Bunny displaying odd behavior when pooping

[buddybunny]

 My bunny is around 3 months old and has recently begun doing weird things when pooping. He sort of dips his head down, the only way I can decribe it is lke a duck sticking it’s head into the water (poor explaination). if he’s sat on my lap he will lick me and then start nipping and biting if he’s going to poop. I thought this may just be when he wants to get away but I have seen him do this in his hutch also. He bites at his sawdust. 

any ideas?

[bpash89]

Do you have hay in his litter box? Most bunnies like to munch while doing their business so maybe he’s looking for something to chew on? I know my bunny has a particular stance she uses when going to the bathroom so without seeing it, it’s hard to say if what your bunny is doing is odd or within the realm of perfectly normal.

I noticed you said sawdust… wood shavings are really bad to use with any small animals, rabbits included because it causes liver damage.  There are many other litter options that are just as cheap (or cheaper!) and easy as shavings without doing long term damage to the bunny.

 why pine/cedar shavings are bad

A review of different types of litter

[Sarita]

Sounds like he’s eating his cecals to me.

[buddybunny]

 Bunny does have hay in his hutch, but he doesn’t have a place where he prefers to do his business.

I’m thinking about filming next time he does it. 

This is our first bunny, so we’re trying to learn everything we can 

[buddybunny]

 I don’t think that’s it, I’ve seen him do that and he doesn’t do the same thing

tried to film him earlier but he just kept doing this haha (not the weird behaviour but funny)

[buddybunny]

I finally got it on camera 

It does seem like he’s eating some poop in one, but I’m still not sure why he needs to bite? 

Hopefully this will give me some answers  

sorry about the sound, you don’t need it on really

[buddybunny]

please help, it’s worrying me now. I’ve seen him pull his fur out when doing this, I think he’s just trying to bite anything he can. I’m scared he might be in pain.

[Beka27]

I locked the new thread you started in Diet and Care. Keep all of your updates to one thread. Behavior is the appropriate forum for this topic.

If he is biting at himself, that sounds like there is some kind of irritant in that area. Maybe mites or fleas?

Have you contacted your vet about this?

[buddybunny]

Only started a new thread because i thought there might have been a health issues and was seeking help. He is not always biting at himself, hes biting anything he can get to.

[LittlePuffyTail]

That does seem strange. Does he do this every time he poops or only on occasion?

[buddybunny]

 I think it’s every time, but I can’t be sure. It also sometimes does it when it pees, but this might be because he goes poopy too.

We might just have got a crazy little bunny.

We’ve bought it a wooden knaw toy today, maybe he’ll take it out on that. 

 

[Beka27]

You may be correct that it’s a pain response. I’ve never heard of this type of behavior, but it could be mites like I said, or some type of urinary infection, or even a dental issue.

When was his last full vet exam?

[buddybunny]

Yeah, I was wondering if it could be from lack of water making poops hard to pass, but bunny has been drinking as usual, if not more. 

We’ve not had bunny long and he’s not been to the vets with us, he may have been with the breeder. 

He seems to be hopping around fine, but then stopping to do this 

[Beka27]

Okay, I reread your original post that he’s only three months, he looks older in the videos.

Since this is a strange behavior and we’re not sure of the origin, the vet is going to be the next logical step. He needs to go in for his “new bunny exam” anyways. This is recommended at about 12 weeks old, or anytime you get a new bunny. If the videos are on your cell phone, the vet can take a look at the behavior.

[buddybunny]

 Thank you for your advice 

Since he’s a family pet I’ll have to ask my parents when we can take him. 

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Keep us updated

[buddybunny]

Will do 🙂

[NewBunnyOwner123]

If he’s outside he might have some kinda worm or parasite causing pain during pooping. How is he protected from the elements? Is he just outside in a hutch? Or a barn? An enclosed room?

[buddybunny]

 You may be right. He is outside in a hutch and is watched closely. At the moment it’s warm outside so he’s fine, if it gets a bit too hot he gets some frozen fruit, he doesn’t like frozen water bottle though, which I’m assuming means he’s not getting desperately hot. 

I think I will ring the vets tomorrow to see how much a check up costs

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Ok that’s good you’re going to contact the vet. Be wary of something called fly strike.

[buddybunny]

Ive been on high alert recently with all this warm weather and thankfully there has been no flystrike, thank god

[buddybunny]

Bunny is not doing anything odd today when pooping!
He’s had a change of hay, from meadow hay to timothy hay, I’m thinking this may have made his tummy happier?
Either way he’s binkying all over the place

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