Please Help! What is protruding from my rabbit’s bottom?? PHOTOS ADDED!

[Ivana]

Hello everyone, I urgently need help identifying an unknown mass that’s protruding from my male rabbit’s bottom. About 3 weeks ago, I first noticed that right next to the bunny’s anus was a big piece of dried poop. Since it seemed stuck to the fur, I gently pried it away with a damp cloth. That’s when I noticed that the poop had come out of a small hole or opening, located right to the left of his anus. This hole closed up when the poop was removed, but within a few <g class="gr_ gr_224 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="224" data-gr-id="224">hours</g> there was a new oversized poop in the same place. There was no inflammation or swelling, and there didn't seem to be any pain. Other than that problem, everything else was okay with my bunny - he was eating well, pooping normally, playing, running around, etc.</p>

Fast forward to yesterday, I noticed that there was redness and inflammation around the dry piece of poop that is lodged inside the opening. When I touched around it gently, my bunny seemed very uncomfortable and so I assume it must now hurt to the touch. When you touch it, you can feel a protrusion under the inflamed area. The dry poop seems lodged in there and I don’t want to remove it again, especially since it’s now inflamed. One other thing is that his poop seems smaller than usual and also is sometimes connected (almost like with a string). Other than that though, he seems to be pooping normally and with the same frequency as before.

I will hopefully be taking him to the veterinarian tomorrow or the day after, but in the <g class="gr_ gr_25 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="25" data-gr-id="25">meantime</g> I would appreciate any advice or help in identifying what exactly his ailment could be. I have no idea what is going on - is his poop coming out from two different places? Would that even be possible? I have been googling many different things and what has come up includes anal gland/sac rupture, anal sac abscess, anal fissure, polyps, etc. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anything that completely explains or identifies my rabbit's condition, so I thought that I would try here. Any advice or help in clarifying what is going on with my bunny would be really appreciated. Thanks!</p>

[MountainBuns]

I do know that bunnies have anal glands, that might be what you’re describing

Here’s a link to a website about them:

http://brighteyessanctuary.org/educ/rabbit-info-scent-glands.html

[Ivana]

Sorry that there is no picture. I tried to upload the photo but couldn’t because of the file size being too large. As soon as I figure out how to decrease the photo, I will upload and post it right away

[Q8bunny]

Yep. Sounds like clogged anal glands to me too.

[Q8bunny]

You can soften them up with a warm, damp washcloth, and then use a cotton swab dipped in olive oil to gently work the dry crusty dark bit (the clog) out of each of the two little slits on either side of bun’s anus.

[Ivana]

Ok, so I was finally able to upload the photos. These were taken on the day that I posted 4 days ago. Since then the inflammation has gone down quite a bit and the area isn’t red anymore. However, the area around is still a little bit swollen and when I touch underneath the raised area, I can feel a hard bump beneath it. If you look at the photos I posted, maybe you will get a better understanding of what I’m talking about. I think that maybe I’m not describing it accurately enough. Fortunately, his behavior has continued to be normal in every other aspect. I’ve been cleaning up the area daily with witch hazel and applying Polysporin ointment. 

I have managed to save up some money and I will be taking him to the vet tomorrow evening or the morning after at the latest, but in the meantime, I would really appreciate if you guys could look at the photos and let me know what you think the problem could be. Really, any advice or help would greatly be appreciated. 

I know some of you have mentioned anal gland blockage, but I have cleaned my rabbit’s scent glands with a q-tip and mineral oil before and the area where this problem is located isn’t where the anal scent glands that I cleaned were (if you look at the first photo, you can see his anal scent glands – which are definitely due for a cleaning – and the protrusion/inflammation right beside it) or maybe I’m wrong? Maybe it’s actually something like an infected anal gland or abscess? I honestly have no idea what this could be. I have googled so many things and nothing seems to describe the condition that my bunny has. 

So really any help or advice in identifying what this problem could be would be greatly appreciated. Thanks  

[Ivana]

photos are below. i apologize for the repeated postings. i haven’t yet figured out how to delete them

[Ivana]

[Ivana]

photos are below

[jerseygirl]

You’re right, it isnt where the anal glands are. It does look like a wound. Is there a sort of hole in the centre?

I suspect this might be cuterebra/warble and it could have been the larvae you removed, not poop.

It definitely looks like it needs vet attention.

[Q8bunny]

Thanks for the photos. I second the vet, just to be on the safe side. But I commend you on doing such a great job acting on this.

[Author]

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