Why is my old rabbit's fur matted with poop and how to help?

Hi and thanks for your request. A part from the variety of things given (which is usually good), commonly the proportion of the different nutrients is not correct. 80-85% should be good quality hay, the rest should be 5-10% pellets and very few fresh vegetables. Here you can find very detailed informations about it: https://www.vetfolio.com/learn/article/nutrition-know-how-pet-rabbit-nutrition

In most of the similar cases I had in the past, the problem was related to excessive weight and presence of big dewlap. Weight loss can easily achieved initially by cutting pellets from diet. A good balance would be 80-85% hay, 5%pellets, 10-15% greens. Dietary change must be done slowly and progressively over a couple of weeks. May this be Roux case?

The poop that is getting stuck is very common in rabbits, especially overweight rabbits that cannot reach that area, cleaning it under warmish running water is the best technique. regarding the dandruff that could be a phase but that could also be due to fur mites, i would recommend seeing a vet in order to get it checked.

Hi and thank you for the question, This is not normal and usually happens when a rabbit cannot clean himself (e.g. due to obesity, spinal pain etc.) and/or because of diarrhea. I recommend that you have him checked. As to local care, It is best to wash the area well with water, possibly shave it and it may require systemic antibiotics if it is inflamed. Again, these things are best done by a vet. I don't recommend diaper cream. Regards

With the majority of the changes to the skin occurring around the back legs, this could have started with some kind of a urinary issue. Urine that gets onto the skin can be very irritating, can smell badly, and the hair can fall out. You didn't mention what the skin under the fur looked like, but often the skin can become painful, red, and infected. I would recommend that you take Willie in for evaluation by a veterinarian. They can evaluate the skin and may take a few samples to evaluate under the microscope. If your veterinarian suspects that there may be a urinary issue, they may recommend collecting a urine sample to evaluate (a urinalysis), and blood work to evaluate systemic health. Depending on the veterinary clinic, they may also be able to bathe Willie for you, as this can be stressful for rabbits. Please don't give Willie any human medications, or apply any medications to his skin, as these can be harmful for our rabbit friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck!

Rabbits have a very sensitive GI system. Some causes for loose/wet stools: * internal parasites (worms) * colitis * dietary indiscretion (ate a food she that was new to her) * stress Those are just a few reasons. My suggestion is to start her on a probiotic and if there is no change or the condition worsens then she will need to see a vet. You must use a probiotic made for rabbits like this one: ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/PETS-Dolfos-Probiotic-Beta-Glucan-Digestion/dp/B07CW64WMF/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=probiotic+rabbit&qid=1554727747&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1 ) Be sure her diet is 100% correct (mostly hay and minimal pellets) and don't introduce any new foods for the next few weeks. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

The stress of the bath or whatever condition precipitated the vet last week may be responsible. Discontinue feeding pellets and vegetables and feed solely Timothy hay or similar grasses. Feed as much hay as Oliver wants to eat. Do not feed any alfalfa. Once his droppings return to normal, feed no more than 1/8 cup of pellets daily and gradually introduce small amounts of vegetables or dark, leafy greens. You can continue to offer as much timothy hay as he wants. Rabbits need a high fiber diet. If the symptoms persist or if he stops eating, have him rechecked by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits.