Why is my rabbit eating its own poop? Is this normal for rabbits?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is not unusual for rabbits to defecate several times throughout the day - they are hind gut fermenters and therefore eat almost constantly, so they produce a lot of poop! As long as the feces is not soft/liquid, frequent passing of fecal balls is normal. If you are ever concerned that Khargi is sick or acting abnormal, Khargi should be evaluated by your veterinarian! You can always bring a fecal sample with you to the vet to be evaluated for any parasites. I hope this is helpful!

Hello there! Unfortunately for us, this is a very normal behavior for rodents. The medical term for poop-eating is coprophagy, and in hamsters, it's healthy for them to do so. Many animals, like rodents, that eat a mostly plant-based diet don't get all the nutrients from their food the first time it passes through their digestive system, so they literally digest it a second time by eating their feces. This helps them get as many nutrients out of their food as possible. I hope this helps, and that Willy stays a healthy and adorable friend!

Yes, this amount of stool production is normal. You can always start litter training now if you would like to do so. There are many articles and YouTube videos available about how to do this. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/litter-training-rabbits/ )

Poppy probably eats the rabbit poop because she likes the taste. It's gross, but true, and many dogs do this. It's not the best thing for her to do, so when you are outside with her, prevent her from eating it. Best of luck.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The feces in the photo appears to be Stanley’s night feces. This is a normal type of feces for rabbits to make and is normally consumed directly from the anus, which is why most owners do not see it. Most rabbits eat this feces based on their vitamin needs and it can vary day to day. I recommend feeding Stanley a diet of rabbit pellets, hay, and occasional fresh fruits and veggies. Other human foods should be avoided. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Poor Fluffy ! Yes, he needs to see a vet, I would not worry if they are not exotics specialist, all small animal vets are quite familiar with these GI problems in rabbits so I would phone and make an appointment to have Fluffy checked over ASAP. Being young makes him more vulnerable so whilst it is a good sign that Fluffy is eating, the abscence of feaces is a concern that needs immediate attention. Hope he gets better soon !

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.