Producing excess cecotropes... diet change?

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This topic has 12sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 4 months ago by Deleted User.

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- 12/15/2017 at 8:38 AM
  Deleted User
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  In the past week or two Bombur seems to have started producing extra cecotropes. His diet hasn’t changed at all. I know he has a sensitive tummy in general, but this making me want to change his diet a little, as they’re literally everywhere sometimes. He’s a few days shy of 9 months old, and he’s 5 pounds. He gets unlimited Timothy hay, 1/8 cup of Oxbow adult pellets at 5:30 am, 1.5 cups of greens at 6:30pm, and usually 2-3 times a week either a baby carrot or an Oxbow treat. Should I cut out greens for a while or reduce them? Should I up his pellets to 1/4 cup daily in place of less greens? If I lessen his greens intake, is it okay to mix in some of the Oxbow garden select pellets with his normal ones so he can still taste the greens? I just need to make sure I don’t need to take another trip with little man to the vet with GI issues, as we’ve done that enough.
- 12/15/2017 at 9:37 AM
  Deleted User
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  I would start with modifying pellets since they are richer than the veggies. Maybe just give him 1 tablespoon of pellets and see how that goes?
- 12/15/2017 at 9:38 AM
  Deleted User
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  He won’t be happy about that though!
- 12/15/2017 at 9:55 AM
  Luna
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  Could any of the extra cecals belong to Asriel too? I agree with BN that I would adjust the pellets first. Since Bombur is producing excess cecals, I wouldn’t increase the amount of pellets, even If you cut down on his greens. Just make sure that when you start decreasing/cutting things out of his diet that he eats a good share of hay. Also, since he has a previous history of tummy issues, dietary adjustments might need to be made slower than normal.
- 12/15/2017 at 10:09 AM
  Deleted User
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  Thanks guys! I know they’re not Asriel’s because I sweep after each turn and it’s only after Bombur’s turns do I find them. I always adjust his diet very slowly, so that’ll be fine. I’ll start lowering his pellets slowly, and if that doesn’t help then I’ll start with the greens. I was thinking greens cause that’s when I notice it happens the most. After his pellets he’s fine, but when he has his nightly salad they start up about an hour later.
- 12/15/2017 at 10:12 AM
  Deleted User
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  Oh and he’s constantly munching hay! So that’s never an issue ? I leave the hay bag open when they’re out and he’ll always stick his head in it and eat.
- 12/15/2017 at 10:12 AM
  Deleted User
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  Well, I think that they usually produce the cecotropes later in the evening, so I don’t know if we can necessarily make the association with what they ate last. When bunnies eat, some of the food is diverted to the cecum and it kind of “ferments” there and is mixed with bacteria to help break down cellulose. Then in the evening, it goes back through the colon and comes out for second dinner (hobbit joke! ha)
  
  So it’s entirely possible that the pellets are still the culprit!
- 12/15/2017 at 10:22 AM
  Deleted User
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  It’s interesting all the random facts we learn as bun owners… especially about their poop and digestive habits! That’s good know. I think I’ll do that then with the pellets. Thanks BN! And I totally appreciate your Hobbit joke ?
- 12/15/2017 at 10:23 AM
  sarahthegemini
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  5584 posts
  I would also suggest cutting down on pellets first. If he still produces excess then I would look at cutting down the veggies. First the quantity and if that still doesn’t help, I would try process of elimination and see if there’s one particular green that’s the trigger.
- 12/15/2017 at 12:05 PM
  Deleted User
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  Good idea! Thanks for the help!
- 12/15/2017 at 1:28 PM
  Deleted User
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  Which one of your little fellas is the broken tort? Every time I see him in your avatar, he reminds me of little Quincy
- 12/15/2017 at 2:11 PM
  Deleted User
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  That one is my little shy guy Asriel. I instantly fell in love with him on the breeder’s website and knew I had to have him. His chestnut color comes in more all the time. He used to be pretty white with a little of the chestnut on his back.
  Bombur was actually an unplanned surprise. We were supposed to get a girl from the same litter as Asriel because my husband fell in love with her black tort color. However, the breeder sent us home with Bombur instead and didn’t realize it till the next day. At that point though, Bombur had already charmed us by falling asleep on both our chests that night.
- 12/15/2017 at 2:16 PM
  Deleted User
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  awww!! bunny snuggles are the best!
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