dirty bottom

sbarah

For about 3 weeks my rabbit Pearl has had a really dirty bum and tail. She is about 4 years old and very independent, she likes humans but only to have a little stroke and a tickle, not really to be picked up, so she looks after herself very well (she has even fought off a fox before!). I'm worried all the poo on her is a sign that she's poorly? She seems fine apart from this, still hopping about and eating all her food and veggies. Any ideas?

_Jules_

Is she perhaps a little overweight, as this would prevent her from eating the soft stools (so that she can redigest them) and cleaning herself?

Or has she had a change in diet, perhaps too much fresh grass, which has made her a bit loose?

It is important that you keep her clean if she can't clean herself, as otherwise she may suffer from Flystrike in the warmer months.

http://www.darwinvets.com/rabbits/flystrike.htm
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Jules and the Ark

sbarah

Thank you, that's really helpful. She does seem a little bit podgy - I had thought it was winter coat but I think in the cold weather I tend to give her a little more food for warmth energy. I will set about picking some poo off her right away!

sbarah

How the hell do we pick poo off a rabbit? I've got a lot of it off her bottom but it was so matted into the hair that a lot of that came with it - now she's got a little naked patch around her bum which I'm sure must be uncomfortable, and she was very angry about the whole situation. There is still a big lump in her tail which I just can't get off, it is so disturbing for her and she's now growling. I don't want to get her wet but am really struggling to get these last bits of poo off - help!

jabbro

Aww poor bun. Sounds as if she needs to have a soak, that will be the easiest way to get it off. Only trouble is it's a bit late in the day to be bathing bunnies. You really need a warm day - or - if you do it now she needs to be in a warm place indoors so she does not catch a chill until she dries off. Good luck Smile

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Dog: Katie
Rabbit: Buffy and Georgie
Hamster: Kipper

shadylady

i agree wid jabbro, although u can also use a clean cloth and wet it a bit with warm water, and after u have done this and all the feaces is off, check your bunny every day to prevent further mishaps and if nessarcary clean ur rabbits bottom every day...
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kat_9989

I've had the same problem with my bunny be4 and I found the best way without getting her completey drenched was as shady lady says a wet cloth.

Also my bunny has quite long hair so I trimed it down a bit at the back end (dont worry shes not got a bald patch infact its hardy noticeable)and that has made it alot easier for me and her.

To calm her while your cleaning try putting a blanket round her not so shes trapped but just so she feels safe and give her some apple my bunny loves them and hopefully that should make your job alot easier.

hope that helps, let us know how u get on

Fielding

When i had this problem i used babywipes they soften the poo and it comes out onto the wipe and leaves the rabbit quite dry.

Josh

tigger2503

My mum has the same problem with her bun she puts her in a little warm water in a bowl just to help tease the mess out then dries her once its clean. Sometimes it can be because they arnt eating enough hay to firm it up as their other food can be more tasty she changed her onto a pellet that had fibre in which helped a lot.

Twig

Hi,
sorry to hear about your bunny sounds like a diet problem, what do you feed her? Too many people feed unlimited rabbit mix, in particular that darn Russell rabbit rubbish which doesn't provide enough fibre which all buns need.

Rabbits have the longest digestive system of any animal in relation to their size, hence the need for a high fibre diet. Sticky bum is really quite nasty as the risk of flystrike, you really must ensure she is 100% clean AND dry as flies like damp and/or dirty fur to lay their eggs in. Wink

If you feed a lot of dry food, I suggest you cut it down drastically and feed a diet roughly 80% hay, 10-15% veg and 5-10% pellets (1/4 cup per lb). This is what I feed and my vet said she'd never seen buns with bums as clean as theirs. Ideally you should feed nice fresh smelling greenish hay, timothy or meadow hay are fine, but never alfalfa as its too high in calcium.
I prefer to feed pellets rather than a sugary mix, but so long as they hay is right, there shouldn't be too much of a need to switch off from what you are feeding. Personally I feed Science Selective, by the same people as Russell rabbit, although Oxbow bunny basics or Allen and Page pellets are by far the best. If you live near a farm feed shop you can probably buy fresher and cheaper hay as well as Allen and Page pellets. Wink

You may have trouble trying to get her to eat more hay intially, so try to gradually cut down pellets, make no sudden changes. Wink

If you see diarrhoea though, I can't stress enough how important it is that she is seen by a vet ASAP as its very bad for buns and potentiually life threatening.

Also, can I just ask if shes spayed? By 4 an estimated 80% of does have the start of womb cancer, although before any operation she can't be overweight as it increases the risks. Wink

An overweight rabbit isn't great, buns don't overeat, so either her diet is too high in carbs or she isn't getting enough exercise, whats her housing like?