When to be alarmed about Cecals?

[Jenalynn]

I have had Buzz for  year and I never ever once had seen any of his cecals until this evening…

There is a mat on his 2nd floor  next to one of his littler boxes that will occasionally have a dried poop pellet on since he leaves a couple around the cage- well I was looking in his cage and I seen a clump of the cecals with a little bit of pee on the mat…

This is the first time I ever noticed this – He is eating and drinking and looks fine – should I be alarmed that he didn’t eat them?: and that he left them on the mat with pee which is quite unusual?

 

I am not sure when you should be alarmed – since I never seen my bunnies cecals….

 

 

any advice would be appreciated so I don’t start worrying if its not a big deal

[Sarita]

I would just watch him to see if it continues. It may be that you need to change his diet.

[Jenalynn]

He is eating obow pellets. Tim. Hay, and some greens…. last time I dried to decrease his pellets he had the Gi stasis Emergency vet visit – eek I don’t know how I would change it

[Sarita]

I would talk to your vet about any changes in diet if the cecal problem continues or any change since he’s had stasis.

[RabbitPam]

With a bunny who has a history of stasis it may require more stringent guidelines. Your vet is the best one to tell you what to watch for that is cause for alarm in his particular case.

I used to see lots of cecals, so it doesn’t sound as unusual to me, but that was before you mentioned his history.
Are they still there?

[Beka27]

I wouldn’t worry about one ISOLATED event of leaving cecals. Maybe for some reason he overproduced them that day, and he returned to normal the next day. But if he is still leaving them, then I’d contact your vet and see what else they’d recommend. Typically, an overproduction of cecals will benefit from a reduction in pellets or treats.

What amount of pellets does he get each day and are the Oxbow pellets the timothy ones or alfalfa? Which greens does he get each day?

[Jenalynn]

there were no more cecals after finding the one. He gets about 1/2 cup of Timothy basic Oxbow pellets, then he will get a mix of dandelion greens, turnip greens…romaine… endive. He eats Tim. Hay but it is minimally. He just got off of being free fed because he was a baby and now since he is one – I have decreased the pellets to 1/2c – over time I’d like to decrease it more.
Im hoping it was just nothing. I look through his cage each day to try and fine more but so far have not found anymore.

[TARM]

1/2 cup? My pairs each split 1/4 cup! How big is your bunny?

[Jenalynn]

My other bunny eats 1/8 cup because she LOVES greens and hay. Buzz was eating “free-fed” until he was one- well I knew i had to cut it waaay back when he turned one so i cut him down to 1/4 cup- well that ended up giving him GI stasis – it was too drastic for him – so once we got him better the vet said increase his pellets but not back to free fed- and then very gradually get him down more…. so right now we are starting at 1/2 cup. He is about 4-6 pounds…. i want to decrease it more – but after a $350 Emergency bill I am not decreasing it anymore if he is that sensitive- in a couple weeks Ill go lower than 1/2 cup and HOPE he adapts without any more belly issues

[Jenalynn]

Buzz is not one to eat hay and greens all day like Sweet Pea- he is a bit stubborn

[Balefulregards]

You may have to put your bunny Mom foot down and make the Hay and greens an only choice until his eating habits improve.

I am not an expert on Stasis ( fingers remaining crossed) but my understanding is that the gut is NOT moving which is the issue.

He may pout for his pellets, but once he is hungry enough he will eat the hay. I weaned Coco off her pellets about 8 months ago because she would gobble them like there was no tomorrow and then get cecals EVERYWHERE – and I do mean everywhere – My bed, carpet, on my feet as I walked across them into the hallway. YUCK.

When Jackson entered the family, I gave some pellets again – because he needed them and I was changing his diet from the pellets at the Shelter to a mostly greens and hay combo.

Coco got insta-poopy butt again.

Now, Pellets are treats – like papaya. Every third day or so, I sprinkle about 2 tablespoons in with their hay so they have to root around to find them. Or, I put a small amount in my hand and hand feed them so I am controlling their portions.

I am wondering if you increase the greens a good amount – then leave the hay out for browsing/munching through the day if he won’t give up and eat the hay.

And I understand about stubborn. I think all Bun Parents know the stubborn.

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