Help! Is this a normal side-effect?

[OverthinkingBun]

I’m treating my bunny for periodontal disease with Metacam and enrofloxacin (liquids).  She’s mostly doing better, and has regained her appetite for hay!  But I noticed that she has had two brief bits of diarrhea, two days ago and tonight.  Both times she immediately went back to well-formed, normal poops, and her behavior has been normal.  How worried should I be?  I read on the fact sheet that Metacam can cause diarrhea, but the details weren’t specific to rabbits.  I called the vet the first time, and he wasn’t that concerned as long as it cleared right up.

My vet’s office is closed, or I would call them rather than post here.  The bunny is currently pooping normally and just did a binky while I typed, lol. 

I ordered a veterinary probiotic that I’m going to start giving her, which should hopefully help her a little.  

[Bam]

Enrofloxacine is an antibiotic and will affect the gut microbiota. But as long as the bouts of sticky poop (it’s not diarrhea) are brief, it’s not very worrisome. A slight disruption of GI flora must be considered normal under the circumstances.

Metacam is usually well tolerated by rabbits, but it can be somewhat hard on the stomach. It’s mostly the stomach lining that is at risk. My Bam was given Zantac (ranitidine) together with Metacam for stomach protection. (Ranitidine is a proton pump inhbitor, meaning it makes the stomach secret less stomach acid (hydrochloric acid).)

[OverthinkingBun]

Thanks for the information! Polly Oliver is continuing to do well today. Can you clarify what the difference is between diarrhea and sticky poop is in rabbits, or do you know of a good article that explains it?

[Bam]

True diarrhea is when the bun produces none of the round, normal poop, just runny poop, often watery and/or with mucus in it. The bunny is very sick and weak and has no appetite. This is rare in adult rabbits, but not very uncommon in very young rabbits. It’s often due to an infestation with parasites called coccidia and needs immediate vet attention, fluid replacement therapy and antibiotics. It can occur in adult rabbits following treatment with certain types of broad spectrum antibiotics that kill off the good gut bacteria and leave the field open to overgrowth of really bad bacteria. It’s a true vet emergency.

Sticky poop is also called intermittent soft cecotropes. The bun has bouts of sticky, stinky poop, sometimes quite a lot of it, but there are also round poops. The bun can need help with cleaning his rear, but doesnt appear sick. The soft poop is stinky because it’s cecal poop, the type of poop the bun is supposed to eat. Persistent sticky poop is as a rule about diet, a too rich diet or a diet with too little fiber in it. Occasional bouts of sticky poop can be due to changes in diet or medicines, esp antibiotics,

Here’s an article about ISC in rabbits:
http://rabbit.org/intermittent-soft-cecotropes-in-rabbits/

[OverthinkingBun]

Thanks for the reply – I’ve been super busy so I just read it on my phone and didn’t reply, but it was definitely reassuring. Polly Oliver has finished her medicines, and had no more weird poops since I last posted (either the probiotics I gave her helped, or she just adjusted on her own). I think she is making a full recovery!

[Bam]

Yay! Thanks for the update!

[LittlePuffyTail]

[Author]

Messages