Bunny is matted after neuter!

[Smokeyandthebandit]

Hi all,
Smokey and Bandit went in yesterday for their neuters and they both did fantastic, however in recovery Bandit would not leave his incision alone. He was licking at it so much that they had to put an e-collar on him, they said to leave it on for 3-5 days and that if I was there to supervise I could take it off from time to time. I took it off when we got home and he went right for the incision . He got a few good licks in before I got him to stop. So I put the cone back on and went outside for a few minutes came back in and he had removed the cone himself and was licking away, I stuck the cone back on and he then struggled so hard to get out of it that he looked panicked. I removed it for a while but he continued licking. I put the collar back on at bed time and I woke up around 3 am to a LARGE pile of what I think is cecals on the pen floor and it was smeared all over the cone ! So I once again took the cone off and had to soak it. So he continued to lick and he’s not easily redirected, I picked him up and noticed the fur on his chest and tummy is hardened like something dried in it and the fur on his foot. Im going to call his vet first thing I think but has anyone experienced this? Should I try wiping him up with some warm water? I don’t even know what he got into! 

Smokey came home and is absolutely fine! Not one lick out of him. 

[Theo&Mickey]

Is he on metacam for pain? Sometimes they lick because the neuter area is painful and pain meds might help that.

I’ve lived with my bunny in a cone for a month and cecals on the pen floor and smeared on the cone is totally normal – he is trying to eat them from the floor since he can’t reach his bum!
I wouldn’t worry, if he is eating normally and drinking, pooing and peeing. Just keep that cone on – I know, it’s hard. 

 
He could be disoriented in the cone, and walked in his pee or cecals, hence the matting. It will take him time to adjust, but since your vet said only 3 – 5 days, hopefully he won’t have to become a cone professional lol

[Smokeyandthebandit]

Hi thank you for the advice! 
Its so hard to know what to do thankfully there are sites like this one!! 
They are both on metacam for pain, I actually just gave them some .  Bless his whiskers he’s trying to wash through the cone and giving his brother the death stare when he realizes he doesn’t have a cone of shame! 

Hes eating and drinking well! Very interested in raisins . And poop on the cone was just a bit more then I could handle at 3 am with very little sleep . 
When I gave him his metacam I got hubby to hold him and I was able to sponge bathe him with a little warm water and got most of the matting out. They are indoor bunnies so no worries on the getting cold before drying. 

[Theo&Mickey]

Sounds like you’re doing all the right things! 

Smooshy cecals everywhere at 3 am  I do empathize. Especially stressful knowing he’s got a healing wound and those soft poos get everywhere 

If there’s no infection he should heal fast and be out of that cone in no time. It’s a very good sign that he’s eating and acting his usual self. 

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