Aging Bun and a clean bottom

[Balefulregards]

Hello everyone -It’s been ages since I’ve popped my head in. Coco and Jackson are still going strong, having survived the move from Montreal to Wisconsin in 2012. We lost a cat (Loki) and adopted another this past August (Micha – a Bengal). The buns miss our fabulous Iranian market where they could get giant bunches of dill and mint all year round. 

This question is about my beloved, but aging, Coco and her bum. I am finding that I have to clean her 3-4 times a week. Her cecals would get stuck on her tail, then – if I didn’t watch it – form a clump which we would have to gently soak and pry loose. Tonight, we just had a clean and trim session where I took off a good amount of the loose fur around her tail ( which is pretty sparse) trimmed down her belly and generally cleaned her up.

The good news is that she tolerates this better than she did in her younger “I will rip your heart through your skin if you attempt to trim my nails” days and I am far more confident in handling her. We have a decent rhythm and she doesn’t ever trance. 

Her anal/urinary opening don’t look inflamed or raw as I do a pretty good job of checking her every other day. She is still free roam, eating lots of hay (I am grateful for pet360’s ability to order that 60 pound box of Oxbow Timothy), greens twice a day and very, very limited pellets. I don’t think she is getting too much sugar/treats. 

I think she’s just getting….old. She could be as old as 9 and young as 7 – we never really knew her age. I am fine with cleaning her every other day – just the price of admission for a beloved family member and I am stoic about it. I was just wondering if others had noticed something similar with their aging buns.

[jerseygirl]

Is it just cecals or also urine?

I wonder if she’s arthritic? In that case, some pain relief and supplements might help.

Sending love to Coco and her Jackson.

[Zombie-Sue]

Yes, I am taking my rabbit to the vet for the exact same problem, also suspecting arthritis. He’s approximately 7 – 8.

[jerseygirl]

Just to add… It’s often arthritis and/or dental probs in older rabbits that can cause this issue.

[Balefulregards]

No, no urine – no urine evidence on fur at all. Just cecals that then “catch” other normal poo.

I have added willow leaves to her diet, but maybe she needs something more? Her teeth were checked in the Spring and were good. Perhaps I need to schedule a recheck. The arthritis is a very good suspicion. She still gets around just fine and can be spry – I saw a binky a week or so ago, but they are rare now.

Her attitude is still ALL there, through. Jerseygirl – she still pees right in front of me when she is angry/perturbed.

[jerseygirl]

Her attitude is still ALL there, through. Jerseygirl – she still pees right in front of me when she is angry/perturbed.

Haha! I don’t doubt it!

Are you still seeing her reach for her cecals in the usual manner?

[Balefulregards]

Yep – she is will reach ( and usually get some ) of her cecals. Her poo isn’t abnormal – still the same tiny pellets, urine is normal and follows her diet ( a bit cloudy when she gets kale, reddish when she gets chard etc)

[Balefulregards]

Just an update: I’ve been using the joint support supplements from Oxbow until my order of myristol arrives. She gets 2 a day. I’ve also been giving her a container of willow leaves ( dried) that I collected over the summer. I am proud of my massive willow stash – gathered on the banks of the Mississippi this summer – and it seems to be helping her discomfort.

Her bum was clean as a whistle all week, until today. We just did a quick clean up and she was offended, but not mortally. She accepted a willow leaf as a peace offering.

I’ve also ordered a liquid (no sugar) glucosamine/chondroitin for backup AND a liquid white willow (no sugar) supplement for pain for when my willow leaf stash runs out.

Since this diet/regime change she has seemed a bit more lively, and certainly more friendly towards me. I think the arthritis possibility is right on target.

[Author]

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