in hay consumption and bouts of poopy butt could have something to do with the changes that are happening around him. From your previous post about preparing for a long trip, it sounds like maybe there has been some significant changes in the home that might have him feeling a little off, but I don’t know.

As for encouraging him to eat more hay, you could try giving him a small variety of hay to see if that piques his interest. I believe Oxbow and Small Pet Select (and some others) sell variety blends/mixes. I have also seen “hay toppers” which is usually a blend of dried herbs and bunny safe flowers to sprinkle on top of hay. My buns have liked those in the past. 🙂 There are also hay toys, like cubes and wafers that are basically just compressed hay into shapes, but maybe it would add some variety to how he eats his hay.

The problem, I think, with leaving his butt the way it is right now is that if more poops accumlate, it will just continue to get worse and could make it more difficult for him to get to what he needs to eat. It may also start to pull on his fur and get uncomfortable.

Dried poop clumps can be softened with a warm wet wash cloth and by letting the bunny’s butt sit in warm water for a minute or two. I’ve always had luck doing butt baths in the bathroom sink, because I can hold the bunny with one arm resting on the counter and wash/adjust water with the other hand.

Since Gus doesn’t like being picked up, you could potentially sit on the floor with a small dish tub of warm water and do the butt bath that way. You would still have to pick him up, but it would be brief and close to the ground in case he squirms loose. And if you do this in a corner or enclosed space, he can’t get away quite as far.

You may also consider giving a treat when you’re done! This can help make amends and lessen the chances of the dreaded Bunny Grudge! Lol<!–/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_250622_100938_217.sdocx–>