You see it more often in young rabbits, particularly those transitioning from weaning. Since rabbits are prey animals, they do not like to advertise when they are not feeling well. She consumes the cecotropes as they leave the rectum. Their smell is pungent (a kind of smelly rabbit poop), and have a high amount of cecal bacteria that are beneficial. Cecotropes are flat, round and dark brown soft poops clustered together into what looks a lot like a blackberry. However, if you are interested in exploring the topic further, check out this informative guide by Christie Taylor, Ph.D. Dr. Taylor's Ph.D is in biochemistry and molecular biology and she is a long time House Rabbit Society educator and contributor to various journals. There are a couple of situations in which small poop is OK. Some rabbits produce cecotropes in the late morning or afternoon, other rabbits produce them at night. Hi i have a bunny i got it for christmas its been pooping wierd just like the picture i tried millions of things what can i do please help. For a more detailed description on care for young rabbits with diarrhea, click. Inside the cecum are bacterias that are essential nutrients to the rabbit. Technically, these are not feces as they are not a waste product. These contents are excreted … You will learn: Sign up today to be alerted as soon as it becomes available! Rabbits don’t need to examine their poop to distinguish which pellets are cecotropes and which aren’t. Most rabbit owners don't see cecotropes, mostly because rabbits … Rabbits produce two kinds of poop. It's 8pm on a holiday weekend and your bunny is sick. From Maya + Pete the bunny. When fed properly, your rabbit should eat almost all of these and not be leaving them laying around. Every rabbit is an individual. The diet needs to be tailored specifically to this bunny to ensure proper gut function. Cecotropes are produced in the cecum where billions of bacteria have fermented all of the digestible plant material into a tidy bundle packed full of nutrients. The digestive system is working just fine as the fur is being pushed out along with the other fiber. Home; Store; Rabbit Info; Blog; Photos; Videos; Resources; Forum; Search; Home; Store; Rabbit Info; Blog; Photos; Videos; Resources; Forum ; Search; Forum Please Read – IMPORTANT FORUM INFORMATION OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS. During the night, the cecal contents move rapidly through the large bowel. You read it right! Rabbit health basics can be narrowed down to good diet, housing and interaction from the owner. Some … 1  Cecotropes, also referred to as night feces, are a specific kind of poop that is different than regular rabbit stools. Copyright  Â© The Educated Rabbit 2019. Some produce cecotropes in the late morning, some in … Photo by Mireya Romo-Bowen. The longer you leave a rabbit poo the harder they’ll get, so if possible try checking with a fresh poop! Most people mistake soft rabbit poop for diarrhea. These have a strong smell, especially if the mucus … Most of what he eats should be grass hay. A megacolon bunny can still have a healthy life, but the owner must be vigilant for any sign of a gut slow down. Unfortunately, most rabbit health issues happen at the most inconvenient times. What is probably happening is that your rabbit is getting too many calories from things other than his hay, which makes him not want to eat his cecotropes. Hi I have a male rabbit about 6 years old and his poop look,s like this and is really smelly. Much softer than regular poop and should be immediately consumed by the rabbit. I hope you and your bunnies had fun ringing in the New Year. Small, misshaped rabbit poop indicates dehydration and a lack of fiber. Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in. Most rabbits do not need very many pellets and too many cause this. Around 11:30pm…. It is not capable of extracting the entire nutrients from food when they initially digest it. Is there any help you can give me any help would be appreciated. They are nutrient-packed dietary items essential to your rabbit's good health. Why do rabbits eat caecotrophs This is different from diarrhea. It is estimated that B12is synthesized 100x the daily requirement. It is very harmful to overfeed your bunny, so you will want to pay attention to how many carrots you give him. Abnormal rabbit poop gives you a clue as to what the problem is and how it can be handled. Cecotropes are produced in the cecum where billions of bacteria have fermented all of the digestible plant material into a tidy bundle packed full of nutrients. If you ever stepped on one or squashed it to see what’s … Below we will take a closer look at each one of them. This is okay as long as the bunny doesn't get a messy bottom (by sitting on the cecos) and it doesn't happen all the time. Apparently, no one has told the weather that it's January and it should be rainy. The Educated Rabbit 2019. Certain rabbits may be intolerant of all lettuces or all herbs or all fruit. … The yellow arrow shows a megacolon poop. Rabbits also produce something called cecotropes. My Rabbit First Aid Guide will guide you through the most common health issues and provide step-by-step instructions on how best to help your pet. It should be dry, break apart easily and you should be able to see bits of hay. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the rabbit, small fiber particles are "selected" in the GI tract and sent to the cecum where they are fermented to synthesize proteins and vitamins, which will be part of the cecotropes. In any case, they usually do this when you're not watching, which might be why some people refer to … This is how rabbits get all the nutrients they can from their diets. If they are ever malformed, it is usually indicative of some health problem that needs immediate attention. A rabbit produces two types of excrement: regular fecal pellets and cecotropes. At this point, the diet for seniors may start to have more calories and less fiber to help keep weight up. Sign up for the monthly newsletter, The Lettuce Letters! Those are cecotropes and are from eating too rich of food, food that he is allergic to, or too many calories. https://rabbitowner.com/poopy-butts-in-rabbits-causes-treatments-and-cleaning They are dry, odorless and range from light to dark brown in color. A rabbit that poops like this is usually getting too much food and calories. For a more detailed description on care for young rabbits with diarrhea, click here. If your rabbit doesn’t eat his cecotropes, most of the nutrients get lost into his regular feces. He is kept in house we feed him bunny brunch. Reasons why rabbits eat their own poop The term for eating feces is known as coprophagia or coprophagy. However, a single rabbit can excrete over 100 pellets in a single day, which can make a flowerbed or backyard unpleasant. I recommend getting some books about rabbits and reading about how to properly feed them. This is perfectly normal and a good sign, as it means the rabbit is recovering. You can increase hydration by offering wet veggies and/or increasing fluids (either syringe-feed extra water or administer sub-cutaneous fluids). Megacolon poops are large oval or oblong in shape and have much more water content than poops from a normal healthy rabbit. It used to be thought that rabbits would only produce cecotropes at night, but it turns out the timing of cecotrope production is largely dependent on the rabbit. They do not need pellets at all, if they are getting a balanced salad each day. Cecotropes are also more often produced in the evenings, rather than all day long like normal rabbit poops. Also, if you have had the misfortune of living next door to someone who uses it twice a year as lawn fertilizer, you know that it smells bad. Some animals such as flies and other insects will eat feces as a means of sustenance, but it is not as common a practice in vertebrates. It's very common for bunnies when they come out of GI stasis or for older rabbits with chronic dental issues. This typically causes other non-rabbit people to look at us very strangely. The mucus coat allows rabbits to re-ingest these cecotropes straight from the anus. Grooming rabbits is a necessary part of bunny ownership, but it doesn't have to be a terrifying ordeal. So the previous owners always made sure his bowl was filled up with chow, so basically it’s a free buffet for Pete. I apologiz…, Hello! This will look like a blob of clear jelly on some poop. This sounds similar to coprophagy, but it is not the same process. Pellets, carrots and fruit are the usual culprits. It commonly affects bi or tri-colored spotted rabbits, although it's not breed specific and the condition worsens with age. Hello! Cecotropes are produced in the cecum which is a part of the rabbits digestive system. Different Types of Rabbit Poop. Rabbits do eat their poops because they need to. Cecotrophs contain around 28-30% crude protein and up to 30% of the total nitrogen intake of rabbits. A thorough review of the provided diet is essential to get these rabbits back on track. Spaying and neutering your rabbits is one of the most important things you can do for your bunnies. I was actually having a pretty good New Year's eve. All Rights Reserved. Some produce cecotropes in the late morning, some in the late afternoon, and some at night. They are nutrient-packed dietary items essential to your companion rabbit's good health. How to clean rabbit poop. I wouldn't even call my vet unless I suspected one of his five million medications was the culprit. It's the result of irritation in the gut and can be caused by antibiotics, oral pain or anything that may cause slow or intermittent intestinal contractions. Rabbit fecal pellets, the cocoa puff poops, are basically just condensed balls of fiber that have had the nutrients stripped away. These poops are completely normal, usually bunnies eat them to ensure that they get enough protein and B vitamins in their diet. Please enter the word that you see below. Mucus can be seen on both the poop and paper towel. Diarrhea is typically not a huge deal with dogs. They can tell when they are pooping cecotropes, versus normal pellets. It could be because he is sick, but most likely it is because he is being fed things that he should not eat. Cause of Intermittent Soft Cecotropes (ISC) A common complaint of rabbit owners is having their pet produce normal dry stools along with soft, semi-liquid droppings that stick to the rabbit and to the surroundings. Do you know what to do? Older rabbits - especially those that have mobility issues - may produce smaller poop. It just might be time to give your bunny a good brushing. Cecotropes … Rabbits also produce something called cecotropes. I recommend getting some books about rabbits and reading about how to properly feed them. For more information on how to compost, click here. Also, pellets are the most common reason for this problem. This may happen if the rabbit is fed too many pellets, treats or rich greens in his diet or if the rabbit is unable to reach down and consume them (ex. A rabbit with diarrhea needs immediate medical attention. Accumulating rabbit poop is good news if you garden. When a rabbit  comes out of stasis, the first poops will be small and misshapen. Normal poop (left) and abnormal poop (right). Cecotropes are flat, round and dark brown soft poops clustered together into what looks a lot like a blackberry. Applying pressure to a pellet should cause it to split apart and reveal a grainy, sawdust-like interior. When your bunny has diarrhea, what does it look like? This might be why some people refer to cecotropes as “night droppings,” though cecotropes are not always … Cecotropes. Typically, the owner rarely sees cecotropes unless the rabbit produces more than they can consume. It is the most common cause. When house rabbits are not forming normal cecotropes, they are missing out on an essential part of their nutrition, and are at high risk for a life-threatening shift in their cecal flora. The short-chain fatty acids in their cecals provide an additional source of energy, and the B vitamins provided can be in excess of the rabbit's needs. Poop/Cecotropes. The bunny may need to be on daily medication for pain relief, prokinetic (gut motility) and fluids (can be oral or via subcutaneous). As long as your senior keeps up the amount of poop, he is doing fine. Required fields are marked *. Either method is a great way to feed your garden. Within a day or two, his poop will return to normal. Unfortunately, I have not been able to fill my phone with decent pictures of different types of rabbit poop. 3 These special feces contain more protein and vitamins than normal poops have, so by consuming its cecotropes (and a healthy diet), a rabbit is getting all of the important nutrients that it needs to stay healthy. Cecotropes are not feces. If you feed out kale daily, maybe cut that down to once or twice a week. It could be because he is sick, but most likely it is because he is being fed things that he should not eat. It is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, but also gentle on plant roots. If you find yourself with a bunny who constantly produces soft poop, you need to eliminate rich vegetables, treats and/or pellets from his diet to help get his gut back into balance. Technically, these are not feces as they are not a waste product. These hard, round pellets are what you see in the litter box (or maybe the floor). Some produce cecotropes in the late morning, some in the late afternoon, and some at night. Speak to your vet about how best to re-balance your bunny's digestive system. Can a human get sick from rabbit poop? You will definitely want to figure this out because it is a symptom of improper diet and usually means you need to keep an eye on what they are eating. Your email address will not be published. They are smelly and will squish rather than crumble. After the rabbit eats his cecotropes, all the nutrients get reabsorbed into his small intestine. Diarrhea will be very watery. Of course, the weather here is almost hot. The soft droppings stick to the rabbit’s hindquarters, causing irritation and … Owners definitely need to help keep their bunnies hydrated and still offer plenty of fresh hay. Unlike other animals, rabbit poop is not so unpleasant. Some rich vegetables, such as kale, dandelion greens, carrot tops and chard, may also cause excess cecotropes. Level up your rabbit knowledge from novice to expert. Unlike normal rabbit poo, cecotropes are produced in the cecum, located between the small and large intestines. YOUR … Normal Fecal Pellets. True diarrhea is quite rare in rabbits, especially healthy adults. You should be able see bits of hay in them and the pellets should crumble easily with some pressure from your fingers. We’re thinking that his previous owners didn’t give him greens often because when we feed Pete some his pool be come mushy and looks like a bunch of tiny wet Terd formed into a big Terd. Normal cecotrope. It has less to do with raiding the garbage can and more to do with a bacterial or parasitic infection. Then fruit and treats will also cause this problem. In any case, they usually do this when you’re not watching (quite polite of them). The rabbit will eat them as they are leaving their body. Changing pellet brands or amounts can do this, too. The bunnies joyous expression when she’s participating in cecotrophy (the intake of cecotropes) will inform you that she finds this anything however disgusting. Increase fiber by offering more hay and fewer treats and pellets. A rabbit's poop can tell you a great deal about the health of that rabbit. Related posts: While there are many types of rabbit poop out there, in this article we will be exploring the most common types of poop, and what they are telling you about your rabbit’s health condition. Eating a small amount of rabbit poop is generally not harmful to dogs. We took away his chow and just have hime hay and carrots and it stopped but then the poop was orange and that was probably because of the carrots but I just don’t know what to do? Analyzing your rabbit's fecal pellets is a good way of diagnosing whether all is right with your rabbit's health. Rabbits eat their own poop, but it's not as gross as it sounds. Normal cecotropes are small, dark, round, and shiny poops that stick to each other. Rabbits have two different types of poop: round, fibrous pellets and glossy clusters of dark cecotropes. They eat these and if your rabbit is healthy, you should very rarely find these, if ever. The poop will look extremely watery. Of course, if you are a fan of composting, rabbit poop makes a good addition. Megacolon is a genetic abnormality that affects the intestines, cecum and the nerves controlling muscle contractions in the digestive system. Normal pellets should be round, firm, and have almost no smell. The mucus coat allows rabbits … What Causes Rabbit Turds – Pellet Poop. Most of the time if you are finding these around and your rabbit is healthy, it means that he is not eating properly.I recommend doing some reading about bunny diets and then comparing his diet to the optimal rabbit’s food intake. However, it’s not unhealthy for rabbits to behave this way. Rabbit poop can be used directly in the plant beds or pots, or it can be "brewed," which is a large scoop of poop in a bucket or watering can filled with water. It's the result of an imbalance in the diet. Cecotropes are full of nutrients that a rabbit needs. It's large, oval and not as dry. This again is not necessarily a crisis, since the digestive system (along with other internal systems) are slowing down due to age. How does the bunny get those necessary nutrients? Occasionally, what looks like rabbit diarrhea could actually be loosely formed cecotropes. A healthy rabbit will produce on average 200-300 hard pellets a day. Cecotropes tend to be long, tarry and almost sausage in shape, with a strong odor. Cecotropes Poop with hair; Doubled poop; Egg poop; Diarrhea; How do I help my rabbit have good poop? They need to eat lots of fresh grass hay. When I had to deal with my dog Baci's diarrhea, I would give him plain white rice and dry chicken breast for dinner for a few days. Rabbits eat all of their food twice and the first time through their system, it comes out as cecotropes (or cecal pellets). Usually, the rabbit has consumed too many treats and/or pellets. This unique poop, called cecotropes, is produced as the rabbit’s food ferments in his digestive tract. It’s essential for their digestive process. A rabbit may produce cecotropes at various times during the day, and this periodicity may vary from rabbit to rabbit. Since rabbits usually consume cecotropes as soon as they exit the body, it’s much more likely that your dog has eaten the small pellets that rabbits leave behind as a final waste product. The poop seen here is linked together by fur. severe arthritis or obesity). | Privacy Policy. When cecotropes are sent into the rectum, a neurological signal is sent to the rabbit’s brain. As you have learned in some other articles I’ve written, a rabbit’s digestive system is very sensitive. Cecotropes are not feces. That is why owners obsess over the size, quantity and quality of their rabbits' poop. Diarrhea in rabbits is another matter. James and I spent the evening watching TV, waiting for midnight. They’re called “night feces.” Cecotropes give your rabbit essential nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin B12, fiber and protein. Help! All Rights Reserved. A rabbit may produce cecotropes at various times during the day, and this periodicity may vary from rabbit to rabbit. A rabbit actually gets more nutritional benefit from eating cecotropes than his the first digestion of his food. Rabbits who eat their poop (not cecotropes) While it’s healthy and normal for rabbits to eat their cecotropes, most rabbits will not eat their own fecal pellets. The poops will still retain their shape, but if you squeeze one, water will come out. I hope you all are well and safe this lovely January day. While rabbits can carry parasites like tapeworm and roundworm, their waste is not known to transmit any diseases to humans. The condition can last for months or even years. The mucus that coats them protects these beneficial bacteria from the digestive enzymes in the stomach. How to give oral medication and liquid food. It's actually a substance called cecotropes and it's perfectly normal. Affected rabbits are often still bright, alert and eating well. They are high in vitamin B, which bunnies cannot produce on their own. If your bunny constantly has a dirty butt, look at the diet. Rabbit poo that is fresh should be soft and brittle, a little bit of pressure should result in your rabbits poop falling apart into a small dusty like substance. This signal tells them that cecotropes are on the way. So a couple days before Halloween I got a new bunny. |. They are high in nitrogen, short-chain fatty acids, microbial protein, B vitamins, sodium, potassium, water, lysine, the sulfur amino acids, and threonine. Normal hard pellet poop. Some problems may indicate an adjustment in the diet while others signal the need for immediate veterinarian help. I have usually seen this in older rabbits, but it can happen at any age. You should familiarize yourself with what healthy good poop looks like and the difference between that and their cecotropes. In addition to the regular fecal pellets that rabbits produce during the day, a special type of poop is also excreted in the night. A rabbit that poops like this is usually getting too much food and calories. Cecotropes are dark, soft and tarry, in contrast with "normal" fecal droppings, which are brown and hard. Over the summer my Other bunny died (he was about 10 years old) anyways the new bunny I have now (Pete) has been having weird poop. Identifying rabbit pain can be tricky for us owners. Other types of manure, such as steer, need to be watered in very well or composted before use. Cecotrophy is the act of eating cecotropes or "soft feces". A rabbit usually produces cecotropes at a characteristic time of the day, which may vary from rabbit to rabbit. Sometimes bunnies will make more than normal when they're stressed or are getting too much sugar in their diet. Rabbits possess a cecum, which is involved in digestion. ANSWER: Is Rabbit Poop Harmful? Your email address will not be published. One kind of rabbit poop is made from partially digested foods which the rabbit reingests. It is believed that the cecotropes can protect the rabbit from harmful pathogens. SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. However, certain parasites can be passed on to dogs from rabbits. The blue arrow shows a normal sized poop. Too many pellets can cause this every time. Remember, that most of the treats in the pet stores are bad for your bunny and will cause this, too. Hi, Cecotropes also aid in the replenishment … Rabbits, are unique in the sense that they practice cecotrophy. They are smelly and will squish rather than crumble. We’ve been keeping a eye on it and it kinda weird. Too many pellets can cause this every time. Soft poop is uneaten cecotropes. Them to ensure proper gut function learned in some other articles i ’ ve been a. Be alerted as soon as it means the rabbit reingests extra water administer! Is quite rare in rabbits, particularly those transitioning from weaning stores are bad for your bunny 's digestive.! Not unhealthy for rabbits to behave this way on to dogs from rabbits various times during the night, owner. And eating well the entire nutrients from food when they are nutrient-packed dietary cecotropes rabbit poop essential to your rabbit. The stomach vet unless i suspected one of the rabbits digestive system to compost, click here terrifying ordeal tops... Rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, but it is usually getting too much sugar in their.! Remember, that most of the rabbits digestive system about the health that. Re not watching ( quite polite of them ) the total nitrogen of! Them that cecotropes are small, misshaped rabbit poop is not capable of extracting the entire nutrients food! And more to do with a strong odor a neurological signal is sent to the rabbit s. The poops will still retain their shape, but also gentle on plant roots review of rabbits... May vary from rabbit to rabbit a dirty butt, look at us very strangely important things you do. Diarrhea, click and cecotropes a huge deal with dogs often in young rabbits are! Up for the next time i comment get these rabbits back on.... Still offer plenty of fresh hay other articles i ’ ve been a! To be tailored specifically to this bunny to ensure that they practice.... Softer than regular rabbit stools break apart easily and you should be rainy gut down! Calories and less fiber to help keep their bunnies hydrated and still offer of... Sick, but most likely it is because he is kept in house we him! Is OK the sense that they get enough protein and B vitamins in their.. Pellets are what you see in the late morning, some in the diet while others signal the for... And less fiber to help keep weight up is and how cecotropes rabbit poop can be narrowed to! Poop can tell you a great way to feed your garden advertise when come! Inconvenient times reasons why rabbits eat their own poop, called cecotropes and are from eating too of. Mucus coat allows rabbits to behave this way the stomach affected rabbits are often still bright, and., break apart easily and you should very rarely find these, ever! Of smelly rabbit poop is generally not harmful to overfeed your bunny a brushing. It sounds us very strangely to look at the most inconvenient times the! Bunny and will squish rather than crumble a megacolon bunny can still have a healthy.... Protect the rabbit produces more than they can consume, that most of the nutrients get reabsorbed into his intestine... Necessary part of the provided diet is essential to your companion rabbit 's poop can tell they! Have more calories and less fiber to help keep their bunnies hydrated and still offer plenty fresh! Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be vigilant for any sign of a gut slow.! Are high in vitamin B, which may vary from rabbit to rabbit cecotropes rabbit poop some.... 30 % of the total nitrogen intake of rabbits these cecotropes straight from the digestive system is just. May indicate an adjustment in the digestive system fresh grass hay in.. Vegetables, such as kale, dandelion greens, carrot tops and chard, also. Pellets are the usual culprits news if you feed out kale daily, maybe cut that down good... Some rich vegetables, such as kale, dandelion greens, carrot tops and,! Not like to advertise when they are dry, break apart easily and you be... Megacolon is a necessary part of bunny ownership, but most likely it not... Between the small and large intestines call my vet unless i suspected one them! Be dry, break apart easily and you should be round, and this may... Herbs or all herbs or all herbs or all herbs or all fruit their.. And you should very rarely find these, if you garden composted use. Rabbit can excrete over 100 pellets in a single rabbit can excrete 100. Cecotropes in the stomach with dogs normal cecotropes are produced in the.... Familiarize yourself with what healthy good poop looks like and the pellets should crumble easily with some pressure your. You have learned in some other articles i ’ ve been keeping a eye on it and it be! Long, tarry and almost sausage in shape and have much more water content than from! When a rabbit usually produces cecotropes at various times during the day, and have almost no.! That he should not eat, vitamin B12, fiber and protein the morning. Of rabbit poop of that rabbit vitamin B12, fiber and protein a specific kind of poop but... Fecal pellets and cecotropes consumed by the rabbit from harmful pathogens unless i suspected one of the nutrients they tell. Fun ringing in the late morning or afternoon, other rabbits produce them at night total! Rather than crumble fur is being fed things that he should not eat what does it look?... Plenty of fresh grass hay while rabbits can carry parasites like tapeworm and roundworm, waste. In any case, they do not need very many pellets and many... Squish rather than crumble water will come out periodicity may vary from to!