Let’s explore the difference between diarrhea and soft cecotropes, rabbits’ diarrhea causes, and the treatment of diarrhea in rabbits at home and with your veterinarian. It’s time to talk about rabbit poop!
Rabbit poop 101
Rabbit feces should usually look like solid, round pellets. Diarrhea in rabbits is usually watery and loose, rather than discrete balls. It can be a crust around their anus or on their hind legs.
Your rabbit also produces cecotropes, pieces of stool that form inside the cecum, an outer branch of the intestine. As gross as it sounds, rabbits eat cecotropes to get extra nutrients. For example, cecotropes are high in vitamin B, which rabbits do not make themselves.
It is important to distinguish between normal stools and cecotropes because cecotropes can be slightly softer. Also, there are different causes of soft regular stools and soft stools.
9 Causes of Diarrhea in Rabbits and Treatment
1. GI Stasis
GI stasis is one of the most important health problems that plague pet rabbits. This condition is not usually associated with diarrhea but can be for some rabbits. With GI stasis, the contraction of the rabbit’s intestines is reduced, so food does not pass easily. Due to decreased motility, the intestinal bacteria also become unbalanced.
GI stasis is often painful and can cause gas. Treatment includes pain medication, fluids for constipation, and GI motility medications. Since GI stasis is usually related to rabbits not getting enough fiber, treatment usually involves adding plenty of hay.
2. Intestinal parasites
Rabbits are prone to contracting a number of intestinal parasites. These parasites include:
Coccidia is the most common intestinal parasite in rabbits. Young rabbits are especially at risk. A rabbit with intestinal parasites may show no symptoms but may have diarrhea.
Treatment depends on the type of parasite. Your vet will diagnose them based on a physical exam and a bowel exam, and treatment may include worms for coccidia or specific antibiotics, such as Albon.
3. Antibiotics
Your veterinarian should be very careful when prescribing antibiotics for your rabbit. Some antibiotics are not strictly recommended in rabbits because they disrupt the normal population of gut bacteria, which can lead to diarrhea.
Rabbit veterinarians generally do not recommend specific antibiotics for rabbits, including:
If antibiotics are causing your rabbit’s diarrhea, they need to be seen by a veterinarian experienced with rabbit medicine as soon as possible. Your rabbit will likely need supportive care, such as fluids and a critical maintenance diet.
4. Infections
Your rabbit can suffer from viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Some of these can cause diarrhea.
A virus causes hemorrhagic disease in rabbits. Infected rabbits often die suddenly and may show signs of bleeding. Rabbits that do not die quickly may have diarrhea and neurological symptoms.
Bacterial infection can cause peritonitis, which is usually painful and can cause infected rabbits to exhibit GI symptoms. Certain bacterial infections can cause devastating gastrointestinal symptoms in rabbits, eg E. coli, Salmonella, And Clostridium piliforme.
The course of treatment will be decided by your veterinarian based on either a tentative or confirmed diagnosis. Your rabbit may need a culture to determine the cause of the infection. Treatment may include supportive care, antibiotics, and pain medication.
5. Mucoid Enteropathy
Mucoid enteropathy is a condition in which mucus accumulates inside the intestines. Unfortunately, this is not a well-understood condition. Pathogens, diet, and even stress can play a role.
There are a few treatment options, but the prognosis for rabbits is poor:
6. Food
Feeding rabbits a diet that is not high in fiber is a quick way to cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and other problems such as GI stasis. You’ll want to make sure they have plenty of weed and a limited number of pills. Make sure the fresh fruit and vegetables they get are not high in moisture or sugar: both can upset the gut.
For infected rabbits, you will need to increase their hay intake immediately. Make sure you are only using alfalfa hay if directed by your veterinarian because it contains more protein and carbohydrates than your rabbit would normally need. It may cause GI problems.
7. Toxin
Unfortunately, some many potentially toxic plants and chemicals may be around your home. Some can cause diarrhea in your rabbit. Examples of plants you should be aware of:
If you find that your rabbit has ingested a potentially poisonous plant or household compound such as a cleaner or poison, you need to contact your veterinarian immediately. The type of treatment depends on what your little Hooper has gotten. Treating your rabbit can be more difficult than treating a dog because rabbits do not and cannot vomit, so there is no way to get the poison out of their system.
8. Chronic diseases
Some diseases are associated with GI symptoms such as rabbit’s diarrhea or GI stasis. Dental disease can cause your rabbit to stop eating, setting them up for GI stasis.
In case of gum disease, your doctor will need to treat the affected teeth. To ensure everything is okay, your veterinarian should conduct a complete physical examination, which should include an oral examination. Some animals need to have their teeth extracted or trimmed to make them more comfortable to eat.
9. Dirty Bottom Syndrome
Dirty bottom syndrome in rabbits is associated with diarrhea or mild cecotropes. One of the main reasons for this condition is not getting enough fiber. Rabbits are also particular about their grooming.
If your rabbit has dental disease, it may have the dirty bottom syndrome, which is painful to eat. With dental disease, they can not eat their cecotropes.
Your veterinarian will need to take a detailed history and then perform a thorough physical exam to determine the cause. A dirty bottom will cause some digging, and treatment will depend on your veterinarian’s diagnosis.
What about soft Cecotropes?
If it’s just your rabbit’s soft sacrotropes, you’ll usually have to guess what your furry friend is eating. Some examples of foods that can contribute to mild psychotropics are:
If you can identify one of these causes, you can often eliminate it from the diet to help get your rabbit’s gut health back on track.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rabbits Diarrhea Causes
Can stress cause diarrhea in rabbits?
Stress can cause diarrhea in rabbits. Unfortunately, it can take up to a week for rabbits to develop diarrhea secondary to stress, so pinpointing the trigger can be difficult.
There are several ways that stress might lead to diarrhea in rabbits. First, adrenaline slows down intestinal motility, which can lead to GI stasis. If rabbits are not eating their cecotropes, the cecum can become less acidic or even more alkaline. This change in acidity leads to dysbiosis or changes in the gut microflora.
Will feeding my rabbit cause diarrhea?
Feeding your rabbit a variety of foods can cause diarrhea. High-sugar fruit or other foods high in carbohydrates can cause the population of “good” bacteria in the gut to overpopulate the “bad” bacteria.
If you are offering a treat, it should be in small amounts (typically, less than 10% of the dose). Overfeeding causes rapid changes in your rabbit’s diet and can cause diarrhea.
Result
Rabbits are curious creatures, so you have to watch what they eat. If you start to notice loose stools with your rabbit, contact your veterinarian for an exam, especially if they are young or old, as they are at a higher risk of having a weakened immune system. While waiting for your appointment, make sure your rabbit eats a complete and balanced diet.