My rabbit always has dried poop stuck to his tail?

[Kaitlin]

I have a 3 year old lionhead/lop mix named Leo and Leo seems to frequently get LOTS of dried poop to the bottom of his tail. It’s like a mud pie. Whenever I notice it I try to just very gently use scissors and cut it off because baths are so traumatizing for him. I managed to cut it off again just now but I just feel so guilty because he was so freaked out but was also trying to cuddle closer to me since I’m supposed to be his mommy. He is my first pet rabbit so I’m not sure if this is something that happens frequently with other house rabbits as well? I give him daily food and try to get him to eat lots of hay (although I don’t think he eats as much as he should, yet I can’t force him to eat it and give him a fresh stack daily). Thank you for the help!!

[Azerane]

Hi there

Dried poop stuck to the tail like a mud pie is not something that is normal. Rabbit poop should be consistently round and firm, not squishy. A diet with too many pellets is often the cause of a poopy but. What are you feeding every day and in what amounts? As you have mentioned, hay is very important, and I’m guessing he is simply eating too many pellets, which means he isn’t hungry enough to want to eat hay. If too many pellets is the cause, reducing pellets will likely solve both problems.

Other causes can be too much of a new food (leafy greens and veggies) that hasn’t been introduced properly. Infection in the gut can also cause mushy poops, though is less likely than simply too many pellets.

[Kaitlin]

Okay I think I probably just need to cut down on his pellets then. What’s an adequate amount to give him daily? I usually just leave his food out for him.

[tobyluv]

Lionheads are normally around 3 pounds. A rabbit that weighs between 2 and 4 pounds shouldn’t get more than 1/8 cup of pellets a day. If he is in that weight range and you are feeding more than that, cut back gradually. He hopefully will naturally eat more hay if his pellet amount has been decreased, but if not, try some other kinds of hay.  Some rabbits prefer softer second cut timothy hay or orchard grass, or any of the other grass hays, over regular timothy.  Some brands of hay are preferred over others too.

[Azerane]

Yep, tobyluv has it. 1/8 cup is plenty for a rabbit his size. My boy weighs 6.6 pounds and only gets 2 tablespoons daily. Sounds like cutting back his pellets will definitely help.

[Author]

Messages