• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

dirty bottom - friends rabbit

FarplaceRescue

FarplaceRescue

Alpha Buck
A friend has a spayed doe with a dirty bottom. Her diet is pretty good - perhaps slightly under 80% hay, but not far off.... with a few pellets and some greens. However, she has a large dewlap, and I think she can't reach.....
does anyone have ideas about how best to advise??
JAN
 
Sounds like she could be over weight?

How much pellets does she have? Exercise?

Reducing her pellets slowly could help with her loosing weight :)

Her bottom will need checking often, what with the warmer weather coming in :)
 
She is kept indoors a lot of the time (at the moment), and mostly in an indoor hutch, so she is probably not getting enough exercise. If she gets more exercise will she lose weight on her dewlap and be better able to clean herself???
jan
 
FarplaceRescue said:
She is kept indoors a lot of the time (at the moment), and mostly in an indoor hutch, so she is probably not getting enough exercise. If she gets more exercise will she lose weight on her dewlap and be better able to clean herself???
jan
Click to expand...

Rabbits need alot of exercise and space, either in a pen/run or free ranging.
Exercise should help shift some weight, but her dewlap will probably remain, though it could reduce in size and she should be able to clean herself.
 
FarplaceRescue said:
She is kept indoors a lot of the time (at the moment), and mostly in an indoor hutch, so she is probably not getting enough exercise. If she gets more exercise will she lose weight on her dewlap and be better able to clean herself???
jan
Click to expand...

It's quite difficult to say. Could she have arthritis as well? There is a possibility that she just has a large dewlap and losing weight won't make a significant difference but equally it could. I have a buck that is prone to having a dirty bottom and I have been told by some vets/vet nurses that he is overweight but a rabbit savvy vet says he isn't overweight but as a dwarf lop his skin is baggy (bred to be like that) and his fur is quite fuffy which makes it difficult for him to reach the poo and then the poo can easily get stuck to the fur. He goes through phases of having this problem and then being okay for a while. He has his rear end/belly shaved to help him, your friend's doe might benefit from the same.
 
There are other problems that can cause this- i would see a vet asap- dirty bums are serious especially in this weather.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
Rabbit geriatric problems - not sure what to do
Replies
5
Views
621
bunny momma
bunny momma
C
Dora’s been poorly for 5 weeks now and we are running out of ideas,any advice welcome
2
Replies
21
Views
2K
Shimmer
S
DemiS
Weepy Eye - What do savvy vets typically do?
Replies
9
Views
1K
InspectorMorse
InspectorMorse
Back
Top