Showing signs of megacolon?

[Rusti]

I have two Holland Lop does, 3 months old. Both eat the same diet and are very good eaters. (I’ll list their diet below in case that helps.) However, their poops are very different. I’m worried one of them may be showing signs of megacolon.

As I monitor each day, it’s easy to tell their droppings apart. Willow has typical small, round, darker droppings. Scout has some regular droppings but about a third of them are double the size and irregularly shaped. They’re also much lighter than Willow’s. I’m seeing more of these large as she is getting older.

She recently had constipation and for about an hour she wouldn’t eat even her favorites and didn’t want to be touched. She was hunched and not herself. Thankfully as my husband ran to the store for gas drops, she passed a very large dropping. It was probably the size of 6 regular droppings. After that she was eating lots and running around again.

Could this be megacolon? Does something in their diet need to change? I’m worried to find her like that ever again!

 

Hay: 2nd cut timothy hay from SPS. I add a little alfalfa hay once a day..

Pellets: Oxbow young rabbit food, about an 1/8 cup each.

Veggies: They’re just starting to eat veggies. Right now it’s a small amount of parsley or basil from the garden.

Water: They drink plenty of water from a bowl throughout the day.

[DanaNM]

Hmmmm, it’s hard to know. Those poops don’t look so huge that they raise strong alarm bells for me, but it is something to keep an eye on. If she continues to have chronic stasis issues, then Megacolon could be at play.

With them being only 3 months old they should be getting more pellets. Many recommend unlimited at that age. If she is a megacolon bun, some people have also found these bunnies do best on an unlimited pellet diet. It sounds counterintuitive, but megacolon bunnies do not have a properly functioning cecum, so they have trouble keeping weight on, and the constant supply of high nutrient food helps them.

This page is one of the most detailed sources I’ve found on megacolon:  https://www.vgr1.com/megacolon/

Keep in mind that even if your rabbit has the double En gene, megacolon is still quite rare. Rather than worry too much over it, it would be good to track your bunnies weights (they should still be growing), keep feeding a good diet, and keep it in mind if you start seeing more symptoms (chronic stasis/gas, more huge egg shaped poops, weight loss and muscle wasting). The diet right now looks good, aside from the low pellet amount. Ensuring good hydration is also important.

Also, I’m obligated to mention that young bunnies are often mis-sexed and then you can end up with unwanted pregnancies. Bunnies can also start fighting when puberty hits, so be prepared to separate them until they are spayed if you notice any sort of hormonal behavior (would be good to check for testicles regularly, just in case) or fighting.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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