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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/3/2010 1:56:08 PM
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I have a six/seven year old doe named Socks. We're not sure on her breed, but were told she is a Dutch cross. (If she is, the other rabbit must be a Flemish Giant, because she is huge.) Socks and her full sister Helen had been outdoor bunnies until late this summer, when Helen died. We moved Socks into the house for the winter, and she's been adjusting well to life indoors. She doesn't even care about our two cats.
Anyway. Recently, droppings and bedding have been balling up under her tail, and I'm worried about her getting constipated or unable to go to the bathroom. We've had to cut the clump of droppings and bedding off of her bottom twice now. We've use Carefresh Basic bedding since she came inside, and I clean out her cage usually twice a week. I don't know what to do about this! PLEASE HELP!!!
Owned by:
Snape (guinea pig)
Socks (rabbit)
Drifter (horse)
Aoife (horse)
Panda (cat)
Lily (cat)
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/29/2013 3:34:58 PM
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There are two types of droppings. The dry, hard, odorless type, which is the most common type. And then the squishy, smelly ones the rabbits should be eating. They are called cetroscopes. The mess you are seeing is probably undigested cetroscopes.
I have heard of this condition before. It is called "Poopy butt" haha. The most common cause of this is a bad diet, but some rabbits have gotten it due to dental and mobility issues. I would recommend giving less pellets and more hay.
You must clean your bunny's behind immediately. Clean it with hypoallergenic baby wipes or wet paper towels. Baths can be very traumatic for bunnies, so try to avoid a bath. But if the feces have hardened and the area is very messy, the next course of action is a shallow bath. Fill a sink with a two or three inches of lukewarm water (just enough so that the soiled area will be submerged) and mix in a tiny bit of pet shampoo (NOT human shampoo). I would recommend using "Bunny Bath". It costs less than a dollar and you can buy it from Amazon. Place your bunny in the sink and wash the soiled area until it's clean. Change out the water as necessary. Be careful when washing the area as the skin is very sensitive! Once your bunny is clean, rinse the soapy areas with warm water and then gently towel dry your bunny. Make sure she is not exposed to cold temperatures before she's dry.
Your rabbit is "middle aged" for a bun. Older rabbits, Overweight rabbits, and rabbits with arthritis are more prone to poopy butt because they're unable to reach their bottoms with their mouth and take the cetroscopes.
The best way to avoid this is a healthy diet, full of fiber. Feed lots of timothy hay and orchard grass, along with fresh veggies.
Your bunny will be ok. But does she have arthritis??? Or is she overweight??
Come visit my bunnies!
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/28/2013 11:35:03 AM
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/29/2013 3:34:58 PM
Posts: 125,
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Silversmoke (1/7/2011)
Blancdehotot --- just to clear things up, the squishy 'night feces' are called 'cecotropes' not cetroscopes  Wow, thats embarrassing. I've been calling them cetroscopes for like ever. 
Come visit my bunnies!
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 1/26/2011 12:26:54 PM
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hi am new hear thats ok that you have calling them that every one does embarrassing things
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