Please help new bunny owner

[Holland13]

I just got a Holland lop. I jus brought him home a week ago. This is the first time I have ever owned a rabbit. He is 8 weeks old. He has been a pretty chill bunny. I left him alone for a couple of days let him get used everything. He loves it when I put him take him out of his cage and put him in the play area I set up for him. Everytime I open the cage he gets excited.
But the problem is every morning when I wake up to clean his cage. I see multiple cecotropes in the litter box or on the cage floor but some of them just look like a big pile of slim with a half formed cecotrope. His regular pellet poo has been fine. I have looked online for things that could cause it.

I am concerned because I don’t know what to do?
Somethings I read said it was normal other things said he could be dying.
I gues I was just hoping to find out if this is normal. Or if I should rush him to the vet.

He has been super active ever since I got him. He drinks a lot of water and is eating normally.

[Wick & Fable]

Can you explain what diet your rabbit is on? What are you feeding him, how much, and what does he have access to when (in terms of a bowl of pellets, veggies, hay…)

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.

[Harley&Thumper]

Are you feeding him alfalfa hay and alfalfa based pellets? I made that mistake with my baby bunny and had to deal with the excess cecotropes until I switched over to regular timothy hay.

[Holland13]

I am feeding him Timothy hay. I am also feeding him the pellets that the rabbitry gave me. They are Purina show pellets. I am giving him a little under 2 oz of the pellets a day.

[Wick & Fable]

So we ask about diet because the presence of excess cecotropes usually means excess nutrients in the diet.

2oz is about 1/4cup, and since he’s 8 weeks old, you may be able to lessen that a bit. My Wick is 2lbs and 2 years old, and he gets 1/8 cup.
Now it is important for young rabbits to get a larger amount of pellets than usual (not limited) because they are growing and need the nutrients, but the excess cecotropes may be a sign that your rabbit is getting too much, so limiting down may be a healthy choice.

What are your thoughts? It’s also great that he has timothy hay. Be sure to encourage hay appetite as much as you can! Spacing out pellet feeding time/presentation time (once a day or twice a day at 12hr intervals (8AM and 8PM)) helps with that.

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.

[Holland13]

Thank you so much for the advice. I will give it a try to see how it goes…. just a follow up question would the excess nutrients be a cause for the sliminess of them. The part that was most concerning for me was the fact that some of his cecotropes have a little puddle of slim around them.

[Holland13]

Just to give you guys an update, I called the vet they said to just cut back on pellets for a bit and monitor him. He is still super energetic as all ways.

[Maddie and Poppie]

I have a 7mo old holland lop! I understand completely what is happening. My bun Poppie was the same way! I called my vet and explained that we feed her oxbow young rabbit food with alfalfa hay like the rabbitry instructed. They told us to keep the young rabbit food for a little longer and switch to Timothy hay . Within a week or so the problem should resolve!

[Wick & Fable]

Sorry I didn’t notice your follow up!

Ceco juice is pretty common, and there are very squishy cecos and ones that are the bunches of grapes (I’ve seen Wick eat both). So the mushiness is a result of that fermentation process. I wouldn’t be too concerned unless you see lots of it or it looks more like diarrhea than normal poop!

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.

[Author]

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