Bunnies have a sensitive digestive system. Though they eat lots of fiber in their daily diet, still they can get their stomach upset due to very simple reasons. So the rabbit owners need to be aware of some home remedies which can cure their stomachs easily.
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Why my rabbit’s poop is soft?
This question is often asked by most rabbit owners who are adopting rabbits for the first time. When their rabbits poop soft for the first time they start getting worried. There are several reasons that can lead to the upset digestive system of the rabbit. So do not get upset when your rabbit’s poops are runny. This can be identified as the diarrhea of the rabbit and can be treated by some simple methods.
What is rabbit diarrhea?
Rabbits’ poop can be both dry pellets and cecotropes. The latter thing is not poop but actually, the nutrient-rich doses emitted by the rabbits. After releasing them, rabbits can eat them and there is nothing to be surprised about. They only get more nutrients out of the once digested food by ingesting them and this is a healthy habit for the rabbits.
When the rabbit diarrhea is not harmful?
Rabbit cecotropes are not the result of an upset stomach or disturbed digestive system. It happens quite a few times that the rabbit owners find it quite difficult to digest that the rabbit is eating its own poop and it is not having any stomach problems or diarrhea.
Cecotropes look somehow different than that regular feces, and when the rabbit owners get experienced they can identify and differentiate these two.
How do you understand that the rabbit is having diarrhea?
When the rabbit poop contains mucous and it smells an odd way then you should be worried about the diarrhea of the pet rabbit. Sometimes the poop is seen to have been clinging to the bottom or tail of the rabbit. This happens due to the texture of the poop which gets semi solid when the pet is affected by diarrhea.
How you can differentiate between soft cecotropes and diarrhea?
When the rabbit is suffering from diarrhea its poop will be much watery and without any solid form. When it is having a healthy digestion system then the poop will be round and hard with some pieces of hay which will be visible in it.
The loose and soft poop is actually the sign of diarrhea. Also, a weird kind of smell is present in the poop when the rabbit suffers from diarrhea.
Cecotropes do not have any odd smell; neither will they be liquid or semi-liquid. It will be in much better shape and thus you can find it to be distinct from the diarrhea problem.
What are the reasons for the rabbit to have diarrhea?
Rabbits can have diarrhea due to several reasons and you need to check the symptoms. The common reasons which make the rabbit suffer from diarrhea are bacterial and viral infection or ingestion of something toxic. Rabbits eat anything that is found around them. Not always the things are edible and sometimes those things contain bacteria.
So if you want to prevent your rabbit from getting diarrhea then make sure that it does not chew or bite anything that is unsafe for it. But it is not always possible for the owners to check on the rabbits when it roams outside or in the backyard.
If you let your rabbit move into the backyard and you have a garden there, then there is a high chance that the rabbit will chew on leaves and plants that have pesticides and insecticides then which can severely affect the digestion system of the pet rabbit. So be careful not to spray the chemical pesticides if you have a plan to let your rabbit play in the backyard garden.
When you give too much fiber to your pet rabbit then also it can have diarrhea. When the diet consists of too much alfalfa hay and pellets then the outcome is sure to be disastrous. Also, it can have some problems when the diet contains a too small amount of fiber. Giving not enough grass or hay will also result in diarrhea.
When you give too much cucumber to your rabbit, then it will have diarrhea as the water content of cucumber is high. The extra water will come out through poops which will become watery, thus causing diarrhea.
High sugar fruits like bananas and watermelon in huge portions will also cause this problem. The excess amount of sugar is difficult for the rabbit to digest and they can fall sick. Always restrain the intake of fruits that are high in sugar to keep your pet rabbit healthy.
Also providing the rabbit with grains like rice and wheat or corn in excess amount will result in the same. Do not give them more than a few grains at a time and make sure to give other things as the main diet. Grains are good for human health and definitely not suitable to be the main item in the diet of the rabbit.
What should be done when the rabbit has diarrhea?
As the owner of your pet rabbit, you should be able to judge the condition. If the pet is having a severe condition when it is affected with diarrhea then it is best to not take the situation into your hand and go to the vet.
But if you just see that the rabbit’s poop is liquid and smelly, but it is not refusing its food, or having adequate amount of water then you can treat it at home. Give it some time to recover as it may not be as energetic as it used to be in normal health.
Sometimes the rabbit poops soft cecotropes but behaves much normally. This can be due to the change in the diet of the pet. This is not a medical emergency and you can just let the vet know about the situation, in case he or she suggests something.
What are the ways to treat the diarrhea of the rabbit at home?
Your duty as the pet owner would be to keep the pet rabbit well hydrated when you doubt that it is having a bout of diarrhea. Always keep the bowl of fresh clean water near the rabbit and make sure to add more water when you see it being drunk.
If necessary you can give hydrating injections. You will get this solution from the pet store but you need to take the vet’s advice before doing this. Sometimes the injection causes humpback but it soon diminishes as the liquid gets absorbed in the body. The area near the scruff and flank is the best spot to inject.
When you are able to get in touch with the vet you can take the name of the medicines and start giving them to your pet rabbit.
There should be a change in the diet if the rabbit is suffering from diarrhea. Nothing but the grass and water will be in the diet, and fruits or other vegetables should not be given until the rabbit’s stool gets back to its normal color and shape.
The grass that you offer to the sick rabbit should be free from any mold and fresh. The smell of fresh hay is quite distinct and you can easily identify that. No nuts or pellets can be given at this stage. With time the rabbit will recover and come back to its normal routine.
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