Poopie Paws he WON’T let me clean! :/ :/ :/

[MelM]

Adopted a Holland Lop a couple months ago, he’s 2.5 yrs old. His previous owners were using a tiny litter box with only pine shavings. I switched him to a much larger litter pan lined with a puppy pad, paper pellet litter and topped off with a good amount of hay. I change it every other day or 2nd day (I also add extra hay to it continually). I notice he spends a good amount of time in his litter box (a big eater and drinks a lot too). Now he has poopie paws – this is the 2nd time now 🙁 I would love to help him spot clean the dark brown poop off, but he just won’t let me touch his paws for longer than a second and picking him up is definitely out of the question (he really freaks out). I gave up trying to spot clean them the 1st time and after a few weeks he managed to clean off some of it, but not entirely. He had great looking paws when we adopted him (just slightly light yellow) and I thought our new litter box setup would be better, am I wrong?  I don’t know what to do…I’d really like him to be as clean as possible, especially when he’s hoping around and plays with the kids. Any advice would really be appreciated. I’m a first-time bunny owner!

[Hazel]

Sounds like he might be stepping on excess cecotropes? If so that would mean his diet is too rich. What and how much are you feeding him?

[Susanne]

Hi, other what what Hazel said (diet could be the culprit) I have a few other thoughts. First is he neutered? If not that could help.

I use the exact same litter box set up. I only put a handful of litter in corners but change it out 3x a day. I have 2 rabbits and could maybe get away with 2x, but thinking maybe if you did it daily could help some. I do it also because once they’ve picked thru a section of hay they don’t want half the strands so for me that is a way to get them to eat more (I throw about a third of it away.)

Last thing, although cecotropes are squishy and stinkier, rabbit poop is very clean vs other animals. Since they are vegans. I don’t even find it gross personally and oden pick it up bare handed 😃  Maybe could have bacteria or something if they are sick but I don’t have any knowledge in that area.

[MelM]

Thanks for your replies.

@Hazel he’s 4lb and gets about 1/8 cup of oxbow garden select pellets, about 2 handfuls of fresh veggies and a timothy/ochard grass hay mix unlimited (he prefers the orchard grass and softer strands of timothy).  What do you think?

@Susanne I got him neutered within 2 weeks of adopting him. I should pay closer attention to what’s in the litter pan to see if I notice any cecotropes. My gut is telling me he’s peeing a lot and wets the poop in the pan and since he spends a lot of time in there it soaks into his fur even though I am always topping up exposed poop in the pan with more hay. I’ve never seen him dig in there either.  Should I separate his hay and litter material entirely? I often read it is ideal to have the hay right in the litter pan, but I’m wondering if for this little guy separate would be better (this is what his previous owners did)?

 

[Susanne]

I have one bunny that always pees on the hay, so I could see it soaking the poop pellets and then soaking their feet. Mine sometimes get pee paws and I have to let it go because it’s too hard for me to clean them also. They clean themselves pretty quick.  That’s another reason I just change out the pee pad more often. If yours still uses the litter box with hay separate I think that would be ok! When I first got my male I did that and other than a few poops by the hay he used the litter box separate. He would even use one of those tiny corner pans and I’d put a little hay outside it. It was so easy just dump and replace litter a few times a day! I don’t think most rabbits would use that though and I think he’s happier with current set up.

[MelM]

@Susanne thanks for your input. I think I will revert back to separating the hay + litter and in addition change the litter every day and see how that goes.

In the meantime, if anyone has tips to spot cleaning his paws despite me not being able to pick him up or handle his feet, I’d really appreciate it. Sounds impossible to me, but I thought I’d ask anyways!!  😉

[LBJ10]

Are there actual chunks of poop on his paws? Or are they just stained brown?

[MelM]

I don’t think I see chunks, just a dark brown color like he’s stepped through mud and a darker yellow from urine. Mostly his back paws.

[LBJ10]

I wouldn’t worry about it then. The problem will resolve itself once he is no longer sitting on wet poop. It will take awhile though since the fur will need to grow out.

[MelM]

Since this has happened twice in the past 2 months, do you suggest I use separate containers for his litter material and hay?  I have them together in the same litter pan right now.  Thank a lot for your help!

[LBJ10]

I always say, if something isn’t working then try something else. It can’t hurt anything.

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