Pooping everywhere….

[EmmaG]

My dunny Dasher just got over having a bowel obstruction. He had diarrhea last night and when I woke up this morning I found regular looking poop all over his cage. I mean great. I’m glad he’s feeling better but why isn’t be pooping in his liter box? He’s had no trouble and no accidents until now?

I have two theories. One, when he had diarrhea last night I couldn’t get him all clean so his butt was still poopy. It looks like it may have gotten on the carpet in a few spots. Could it be that he is smelling the old poop from last night on the carpet and thinking ‘Oh great I can go here.” If that’s the case then I’ll put everything in the washer.

Or two, could he possibly be grossed out by his literbox? I changed it once last night but he had more diarrhea and I didn’t get a chance to change it till now.

Either way any advice is appreciated!

 

 

 

 

[Sarita]

Well, rabbits really don’t get diarrhea – if they do it is deadly.

Do you mean he was treated for stasis from a vet when you talk about a bowel obstruction?

I think if he’s been ill then you need to not worry about him not using his litter box and give him a few days to recover.

I hope you are still seeing the vet if you have concerns with the “diarrhea”.

Rabbits usually overproduce their cecals and get “poopy butt” when they are overweight or are not on a proper diet.

[RabbitPam]

I expect he couldn’t control his poops both during the messy ones and with the ones afterward. He just may have felt better, and let loose where he was. He has been ill, and unless he is really fine this weekend, I would watch carefully for a new incident of poopy butt and if he does that again, call your vet.

Yes, there is a bit of cleaning that needs to be done to help him feel better. A clean litter pan will help. Also, wherever he made a mess on carpet or outside the litter box, you can clean it with a solution of 50/50 white vinegar and water. That will get the smell out so he stops being attracted to those spots.

As for his butt leaving traces of poo, just get a soft cloth and dampen it a little, then gently wipe his butt and feet. It should take off the excess and he will want to clean himself after you, which will also make him feel better. Bunnies don’t like to be dirty, but shouldn’t be given full baths either. They clean themselves, but sometimes can use a little help.

Hope he feels better soon!

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