Bunny smells like poop??

[Toby Da Bunny]

My bunny smells so bad!! He is a baby, 3.5 weeks old. He smells like his poop I think? I have no idea but he smells like human diarrhea LOL. It’s mostly around his head and mouth I’m not sure if he’s been eating his poop? I keep going over his fur with a damp cotton ball to get rid of the smell but nothing seems to help. Not sure what to do at this point since you can’t really bathe bunnies :/

[Deleted User]

He should be eating his poop, especially that young. They produce cecotrophes, and especially because he is not getting his mother’s milk, needs to be eating those. Here is an article about baby bunnies, scroll down to the section on Feeding Orphaned Bunnies https://rabbit.org/domestic-baby-bunnies-and-their-mom/

[Sirius&Luna]

Is he with his mum? A baby that is 3.5 weeks old is very unlikely to survive without its mum. What is his diet like?

Bunnies are meant to eat their poop so that’s not unusual. He probably smells bad because he is getting the incorrect diet, which should be his mum’s milk at this age. Was he orphaned?

[Mikey]

Hes way too young to be away from his mother and hes way too young to be weaned safely onto pellets and hay. Being weaned too early can cause problems with the digestive track.

[Harley&Thumper]

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/165719/Default.aspx#584931

This thread explains the situation with the bunny’s mom

[Sirius&Luna]

That thread is really not a reasonable explanation of why a 3.5 week old bunny was removed from its mum. Poor thing.The only reasonable explanation is the mother dying or rejecting the baby.

The breeder needs to be reported.

[Toby Da Bunny]

What do you mean unlikely to survive?! I just took him to the vet they said he’ll be fine.. I’m feeding him goat milk. The doc gave me vitamins to put in it. Also mashed pellets in it sometimes. The doctor told me to do all this. I don’t know where his mom is the breeder sold him to me at 3 weeks and I didnt know he was too young to be taken from his mom. I’m doing my best

[Toby Da Bunny]

Ok I’m doin my best i give him goat milk and vitamins given by the vet and he eats hay

[Toby Da Bunny]

Omg I didn’t know he was too young! I learned this after. I’m trying my best to keep him happy and healthy! I don’t know what happened to the mom

[Deleted User]

Did you go to a exotics vet? One that specializes in bunnies?

[Deleted User]

Did you go to a exotics vet? One that specializes in bunnies?

[Deleted User]

You also really shouldn’t be feeding him pellets or hay until he is at least 6 weeks old. At this stage just milk. What type of pellets have you been feeding? Bunnies should not have anything with seeds or corn. And yes, without their mother, they really don’t survive long. 

No one here is trying to scold you. We are all just worried for a bunny that young. 

How did you even come about this breeder? Was it a website similar to Craigslist? Did you check to make sure they were reputable? Was it a spur of the moment decision? I think these are questions everyone would generally have reading about a 3 week old baby  

[Sirius&Luna]

Rabbits have very sensitive guts, and need their mothers milk. If they don’t receive their mother’s milk and cecatropes, they won’t have the right gut flora to be healthy.

To be honest, you should have done some research before getting a rabbit, including how old they can be taken from their mothers. Its not all on the breeder, you have to be responsible too.

[Toby Da Bunny]

Yes it was Craigslist. The girl seemed very nice and sure that my bunny would be ok. Now I’m worried… i took him to the vet last week to make sure everything is ok and he said that although he’s too young to be without his mother, he will be fine. He seems very healthy and playful. He’s growing. I think he will be fine honestly. The vet gave me vitamins to put in his milk because he was a tad too light on the scale. He’s been gaining weight now and the vet also told me to mash pellets in his milk and that he will be fine. He seems to be doing well. He poops and pees regularly, I’m not very concerned about him surviving but these comments are scaring me. What else should I do?

[Toby Da Bunny]

The vet said he’ll be fine with the goat milk. Now about the cecatropes what can I do? And yes I know I should’ve done research I already feel bad enough I just need to know what to do now to keep him healthy.

[Deleted User]

Bunnies eat the cecotrophes, so that is a good thing. They need the nutrients in it. Like I said, keep away from pellets with added seeds. Alfalfa hay is for growing bunnies. And make sure it is an exotic bunny savvy vet. A normal vet doesn’t know anything about bunnies. So I urge to get a second opinion from a bunny vet. Make sure the baby is kept warm. Bunnies don’t show warning signs of being sick. We’re not saying it to scare you, just telling you the truth. Bunnies that are sick can often die without warning, you just wake up and they’re dead. A bunny is so very fragile. Honestly, this young you won’t know something is wrong until he is dead.

Honestly, on Craigslist, they probably assumed you’d be feeding it to a snake.

[Toby Da Bunny]

Oh no ok I live in Miami so I’m not sure if there’s any bunny vets around here but I’ll take him ASAP. The bunny breeder told me what milk to buy and and how much to feed it to him i don’t think she had bad intentions she seemed to love bunnies. I’m glad I posted to this forum because I would have never known. Toby is so playful and happy he just seems so healthy. I’ll look into a bunny vet. Not sure what kind of vet this was he seemed like he knew what he was saying but I think he specialized more in cats and dogs. What if there’s no bunny vets here?

[Deleted User]

Miami is a big city so you’re probably in luck! The House Rabbit Society has a list of bunny vets by state, so you should be able to find something in your area. I know someone near that area, and I’ll ask them if they know any and I’ll respond

[Toby Da Bunny]

Thank you!! Please let me know

[tobyluv]

Here is a list of rabbits vets in Miami-Dade County – http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/vets.html

The list is 4 years old, so there may be some newer vets in the area.

[Deleted User]

Tobyluv: do you remember member BunNoob? She’s like on the phone with a rabbit rescue right now getting an updated list for me xD

[tobyluv]

Yes, I know BunNoob. Hopefully, she can come up with some updated or additional listings. There are several rabbit rescues in Florida, but I thought the one I linked to would have the closest vets to Miami.

[Deleted User]

these are the places and numbers BunNoob gave me to give you for good vets in the Miami area.

South Kendall Animal Hospital 305-238-2030
South Dade Avian & Exotic Medical 305-234-2473
Dr. Tomaras is available for house calls and emergencies at 305-330-4429

I hope this helps!

[Deleted User]

haha before your post I was texting her and asking if she knew anything xD and being her, she jumped into action and was like, I’m on it.

[Toby Da Bunny]

Thanks so much! Was texting with the south dade avian & exotic vet . She said to switch his Timothy hay to alfalfa hay since it’s richer in calcium and stuff. She says if he’s growing and energetic it’s up to me to take him in. I think he’s fine for now he’s eating(drinking) well and seems playful! He’s growing also. I’ll take him in if I see anything off. Thanks guys so much for your help!! Love this forum

[Author]

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