Rabbit diarrhoea

[Csmith9nr]

My 6 month old rabbit has had some diarrhoea problems lately and it’s still ongoing. A couple weeks ago he started doing watery poos near the end of the day then came a bit lethargic couple days later, took him to vets had early signs of gut stasis, was on meds for bit over a week, was fine on meds ate more hay than he ever has and drank a lot too. Been off meds for week now and has done some diarrhoea on and off maybe 2-3 times (not watery just wet and smelly, not balls) but he’s behaving fine, doesn’t seem in pain, eats, drinks, runs about

What do you think it is? Thought it was just signs of post stasis but I dunno????

 

[tonibun]

We really need to know more about what he is eating before we can give you any ideas about the cause. How long have you had Bunny?

 

[Csmith9nr]

Since he was 9 weeks. He gets some veg in the morning, parsley romaine lettuce pepper kale ect ect whatever there is, hay all day and pellets before bed. He’s never been much of a hay eater but since his stasis he eats more. He’s generally a slow eater and doesn’t poo as much as our 4 month rabbit (never has) is kept outside most of the day so gets grass too and likes that

 

[InspectorMorse]

Since he was 9 weeks. He gets some veg in the morning, parsley romaine lettuce pepper kale ect ect whatever there is, hay all day and pellets before bed. He’s never been much of a hay eater but since his stasis he eats more. He’s generally a slow eater and doesn’t poo as much as our 4 month rabbit (never has) is kept outside most of the day so gets grass too and likes that

Is it soft fecal poo he’s now passing or is it unformed cecotrophs?

Poor hay intake will lead to gastrointestinal problems.

How old is he?

Is his ‘normal’ fecal poo round and consistent in size and quantity or is it sometimes oval or misshapen in some other way? Does he ever pass mucous or brown liquid with his fecal poo ?

Is he maintaining a healthy weight ?

 

[Csmith9nr]

I’m not really sure, it may be a bit of both. How do you tell?

He’s nearly 7 months

Hell do the odd tiny one, his poos are generally a bit smaller than our other rabbit but he is a dwarf so does that matter? Otherwise shape is fine. Never any mucus

It’s hard for him to gain weight, he hasn’t been neutered yet because the vets want him to gain weight before it’s done. Last time weight him he was 1274kg though that was in the evening and my mum weight him in the morning same day and he was over 1290. That day he did a runny smelly poo. He’s gradually been gaining weight since we got him but very very slowly (he’s a slow eater)

What’s a good weight for a dwarf lop?

I hope there’s answers help

 

[bunny momma]

Most of my dwarf rabbits weighed between 1 and 1.25 kg. Though I had tiny twin brothers who weighed less than 1kg, and the smaller one was neutered and did well.
Your bunny's gut issues would likely be a concern for surgery.

My bunnies were Netherland dwarfs, not Dwarf Lops.

 

[InspectorMorse]

I’m not really sure, it may be a bit of both. How do you tell?

He’s nearly 7 months

Hell do the odd tiny one, his poos are generally a bit smaller than our other rabbit but he is a dwarf so does that matter? Otherwise shape is fine. Never any mucus

It’s hard for him to gain weight, he hasn’t been neutered yet because the vets want him to gain weight before it’s done. Last time weight him he was 1274kg though that was in the evening and my mum weight him in the morning same day and he was over 1290. That day he did a runny smelly poo. He’s gradually been gaining weight since we got him but very very slowly (he’s a slow eater)

What’s a good weight for a dwarf lop?

I hope there’s answers help

The average weight of a fully grown Dwarf Lop is 2kg-2.5kg. They are not really a ‘Dwarf’ breed, but a small to medium size.

Are you in the UK or the US. The breed standard weights are different in the US.

If you are in the UK are you sure your Rabbit is not a Mini Lop? The maximum weight for a fully grown Mini Lop is 1.6kg, smaller than the Dwarf Lop. The Mini Lop has shorter ears too. In the US I believe the Mini Lop is known as a Holland Lop.


UK Mini Lop




UK Dwarf Lop





USA Holland Lop


Going back to your Rabbit’s GI symptoms, it is necessary to ascertain whether the soft poo you are referring to is Cecal poo or Fecal poo

MediRabbit

It might be useful to read this about how a Rabbit’s digestive system works

The Rabbit Digestive System

As previously mentioned, an insufficient intake of hay will lead to GI tract problems and Dental problems. Lop Rabbits are especially prone to developing dental problems, so it’s really important to insure a good hay based diet is established from weaning onwards.
People often say ‘my Rabbit has 24/7 access to lots of hay’ but that is only helpful if the Rabbit actually eats enough of it. Their diet should be at least 85%-90% hay/grass.

From what you have posted so far I suspect your Rabbit might not be consuming enough hay. So I would consider how you can improve this. There are a wide variety of hays available and so it’s a good idea to try to find varieties that your Rabbit will eat a lot of. Alfalfa hay should only be fed to growing Rabbits. It has a high calcium content and due to the complex nature of calcium metabolism in Rabbits too much dietary calcium can lead to problems with bladder sludge and stones.

Some information about hay here:

Choosing the Best Hay for Your Rabbit

And there is a lot of information about the Dietary needs of Rabbits here:

How to feed rabbits

Click here to find out the ideal proportions of a rabbit's diet. Explore the benefits of grass and hay, buying tips and more.

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Greens, Veg and Herbs

Greens, vegetables and herbs are a vital part of a rabbit's diet. Click here for our recommended list, preparation advice and more.

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Recommended Vegetables and Herbs

Discover recommended vegetables and herbs for your rabbit's diet. Explore expert advice to ensure a healthy and balanced diet for your furry friend. Learn more

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

If a Rabbit is feed too much pelleted feed and veg they won’t eat enough hay.

i would suggest that you take your Rabbit back to the Vet if the abnormal poo problem is ongoing. The Vet should not only re-examine your Rabbit but also have a poo sample sent off for testing to look for any pathogens.

Make sure that you monitor his weight too, weigh him twice a week.

 

[Csmith9nr]

This is him if that helps. We were told at the vet he had the dwarf gene in him. I work in an animal sanctuary and he’s more the size of our Netherlands dwarfs and not our lops so I believe her.

His hay has always been a problem but he’s doing better now. His teeth are fine he gets monthly vet checkups.

Thank you for the info, he’s going to the vets on Tuesday and if he does a runny poo again I’ve told my mum to collect a sample as it’s actually her rabbit I’m just trying to help

 

[Csmith9nr]

I can’t seem to attach a photo…

 

[bunny momma]

I am sorry if I confused you on the weights. My bunnies were netherland dwarfs.
IM gave you wonderful information.