New rescue from RSPCA - just asking for experiences

[Griff]

Hi all

I’ve rehomed a gorgeous boy last week from my local RSPCA. He’s 4.5 and I am looking to bond him to be 5 year old girl (after my old boy Jake passed away a few weeks ago aged 10).

He’s in really good health. A huge hay eater, drinks plenty water from a bowl. His poos are the best I’ve seen (large, round, good colour. Completely litter trained. And sooo calm. Let’s you stroke him, settled him immediately, no anxiety. Can’t believe how lucky we are - I’m smitten

He’s been at RSPCA around 6 weeks with regular checks from vets. He was already neutered and microchipped, and recently had his vaccinations (around 2 weeks ago).

The only thing that came up is he has some wet cecotropes (usually in a morning - you can see some remaining watery cecotrope on a towel). He is immaculately clean so clearly is still cleaning his rear end and eating any other cecotropes.

The vets at RSPCA spotted this so he’s already been on a hay only diet for 4 weeks. He also had a couple courses of fibreplex. And a course of panacur.

I think he just needs settling in a loving environment and I am keeping him on hay only until I see he has no soft wet ones. I hope his system may re-work itself in a few weeks.

However, I’m intrigued to see what others have experienced. He is so bright, happy, looks to have been well looked after, ideal weight.
Could it be he was previously fed a wrong diet which led to this - if so, I would think he would be over weight and be fussy with hay!
Or could it be the stress of a new environment at RSPCA etc. (although their homing was lovely).

Ive only ever seen soft ceceotropes which are soft and sticky and usually get trapped in fur (one of my girls occasionally) and it is the odd time when something happens for 1/2 days. Not seen this consistency before and frequency.

Any previous experience of cecel type problems would be appreciated.

Had 7 rabbits now over many years and many bonds. So was happy to take him on (and the possible vet bills if this doesn’t improve!). Very used to unhealthy buns and their care. As us bunny mummy’s are. But this is an intriguing one!

Photos added for cuteness

 

[Omi]

He does look and sound to be a super little bunny. It also sounds as though his digestion is otherwise OK.

Usually this issue is diet-related, which could be a certain type of pellet food or even small quantities of fruit. I don't think that would necessarily have resulted in him being overweight. But if that were the case, I would have anticipated that after 4 weeks of just hay, it should have settled down if diet had been the cause. I would doubt that it's the stress of rehoming either, but it's always possible, although again I would have hoped it would have settled down by now if so.

It appears that the rspca vet hasn't established a definite cause, but I think that if I were you I would consider taking him to your vet maybe with a sample of the wet cecotrope. As it's continuing I think I would want to exclude an infection and so would request that the sample be sent away for analysis. Has the issue lessened at all since you've had him?

 

[Griff]

He does look and sound to be a super little bunny. It also sounds as though his digestion is otherwise OK.

Usually this issue is diet-related, which could be a certain type of pellet food or even small quantities of fruit. I don't think that would necessarily have resulted in him being overweight. But if that were the case, I would have anticipated that after 4 weeks of just hay, it should have settled down if diet had been the cause. I would doubt that it's the stress of rehoming either, but it's always possible, although again I would have hoped it would have settled down by now if so.

It appears that the rspca vet hasn't established a definite cause, but I think that if I were you I would consider taking him to your vet maybe with a sample of the wet cecotrope. As it's continuing I think I would want to exclude an infection and so would request that the sample be sent away for analysis. Has the issue lessened at all since you've had him?

Thank you Omi. The vet did say they couldn’t get to a definite issue.

We have only had him 5 days, so probably a bit too early to see if it improves. It’s strange as it’s quite small amounts but is daily. So not on/off each day. Like it’s a constant small issue.

I did think I would let him settle a week and monitor him. Then take him to my normal vet’s to do a full health check. I agree a sample sounds a good idea.
Clearly don’t want to stress him too much early days - and he is a really healthy, happy bunny in general.

They said he was ok when he first got there and they noticed it after a couple weeks. Which seems odd. I do wonder if he was outdoors before and in a house of other pets / rabbits (they did infer that) as he was overjoyed within 2 mins of being at ours. He ran out of the carrier and just settled immediately. Outdoors living, big hutch and run, attention, female rabbit close to him. He seemed to settle so quick I did wonder if he was a bit stressed being indoors and alone. But it’s hard to know!