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Dirty bottom ...

tanya_306

tanya_306

Alpha Buck
When I went out to feed Peter and the girls this morning I noticed that Peter was grumpy. So I went back outside to find him still grumpy. I picked him up and gave him kisses, which he loved but then noticed he had matted poop all around his bottom area. He was not like that yesterday morning - I didn't check his bottmon last night.

I took him straight into the house and soaked sheets of paper towel and tried to wipe as much of the poop off as possible. Most of it is now gone but he has a yucky looking belly - from being wet I think.

However, he still has some poop and I have no idea what has caused this. He has been bonding with two girls over a period of 3 weeks and is now living with them full time. I bought them a bigger cage and run so they can all live together. They all moved into the new house on Saturday afternoon.

At night he looks a bit sad, so I have given him his blanket! He used to come in the house at night and live in a very small indoor cage (advertised as large, but isn't!). Maybe he is missing that? I thought rabbit company and much more space would be better for him!?

Any ideas??

Thanks,

Tanya:wave:
 
Firstly it is essential that you get him completely clean and dry as he will be a VERY high risk for flystrike.

He may not be eating his caecotrophs and is sitting on them because he is feeling stressed. Are you CERTAIN the girls are not bullying him ?

The fact that he is grumpy and mucky means there is DEFINITELY something wrong. Possibilities are stress, Dental problems, dietary issues (too much protein/carbs not enough fibre) or any pain making mobility a problem.

My main concern initially is the very high flystrike risk and I strongly advise you to get him completely clean and dry. Then I'd get him checked over by a Vet and re-asses the interaction he has with the girls.
 
Last edited:
Rabbits are creatures of habit and any change to their routine can throw them slightly off til they get used to it.
Have you changed their diet recently or fed them any new veg in last couple of days? Or fed them more / less of anything?
 
Another thought in addition to the questions above is, is he eating more of the dried food than the others?
 
His diet has not changed and he has all the same bedding and litter etc as he did in his indoor cage.

When he spent the day time only with the girls he seemed fine - now that he has moved in he seems depressed. When I say moved in, they have all moved into a new cage.

I have checked him this evening and he is not covered in more poop but he is red around his bits and it still doesnt look as clean as usual - he has a white tummy.
 
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