Why is my bunny pooping mucous-coated pellets after a stressful bath?

He may have some minor GI upset. Discontinue feeding any fruits or vegetables temporarily. Feed only timothy hay or similar grasses. Offer as much as he wants. The high fiber may set his GI tract straight again. If not, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. Rabbits will also produce softer stool at night which is normal. You may see them eating this "night stool" as part of their diet.

Discontinue lettuce and bananas. Either may contribute to soft or loose stool. Limit pellets and feed as much timothy hay or similar grasses as Stanley wants to eat. Rabbits will produce two types of droppings, with one being softer which they will reingest to extract nutrients. If the soft stool persists or worsens or if Stanley stops eating, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits.

Your bunny was probably just used to eating the lettuce and is adjusting to his new diet. You did the right thing by offering him only the pellets and hay. This is what is most beneficial to him. Since his stools are normal I would not worry at this point. If he stops passing stools, stops eating, or if you suspect he is losing weight, then you should take him to the veterinarian to be checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hi there, Sorry your bunny is having trouble. There are two main concerns that cause this. One is that an incorrect diet with too many carbs, treats, pellets and not enough hay, fiber, good veggies make for excess cecal pellets or loose stool. I suggest follow the www.rabbit.org guidelines. This is the House Rabbit Society, which is a good source of info. Parasites would be another possilbity and a fecal check is a good idea. Last, if your bunny has some arthritis with his age, he may be able to clean his self as well or get down to eat his cecal pellets (the soft night droppings) as well. I suggest a good exam by a vet to rule out arthritis and health problems and making sure diet is optimal.

Pellets can predispose a rabbit to obesity. They may not provide the amount of fiber needed to maintain a healthy gut. You don't need to feed just produce. Ellie should be fed as much timothy hay, oat hay or similar grasses as she wants to eat. These grasses are relatively inexpensive. You can feed alfalfa until she is about 7 months old then discontinue feeding it. Supplement the diet with a cup or two of fresh, dark, leafy greens and vegetables daily. Up to 1/4 cup of commercial pellets can be offered daily.

For now, stop feeding anything but hay or timothy hay pellets. Provide water or unflavored PediaLyte to prevent dehydration. Keep his bottom clean and dry. Keep his cage clean and decrease or eliminate any negative stimuli. Severe diarrhea can be deadly in rabbits, so it is important to have Gabi examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible. A rabbit's diet should be at least 80% timothy hay or similar grasses. They require a high fiber diet to maintain gut health. Limit vegetables ( 2 cups per 6lbs daily) and pellets ( 1/8 cup per 6lbs daily) to prevent obesity. Fruit should be given only occasionally if at all.

Review the diet to ensure proper nutrition. Offer timothy hay, oat hay or similar grasses in unlimited amounts, as much as they want to eat. About 1/8 cup of commercial pellets can be offered to each rabbit daily. 1-2 cups of fresh greens and vegetables can also be added to the diet. Clean the droppings out frequently, daily if necessary, to prevent them from eating "normal" stool. Provide a variety of toys, playtime and exercise to keep them engaged and distracted from their droppings.