My rabbit is not cleaning herself?

[chickenmama109]

Hi! I have a two year old rabbit! I have been having a problem with her poops! She is not eating the ones she is supposed to and just smushes them everywhere!! She was eating unlimited pellets but I chanced that to a half a cup a day! But she is still not eating the poops most of the time! And know her fur by her lady parts is dirty with some of that poo! I have had to clean her glands down there before and know I have to clean the poop off! And I think she’s too lazy to get down there and eat her poop!! What do I do about this! I know I can’t give her a bath but it’s really hard to clean down there! She hates it and always scratches me! Why is she being so lazy lol! What do I do about it! The other things she eats is unlimited Timothy hayand veggies every now and then! Like sometimes male and Romain lettuce!?

 

[cassie]

Is she too fat? If so, she may not be able to reach. Unlimited pellets is way too much feed unless the rabbit is nursing a litter. It is good you cut back. If I were you, I would cut out the greens for a while and just feed pellets and hay and see what happens. Hopefully someone who knows more about rabbits than I do will chime in. I just raised New Zealands for meat and they never had that problem.

 

[BloomBunny]

I agree with Cassie. I would give less than half cup of the pellets, unless she's a giant breed. Work toward a quarter cup, but no need to upset her.
Unlimited hay.
It could be reproductive problems, but I suspect adjusting her feed will clear it up.
What breed?

 

[chickenmama109]

I agree with Cassie. I would give less than half cup of the pellets, unless she's a giant breed. Work toward a quarter cup, but no need to upset her.
Unlimited hay.
It could be reproductive problems, but I suspect adjusting her feed will clear it up.
What breed?

Thanks!! She is a herlaquin rabbit! She weighs 8 pounds! I don’t think she’s fat! I’ve seen her reach down there! Haha but I’m probably wrong! Thanks for your advice! I will cut down on the greens! And try and get her pellets down and just keep cleaning her glands for her I will let y’all know how everything goes! Thanks!!

 

[BloomBunny]

Thanks!! She is a herlaquin rabbit! She weighs 8 pounds! I don’t think she’s fat! I’ve seen her reach down there! Haha but I’m probably wrong! Thanks for your advice! I will cut down on the greens! And try and get her pellets down and just keep cleaning her glands for her I will let y’all know how everything goes! Thanks!!

Harlequin! I bet she's pretty. Does she have a good personality as well? I've never had a Harlequin.
Some people can tell rabbit condition by looking. To me rabbits are adorable fluff balls. I have to use the fist test to judge condition. If their ribs feel like your knuckles, too skinny; back of the hand, too fat; across the fingers, just right. I think the real problem health—wise is the visceral fat which can press on gut and reproductve organs.
Giving her probiotics wouldn't be amiss. I like to give a tablespoon of canned pumpkin, or any squash you have, for tummy healing.
Watch her reaction next time you give romaine. Iceberg is a bad idea, but some are sensitive to all lettuces. If any (chemical free) dandelions sprout through the snow, give her some. They tend to work wonders.
Keep us posted. (No one will complain if you add pictures)

 

[chickenmama109]

Harlequin! I bet she's pretty. Does she have a good personality as well? I've never had a Harlequin.
Some people can tell rabbit condition by looking. To me rabbits are adorable fluff balls. I have to use the fist test to judge condition. If their ribs feel like your knuckles, too skinny; back of the hand, too fat; across the fingers, just right. I think the real problem health—wise is the visceral fat which can press on gut and reproductve organs.
Giving her probiotics wouldn't be amiss. I like to give a tablespoon of canned pumpkin, or any squash you have, for tummy healing.
Watch her reaction next time you give romaine. Iceberg is a bad idea, but some are sensitive to all lettuces. If any (chemical free) dandelions sprout through the snow, give her some. They tend to work wonders.
Keep us posted. (No one will complain if you add pictures)

Thank you so much for the advice! She does have a good personality but She is always so grumpy lol! It’s actually her second birthday this month! I always try and get her toys and treats but she is so picky and does not eat or play with the toys or treats lol thanks again so much for the advice I will keep you updated! Here are her photos! Her name is Bella!

She’s has huge ears haha she had to grow into them when she was a baby! I’ve had her since she was six weeks old!

 

[ChickenLover08100]

how cute!!

 

[Jowsi002]

She honestly could just be lazy. I've had a variety rabbits and have had just some LAZY rabbits. You can try patting her "lady area" with cornstarch, it will soak up any moisture preventing the poo from sticking. On that note, if you're talking about eating cecotropes, they normally *only* do that at night, and there's a difference between these special turds that they're supposed to eat, and just wet feces. I would be more apt to say, she's probably ingesting enough cecotropes, but that her poo is on the wetter side and that's what you're seeing sticking to her. As BloomBunny mentioned, unlimited hay is important for rabbits, as well as unlimited water.
If you're not giving the same amount of greens or are changing up what greens she's getting frequently, that could also trigger wet poop/diarrhea due to the change.
As far as her glands go, I've seen that as a normal "getting older"/changing hormones thing, or be triggered from an environmental change/stress (new pet, new living space, not enough quiet time, wild animals visiting). Their glads are more to mark their territory.
As far as her kicking you, go slower, take your time and keep her nails trimmed. Rabbits are on pretty much everybody's dinner menu and they know it, so their reaction to any and everything is generally "ahh! I'm under attack!" keeping a hand over her eyes is a great way to keep her calm, and maybe try to look up some videos on youtube to get some tips on how to keep her calm while handling.
Good luck! She's very adorable by the way

 

[chickenmama109]

She honestly could just be lazy. I've had a variety rabbits and have had just some LAZY rabbits. You can try patting her "lady area" with cornstarch, it will soak up any moisture preventing the poo from sticking. On that note, if you're talking about eating cecotropes, they normally *only* do that at night, and there's a difference between these special turds that they're supposed to eat, and just wet feces. I would be more apt to say, she's probably ingesting enough cecotropes, but that her poo is on the wetter side and that's what you're seeing sticking to her. As BloomBunny mentioned, unlimited hay is important for rabbits, as well as unlimited water.
If you're not giving the same amount of greens or are changing up what greens she's getting frequently, that could also trigger wet poop/diarrhea due to the change.
As far as her glands go, I've seen that as a normal "getting older"/changing hormones thing, or be triggered from an environmental change/stress (new pet, new living space, not enough quiet time, wild animals visiting). Their glads are more to mark their territory.
As far as her kicking you, go slower, take your time and keep her nails trimmed. Rabbits are on pretty much everybody's dinner menu and they know it, so their reaction to any and everything is generally "ahh! I'm under attack!" keeping a hand over her eyes is a great way to keep her calm, and maybe try to look up some videos on youtube to get some tips on how to keep her calm while handling.
Good luck! She's very adorable by the way

Thank you so much for the advice!! I really appreciate!!