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This article was co-written by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Ryan Corrigan is a licensed veterinary technician in California. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010. She has also been a Fellow of the Academy’s Veterinary Nursing Technicians since 2011.
There are 8 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 6,523 times.
Rabbits have specialized digestive systems and are prone to problems such as diarrhea. Rabbits produce two types of feces: one is normal manure, and the other is night feces. When rabbits actually have diarrhea, both their stools are loose; and while rare in adult rabbits, this condition requires prompt veterinary care. Soft nocturnal stools (often confused with diarrhea) can be easily treated at home with some simple dietary changes. Once your rabbit has recovered, take extra care of them, bathe them when they get dirty, and keep the environment clean, quiet, and comfortable.
Steps
Instant handling
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Distinguish between true diarrhea and soft nocturnal stools. Rabbits have a complex digestive system and two types of feces. True diarrhea is when both regular and nighttime stools are loose and formless. If you see normal stools in addition to loose stools, the problem is really just soft nocturnal stools. [1] X Research Source
- Adult rabbits rarely develop diarrhea, but it does occasionally occur in young rabbits, especially those that are improperly weaned. This is a potentially fatal emergency for rabbits of all ages.
- Normal nighttime droppings look like tiny bunches of grapes and rabbits have a need to eat this manure to maintain nutrition. Often confused with diarrhea, soft nocturnal stools are more common in adult rabbits. Treatment is usually just some simple changes to the diet.
- Soft nocturnal droppings often have a paste-like texture or soft lumps that stick to the rabbit’s fur and surroundings, often accompanied by a foul odor.
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Take your rabbit to the vet right away if the rabbit has real diarrhea. If all the poop is loose, call your veterinarian and say your rabbit has diarrhea and you are on your way to the clinic. Rabbits with diarrhea should get immediate veterinary care, especially baby rabbits. [2] X Research Source
- Diarrhea in rabbits is often fatal and requires serious treatment. The cause of the disease is usually due to a change in the microflora in the cecum (a part of the rabbit’s digestive tract that has a fermentative function). [3] X Research Sources
- If you don’t already have a veterinarian with experience treating rabbits, go online to find one. If you’re in the US, you can find a listing in the House Rabbit Society: http://rabbit.org/vet-listings/.
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Bring your rabbit’s most recent stool sample to your doctor. Your doctor will need to take a sample of your rabbit’s feces and look at it under a microscope for an accurate diagnosis. If possible, collect samples of your rabbit’s normal and nocturnal faeces and bring them to your veterinarian. [4] X Research Sources
- If for some reason you can’t bring your rabbit to the clinic, you should try to take a picture of your rabbit’s poop for your doctor to see.
- The stool sample does not need to be too much, just the size of 2-3 grapes is enough. You can store the rabbit stool sample in latex gloves or a zip-lock plastic bag for easier handling by clinic staff.
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Provide enough water for the rabbit. Dehydration is a concern, so you need to make sure your rabbit always has clean water to drink. If the rabbit refuses to drink or is unable to drink, they will need to be injected with Lactated Ringers solution under the skin to maintain the body’s water. [5] X Research Source It is best to take your rabbit to your veterinarian or a veterinary technician to inject your rabbit.
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Self-inject the rabbit’s water supply solution if needed. If you can’t get to the vet and you have medication and syringe on hand, you can disinfect the needle and vial cap of the solution, then withdraw 1-2 mg of the solution into the syringe. Gently pinch the rabbit’s skin up like a tent and inject it under the skin at a 45-degree angle. Be careful not to push the needle through the other side of the pulled skin, it’s very thin. [6] X Research Sources
- Before injecting the solution, pull the plunger back a little to see if there is any bleeding; If yes, then you have hit a blood vessel or muscle, and must find another location. After injecting, remove the needle with quick and gentle movements in the direction it was inserted. [7] X Research Sources
- Rabbits that have just been injected with a water-based solution will often have a small “hump”. This is nothing to worry about, as the solution will be quickly absorbed and distributed by the body, after which the lump will disappear.
- The nape and hips are the best sites for subcutaneous injection in rabbits. Inject a total of 10mg over 24 hours at different sites to limit tissue damage. [8] X Research Sources
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Give your rabbit medication as directed by your veterinarian. Based on the diagnosis, your veterinarian will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. [9] X Research Source In addition, your doctor may instruct you to give your rabbit some other medicine such as: [10] X Research source
- Imodium or other anti-diarrheal drugs
- Chpestyramine to treat toxins caused by bacteria or parasites
- Analgesic
- Cpostrum to strengthen the immune system of baby rabbits
Adjust the rabbit’s diet
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Remove all other food except hay. If your rabbit is used to hay, stop feeding all other foods. Place several litter trays in the cage to encourage the rabbit to eat. Be sure to feed your rabbits hay that is not leguminous (like alfalfa), as they are too high in carbohydrates and protein. [11] X Research Source
- High-fiber hay is the most important component of a rabbit’s diet and is essential for digestion. It will help return the intestinal flora and digestive capacity in the cecum to a normal equilibrium. Remember to only feed the rabbit with hay and water until the rabbit’s poop returns to normal.
- Make sure the hay is fresh and free of mold. The new hay will have a pleasant aroma. Rabbits will not eat dry or moldy grass.
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Gradually switch to hay if the rabbit is only eating pellets. If your rabbit doesn’t normally eat hay, it will probably go hungry if you eliminate all other food. Check the product label to make sure your rabbit’s pellets are primarily hay. As such, you can feed your rabbit pellets twice a day, always leaving hay in the cage and watching to see if it eats grass. [12] X Research Source
- When you see your rabbit eating hay regularly, gradually reduce the amount of pellets over 1-2 weeks until the pellets are completely eliminated.
- If your rabbit doesn’t eat hay, grind the pellets in a food processor, spray water on the hay, and sprinkle the pellets on the grass.
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Swap pellets made from seeds and nuts for a hay product. If the pellets don’t contain hay, buy one with hay. Feed your rabbit a mixture of half new and half old pellets. Gradually reduce the amount of old pellets over 1-2 weeks until a complete transition to the new type can be achieved. [13] X Research Source
- Once your rabbit has switched to complete hay pellets, introduce the rabbit to real hay, then gradually reduce the amount of pellets.
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Stop giving your rabbit the treat. Your rabbit will probably be disappointed that he didn’t get a treat, but you need to avoid giving him treats. Rabbits are herbivores and have special digestive systems, so even fruit can cause problems. Furthermore, if you feed your rabbit other food, it may refuse to eat the hay that is essential for the rabbit’s recovery. [14] X Research Source
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Add green vegetables to the rabbit’s diet after the rabbit’s stool has returned to normal for 1 week. It can take about 2 weeks to 3 months for rabbit poop to return to normal. A week after your rabbit’s poop returns to normal, you can feed your rabbit a small amount of greens to make sure he gets all the nutrients he needs. [15] X Research Source
- Some greens that are suitable for feeding rabbits are basil, broccoli, lettuce, kale, and collard greens. Dark leafy greens like kale are generally more nutritious than light greens like lettuce.
- Feed your rabbit up to 1 cup (about 150 g) of each dish, then stop for 48 hours to make sure it doesn’t cause soft nighttime stools.
Taking care of rabbits during recovery
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Dry bath for rabbits. If your rabbit’s fur is stained with feces, you can sprinkle baby cornstarch on the dirty areas and use your fingers (or a tight comb if needed) to clean the poop. Gently brush off the chalk, but try not to let it get near the rabbit’s face. [16] X Research Source
- Use only cornstarch, not talc or flea powder.
- Cleaning your rabbit regularly is essential during the recovery process. Dry bathing is preferable, as rabbits tolerate dry baths better than wet baths.
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Wet the rabbit if necessary. If the stains on the fur are wet and smelly, you will have to use water to wash it. Fill the sink with warm water and pour 1 tablespoon of herbal and hypoallergenic bath oil (preferably rabbit grade). Hold the rabbit gently but firmly so it doesn’t jump out and get hurt. Submerge the rabbit in the bath until the dirty areas are submerged in the water. [17] X Research Source
- Rub the soap onto the lather, then drain the sink. Return the warm water to the sink and rinse off the soap.
- You can also try using a sponge or washcloth dipped in water to wash your rabbit. This bath may be more comfortable for the rabbit than submerging the rabbit’s entire body in water.
- Use a towel to dry your rabbit after bathing. You can also use a hair dryer on a cool wind setting to dry your rabbit.
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Feed and drink rabbits. Whether treatment is medication, medication or dietary modification, you will need to monitor your rabbit’s eating and drinking. Make a note of how often you have to add food and water to the cage and try to keep track of how much food and water your rabbit consumes. [18] X Research Sources
- Observe the rabbit (from a distance if necessary) as much as possible and notice if it is eating and drinking regularly. Regularly check the rabbit’s cage and notice what characteristics the rabbit’s droppings have.
- Your veterinarian may call you to check on your rabbit’s condition or you will bring your rabbit in for a follow-up visit. This information is very important to your veterinarian, so you should record it and keep it available.
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Keep the environment quiet, clean and stress-free. Rabbits are easily startled, and stressors like loud noises are not good for their health. Maintaining a clean and comfortable environment is an important part of your rabbit’s recovery. [19] X Research Source
- Place the rabbit cage in a quiet place where there are few people in the house. Do not allow small children, guests or pets near the rabbit’s cage.
- Dirty cages can be stressful for rabbits, so it’s important to keep your rabbit’s cage clean at all times.
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This article was co-written by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Ryan Corrigan is a licensed veterinary technician in California. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010. She has also been a Fellow of the Academy’s Veterinary Nursing Technicians since 2011.
There are 8 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 6,523 times.
Rabbits have specialized digestive systems and are prone to problems such as diarrhea. Rabbits produce two types of feces: one is normal manure, and the other is night feces. When rabbits actually have diarrhea, both their stools are loose; and while rare in adult rabbits, this condition requires prompt veterinary care. Soft nocturnal stools (often mistaken for diarrhea) can be easily treated at home with some simple dietary changes. Once your rabbit has recovered, take extra care of them, bathe them when they get dirty, and keep the environment clean, quiet, and comfortable.
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