Why is my old rabbit incontinent with matted fur and hair loss?

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.

So sorry that Mittens is having this problem. It sounds like he could be in pain so he should be examined by a vet determine the cause. He could have back pain, abdominal pain, an infection, etc. Your vet can do a physical examination to help diagnose and then prescribe medications to help treat, depending on the cause. Hope he feels better soon.

Poor kitty! I certainly agree with your concerns about hygiene for everyone involved, and also feel sorry for the cat who has an untreated medical issue that is probably impacting her quality of life. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam, to find out what is causing the problem - it may be very treatable once a diagnosis is made. If the problem is not treatable, then it's possible that euthanasia would be the kindest option for her. Your veterinarian can advise you on your options depending on what is found on her exam and lab tests.

Poor Toot. It sounds that she is not very well at the moment. Decision on euthanasia is very hard but animal's walfare must always come first. Assessing walfare in small pet, like Toot may not be straight forward. Weight loss and poor coat are often signs of ageing in mice but it is not necessary a sign of suffering. Signs of high concerns in older mice are poor appetite, lethargy, weakness, often problems with breathing or walking. In my opionion, you should take Toot to your local vet for a check. Some abdominal or skin tumors can be found during clinical examination, which can direct further decisions. Your vet will be able to help you to establish if your little mouse has still good quality of life or not.

This could be due to Kitty's age. When cats are older, they can groom themselves less effectively than younger cats, sometimes resulting in hair matting, skin odor, and inflammation. It could also be that she has arthritis, making it painful for her to reach around to groom her backside and sides. I would make an appointment for her with a groomer. They can brush out her matts (they may need to be shaved), and get her coat back into a better condition. Then you should brush her daily to prevent further matts from occurring. It's very important to get those matts removed asap, as they will be pulling on her skin and it will be painful for her. I'd also make an appointment with her vet for a health check, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis just to see if everything is ok health wise for her. The vet can also examine her to see if she has arthritis, and can prescribe pain medications as needed. Please do not give her any human pain medications, many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. Give a groomer and her vet a call today. I hope this helps!

So sorry that she is having problems and it is always a very difficult decision. Have her examined by a vet to see if there is anything that can be done to make her more conformable. She might be having hip and/or back pain making it difficult to get in the litter box. An anti-inflammatory or pain medications may help make her more comfortable and improve the quality of her life. If not, then it might be time to consider euthanasia. 20 years old is amazing and she is certainly lucky that you rescued her!

I'm sorry Maggie is having troubles grooming herself! I understand you don't want to wait until she is suffering, but as long as she is eating and drinking normally, going to the bathroom normally, I don't think you are being selfish at all. You did the right thing by taking her into the vet, and you can take her into a groomer. The groomer can shave off the matted hair, and then you can brush her back daily. This will help keep the mats from forming, and it will be a bonding time between the two of you. Cats typically do like being brushed, and you can give her treats for allowing you to do it. If she does stop eating, drinking, or develops other signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy, then I would take her back into the vet immediately for a discussion about her quality of life. I work for a home euthanasia service, so I face these type of issues with clients all the time. If you'd like to discuss things further with me, you can request a consult with me. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. I hope this helps!