Did you know that Rabbits drop around 200-300 faecal pellets or poopy balls every day which is a lot by human standards?
Therefore, a change in quantity and characteristics could tell a lot about what’s wrong with their health and how to help them.
“If your rabbit is in peak health, their droppings will be dry, round, and brown”, says Dr Shiwani Tandel, Veterinarian, M.VSc & M.Vet Sci and founder of Phoenix Veterinary Specialty Clinic.
“But if they’re facing health issues or stress, the appearance of their droppings will alter, including changes in number, shape, and texture, signalling a potential problem”, Dr Tandel further adds.
That’s where you come in as a pet owner. Understanding the appearance of your rabbit’s poop and the significance of different types can help you identify potential health issues early on.
Table of Contents
Types of Rabbit Poop
Healthy Poop
“The most distinctive feature of a healthy rabbit poop is the golden brown colour and their round, uniform shape. It is typically the size of a sweet pea, with slight variation based on the rabbit’s size and breed.”, says Dr. Tandel.
As for the texture, you’d find it dry but soft enough to break open if applied a little bit of pressure. When you break it open, the inside of it will look a lot like hay compressed and bound together.
In an ideal scenario, you’d find at least 200-300 of these droppings daily. Talk about cleaning, huh?
“If your bunny friend is pooping all day, it’s a good sign. It means that they are getting all the fibre they need daily and their gut is moving stuff from one end to another.”, Dr. Tandel further adds.
There is another similar variant of dry poop which is darker in color as shown in the picture above.
This just indicates that your furry friend could be consuming alfalfa hay which is known for its high protein content or a diet high in protein. Switching to Timothy or orchard hay would change the dropping colour to a golden brown.
Cecotropes
Cecotropes are another type of healthy droppings that Rabbits produce. They are dark brown in colour, look glossy and are soft and mushy, unlike the dry dropping.
These cecotropes are a bundle of important nutrients and proteins and are produced in Rabbits cecum which hosts essential bacteria.
Wait, how does it matter if these cecotropes contain healthy nutrients? I’ll let this meme answer the question. This comes as a surprise to new pet owners, it certainly came as a surprise to me.
Rabbits practice coprophagy, which means they eat their droppings right from their anus as they are produced.
Eating these cecotropes is something that comes naturally to them.
A lot of times you will not see them eating these droppings because they are very shy about showing it off.
Linked poop
You will find these elongated droppings linked to one another by a strand.
Dr Shiwani mentions that this happens when your bunny has ingested a lot of furs, usually around the moulting season. Molting season is when animals/birds shed old fur, feathers or skin to make way for new ones.
Another reason is, just like house cats, rabbits also clean themselves which causes them to swallow their hair. But rabbits can’t throw up a hairball. Instead, the hair has to leave their body through their poop, which can be tough for them.
If you notice that your furry friend is pooping a lot, the onus is on you to brush their hair a bit more frequently and see if that helps.
It is not a cause for concern as long as the linked poop is dry, brown in colour, uniform in size and just a few poop balls linked together. But if it looks something like the picture above, put on your grooming gloves and make sure they have very little to ingest.
However, If you see that the droppings are soft and wet, it is time to change their diet. Increase the quantity of hay and reduce the number of treats they eat daily.
Double poop
Rabbits usually poop out little uniform pellets like clockwork. But sometimes, when their gut slows down a bit, two or three poops merge into a bigger one which sometimes even takes an oval shape.
If you only see a couple of these a day, it could be due to some stress. It could be a dog barking or a sudden loud sound that could scare them for a short duration.
Try to identify the cause and see if you can do anything to minimize it. This will calm their nerves which in turn will help with fixing the double poop.
But if you see a lot of these double poop at a regular interval, it means their gut has slowed down for quite some time and they may be suffering from GI Stasis. In that case, take them to the vet to get it checked out.
Dr Shiwani mentions that there is another possibility for double poop; your rabbit might be suffering from ongoing pain or has internal obstructions, or there are narrowings within the gut caused by a past injury that they can’t overcome. This is a serious warning sign, and you should consult your veterinarian immediately.
Tiny Irregular Droppings
Most commonly, small poop in rabbits is because of the stress due to changes in the environment. It could be a loud television or mixer grinder from inside the house, or honking and construction noise from outside, that could startle them.
Stress is directly proportional to their droppings. More stress, the more unhealthy poop they will drop. If you see that their droppings have not improved even after a few hours, look for what has changed in the last few hours.
If the changes can be reversed, see if that helps. If the changes are permanent like a new pet in the house, help your rabbit get accustomed to this new change. Once they are at ease, their droppings should return to normal.
If you still see small droppings, it could be a sign of an underlying health problem that should be diagnosed by an experienced vet.
Cecal Dysbiosis
Cecal Dysbiosis is a half-formed poop that is formed due to the imbalance of microorganisms in the gut.
In a healthy rabbit, the cecum (a part of their digestive system) contains various bacteria, amoebas, and protozoa that are essential for fermentation, creating cecotropes, which are a type of nutrient-rich droppings rabbits eat.
However, if there’s a disturbance in the balance of these microorganisms, sometimes caused by antibiotics given for other illnesses, it can disrupt the production of cecotropes.
The poop will be in all shapes and sizes, the texture would be soft and mushy and will carry a pungent smell. This type of poop mostly sticks around your rabbit’s bottom and can easily be noticed.
This imbalance is mostly caused by an improper diet which includes sugary treats, high carbohydrate or high calorie food.
If you notice that your rabbit is dropping this mushy poop, it is time to stop all kinds of treats and increase the amount of hay and water.
This is very common in rabbits so a change in diet should help with the balance in the population of their gut bacteria. But if a healthy diet does not have any effect on their droppings, it is time to book an appointment with a vet.
Mucous Covered Poops
Mucus in your rabbit’s poop is a major red flag, according to Dr. Tandel.
You will either find the droppings covered in mucus or droppings filled with mucus from the inside. In any case, book an appointment with your vet asap. Here are a few of the major reasons for a mucus-filled poop
- Cecal Impaction (a condition where dehydrated feed gets stuck in the intestine barring the normal movement of waste from the anus)
- Parasites in the gut
- Your rabbit might be recovering from GI Stasis
Make sure to take a few sample droppings while visiting the vet.
Worms in poop
Worms in the poop are a common occurrence and not always a cause of concern. Pinworms are a common parasite of the gut that infects them at least once during their lifetime.
Rabbits may have picked up some eggs when ingesting and they develop into worms inside their intestine and cecum. These mature worms come out from the anus along with the droppings.
Although not ideal, these worms are not a health threat and often live inside their gut without being noticed. However, sometimes they cause skin irritability around the anus. If it happens all the time, it is time to look into it more seriously.
Several medicines can help with it. A course of fenbendazole should help but before your rabbit takes it, be sure to consult with your vet.
Diarrhea or watery poop
Although rare, your rabbit may experience true diarrhoea which means their poop will be of runny consistency.
This is an indication that your rabbit may have ingested something toxic to them. This should be treated as an emergency and you should see the vet immediately.
Diarrhea is more common in young rabbits esp. the ones who have not started weaning.
Premature weaning sometimes leads to diarrhoea in young rabbits because their digestive systems may not be sufficiently developed to handle their first food tasting, resulting in diarrhoea.
Please note that diarrhoea is extremely dangerous in young rabbits and every second matters.
If you notice a lack of appetite or runny stool in the younger ones, take them to the doctor immediately. Even an hour can make a difference in saving their lives.
Why Is My Rabbit Not Dropping Anything At All?
No poop or constipation can get very serious, very quickly. Especially when they have not pooped for at least 8-10 hours.
Most likely, they are suffering from GI Stasis which could be life-threatening if not treated in time.
GI Stasis is a condition that blocks or slows down the passage of food through the stomach. This can happen due to various reasons such as eating too many sugary treats, not eating enough hay, or not drinking enough water.
If you observe that your rabbit isn’t pooping, eating, or is less active than usual, which is not normal for them, stop giving them any treats and make sure they have constant access to plenty of hay and water.
A couple of intakes sometimes clear their system for normal movement. If it doesn’t and it’s more than 5-8 hours, I would strongly recommend seeing a vet.
To help a rabbit with GI stasis, a veterinarian may provide medication to stimulate the movement of food in the digestive system. They may also recommend a special diet and additional fluids to keep the rabbit hydrated.
Managing the Bounty: Practical Uses for Rabbit Droppings”
Rabbit droppings, while seemingly just a byproduct of your pet’s daily life, can be a valuable resource when managed properly. These small pellets are not only an indicator of your rabbit’s health but can also be repurposed in several beneficial ways. Here are some practical applications for the abundance of rabbit poop you might find yourself dealing with:
- Composting: Rabbit droppings are an excellent addition to your compost pile. Rich in nitrogen, they can help accelerate the composting process and enrich the final compost with nutrients essential for plant growth. Unlike some other manures, rabbit poop can be added directly to compost without the need for ageing.
- Fertilizer: Thanks to their nutrient-rich composition, rabbit droppings can be used as a direct fertilizer for your garden. They slowly release nutrients into the soil, improving plant health. You can sprinkle the dry pellets around your plants or steep them in water to make a potent liquid fertilizer.
- Educational Tool: For families with young children, managing rabbit droppings can become an educational activity. It’s an opportunity to teach kids about responsible pet ownership, recycling, and the basics of gardening.
- Donation: If you find yourself with more rabbit droppings than you can use, consider donating them to local gardeners or community gardens. Many people appreciate the value of this organic material for their plants.
Remember, when handling rabbit droppings, it’s important to use gloves and maintain proper hygiene practices to avoid any health risks. With a little creativity and effort, what seems like waste can turn into a valuable asset for your garden and home.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does rabbit poop look like?
Rabbit poop is usually small, round, and pellet-like. The colour of the droppings can change based on what the rabbit eats, often appearing golden. A light golden hue suggests a diet rich in timothy hay, whereas a darker golden colour points to the consumption of alfalfa hay, which has a higher protein content.
The size and shape of the pellets can also vary based on the rabbit’s age and size but it is mostly the size of chickpeas.
- Can You Catch Diseases From A Rabbit’s Poop?
The risk of contracting a disease from rabbit faeces or urine is minimal because parasites commonly found in rabbits, such as pinworms, tapeworms, and coccidia, are species-specific and do not pose a threat to humans.