Hair in poop

[tofuthebun]

Hi, first time poster so I apologize for the novel.

I adopted a bunny recently who is guessed to be betweeen 2-4 years old. He really hates being brushed (I’ve tried multiple kinds of grooming tools) and doesn’t really like to be touched very much sadly, but he sheds a lottt.  His mood and behaviour are unchanged, he is free roam and binkies and zoomies every day, and lies in a lounged position a lot and takes food when offered. However, he is passing the “string of pearls” (poops joined by hair) fairly regularly but I am worried about the potential for the hair blockage/ GI stasis, and today I heard a FART and it was definitely audible and wet sounding when he was in his litter box ( I know that passing gas is normal for bunnies but I have read that you usually won’t hear it except sometimes maybe a high pitched squeak, this was definitely not a squeak though.)

Diet : When I first got him, I was feeding him approximately 2c of fresh greens daily (approved/ low oxalic greens from the House Rabbit Society’s list), unlimited timothy hay and approx 1tbsp of Kaytee Fortidiet Pro Health pellets (12% protein, minimum 18% crude fiber). He was having softer/ malleable poops, still fully formed, but would not break apart under pressure. At the recommendation of the adoption organization, I switched to giving him slightly less than 1/4c pellets twice a day and just 1 c of fresh greens, but I am only giving him one green variety at a time to see if there’s any that affect his stool (and still unlimited timothy). His poops are firmer and will break apart more easily but now I am seeing a lot more hair in his stool.

I brush him when I can but he won’t tolerate it for long enough for me to really get much hair off him, and he is a fastidious self groomer so I don’t know what to do. I have read that giving more greens is good when they’re passing hair as the moisture and fiber can help, but the greens were causing him to have softer stools before so I feel like I may be switching one intestinal issue for another. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[Bam]

Many rabbits get a bit of stomach upset when they shed. It’s not really known why, but it may be that the immune defense is involved somehow. If you think he has difficulty getting gas out, you can give simethicone baby gas drops, 0.5 -1 ml. It is bunny safe and widely used worldwide in the rabbit community.

Since he is shedding now, I’d prefer somewhat more moist poop to dryer poop. Hydration is key for the easy passing through of the tummy contents. Rabbits always have some hair in their GI canal and it normally passes through, if the bun eats a high fiber diet and drinks plenty. Moist and malleable poop isn’t really a problem, its sticky, poorly formed poop that can be bothersome because it can stick to the bunny and need cleaning up with cornstarch or a butt bath.

If you bun has normal hair (i e not lionhead or angora hair), it’s often possible to use a lint roller (the sticky paper kind) to get excess hair off. You can ruffle the fur with your hands first, then use the lint roller to catch the loose hairs.

I give my bun treats when I brush him to make him “forget” that he’s being brushed.  Not all buns will be interested in treats when they are being handled though.

 

 

 

[tofuthebun]

Thank you for your response! He does have normal hair. I tried out the lint roller technique this morning to catch some of the loose hairs after brushing him with one of those rubber hand gloves and it definitely helped! 🙂 He does seem to drink quite a bit of water out of his bowl and I always wet his veggies for some extra moisture also. I will probably invest in some simethicone just to have on hand but he doesn’t seem to be in discomfort now.

[DanaNM]

Some of my buns don’t like being brushed deeply, so when they are molting I put them on a table on a towel and do a really deep grooming probably twice a week. It seems like it’s better to just get as much hair as possible off in one go, rather than constantly pestering them with the comb.

They forgive me pretty fast since I give them a treat when we are all done. 🙂

I second that lint rollers are awesome. I mainly use the hair buster comb, a lint roller, and hand plucking, depending on the bunny (all of mine have different hair textures and preferences ahah).

Fiber and moisture are the way to go for keeping the hair moving through, so keep encouraging hay, and you can give a bit of extra wet greens if you think he’s not drinking enough. Offering water from a bowl encourages most buns to drink more as well.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[tofuthebun]

Thank you for your advice! I don’t think he is molting as clumps don’t seem to be coming off him, its more that he just seems to be shedding quite a bit. I am unsure of his breed but he has short, dense hair. I’ve only had him for a couple months and in that time he seems to just consistently shed, maybe it’s partly stress related from coming to a new place, but I think some buns just shed more than others. He is still learning to trust humans as he wasn’t socialized in the years prior to me having him so he doesn’t like being handled or picked up, even petting him has to be on his terms, though he doesn’t seem fearful of  me. I tried brushing him while also distracting him with his fave treat (banana) and it definitely helped!:) It’s too bad that banana can only be fed in small amounts though as it limits the amount of bribing I can do haha.

[Bam]

You could save some of his daily pellets and give them as treats when you brush him. Adult buns should always want more pellets than they get 😃

Not all buns molt in clumps, some just shed, and they can shed for extended periods of time.  You are of course right in that some buns do shed more than others.

It’s always good to have simethicone baby gas drops in the bunny first aid kit!

 

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