Rabbit thumping and producing large amounts of cecotropes?

[lunalove]

Hi everyone,  my otherwise extremely happy bunny thumped several times at me and my boyfriend tonight when we entered the sitting room.  We also noticed that there was a large amount of cecotropes (the long ‘corn-on-the-cob’ soft poops) on the floor – about 7 produced in two hours.  I haven’t fed him anything unusual in the past 48 hours so I’m a bit concerned. 

At this moment he is quite happy, running about the place and munching on a willow basket, and is no longer thumping at us.  Was he just annoyed that he wasn’t getting enough attention whilst my boyfriend and I were out at dinner?  Or is he trying to tell us he is ill? 

In the past there have been occasions where he has thumped at me a little whilst i am on the laptop (maybe three times in the 3 months I have owned him), but nothing like today.  He’s a very happy bunny – lots of toys, things to chew on, a two storey cage that he adores, fresh veggies and gourmet pellets, and a bunny girlfriend!  I have no idea what it could be :/

Thanks in advance for any replies x

[Elrohwen]

That’s a large amount of cecotropes – I think a vet visit is probably in order to make sure there’s nothing wrong with him.

As for the thumping, it could just be that he heard a noise or you somehow startled him so he thumped. Sounds like a normal bunny.

[lunalove]

Yeah it was a massive amount. he just came to say hi to me on the sofa and pooped on it (as he always does!! haha) and his droppings are nice hard, round pellets again. I’ll monitor him overnight and phone a vet in the morning.
It’s so weird though! He never thumps. He seems happy now though, he just did a massive binky haha.

[Stickerbunny]

Sometimes too rich a diet can cause a bun to produce too many cecotropes, what is his diet like ?

The thumping just sounds like he heard/saw something that upset him. Or maybe boyfriend has a weird smell he didn’t like?

[lunalove]

I give the bunnies some fresh food every day (examples include coriander, basil, parsley, red/green bell pepper, cucumber, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, celery), unlimited timothy hay (the one i have now is infused with marigold and dandelion), a fenugreek crunchie treat, a little of this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boredom-Breaker-Naturals-Dandelion-Delight/dp/B0026RRUIK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1327879347&sr=8-7 and some pre-bagged food from my local pet store (I’m not sure exactly what’s in it but it’s the Excel brand)

Am I maybe giving them too much? His poops are usually perfect, it was just tonight that he produced a lot of cecetropes.

Nah can’t be, the boyfriend is always over – the bunnies adore him. He just thumped again right now

[Elrohwen]

What quantity of pellets does he get? It’s possible he’s just getting too much, though it worries me that his diet hasn’t changed and he’s having these issues all of a sudden.

[Rei]

I can’t say much for the extra poops, cuz I’m not sure, but as for the thumping, there is nothing to worry about at all. Bunnies thump all the time they are just trying to communicate that they are startled, annoyed, want you to leave them alone, or something along those lines. Nothing to worry about as far as the thumping Let us know what the vet has to say if you decide to take him I’m curious.

[Author]

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