Rabbit Poo Dilemma

[NGT ANGL]

My sister has a rabbit that she has a question about. She asked if I would ask the BYC folks what to do about when the rabbit gets a large mass of poop stuck to its butt? The rabbit HATES water (at least fifi the rabbit does) and wet wipes only do but so much. My sister seems to think that a little got stuck in the fur and then it just built up after that. The mess doesn't seem to be affecting the pooping (my sister says there is still poop in her litter box and other places in the cage that she sees). The rabbit doesn't appear to be sick at all. The poop that my sister sees around the cage is well formed; however there are some clumps around here and there so maybe sometimes it is a little looser, but not diarrhea and most is well formed. So after maybe TMI, the question is how to get the poop cleaned off the rabbits butt? Thanks for any advice anyone can give!

 

[cafarmgirl]

I once had a rabbit who would do this if she got to many greens or to much grass. And I would have had to anesthetize her to try to bath her, she fought that much. It does get matted into the fur really badly so I ended up having somebody help by holding her and then just snipping it all off with sissors.

Feeding plenty of grass or timothy hay really helps prevent it.

 

[BarbK]

I dont recommend using scissors you could accidentally snip more than fur. If you have them use clippers to get under and cut close to the skin under the mass. You could also stick the rabbits hinny in the bath tub for the mass to loosen in water even though it doesnt like it. then after it is off you can wash any wound the mass may have caused. Even thought the mess doesn't look like it is hurting anything it can cause irritation and sores on the skin. Flies also like to lay eggs in it and maggots will then be living on the bunny.

 

[NGT ANGL]

Thank you all for your responses! I have forwarded them to my sister and she sends her thanks also!

 

[Toast n Jelly]

I have a rabbit that has cecals stuck to her fur regularly. She's a Lionhead with long, fine fur. I never wash it off as it would have to be every other day or so and that wouldn't be a good thing.

I carefully put my fingers under the mass and clip it off. You must always feel that you are not near the skin when you cut or clip.
If it's too close to the skin then wait until it grows out then clip.

The cecals are the soft grapelike poop that they usually ingest to get the much needed nutrition (vitamins etc.) from. The fecals are the round firm poops that you find on the floor. (a lot on the floor if they are not neutered and trained to a litter box

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