Diarrhoea in rabbits

Overview

• Diarrhoea in a rabbit is a serious problem that shouldn’t be ignored.
• As a rabbit owner, it’s important to check that your rabbit is passing normal, solid pellets every day.
• There are many different causes of diarrhoea in a rabbit.
• Book an appointment with your vet as soon as you notice your rabbit passing diarrhoea or soft faeces. Never wait to see if they improve because left untreated, diarrhoea can become a serious and life-threatening problem.

General information and causes

Has your rabbit been passing soft or runny poo, perhaps with mucus or blood, instead of their normal hard pellets? Have they been getting a dirty bottom more than usual? These symptoms shouldn’t be ignored because diarrhoea indicates that something is wrong. Diarrhoea occurs when the digestive system is upset, which can be caused by problems such as:

• A poor diet, low in fibre 
• Dental disease 
• A gut infection e.g. E. coli or Retrovirus
• Parasites in the guts e.g. Coccidiosis 
• Liver disease 
• Antibiotics prescribed for another problem can cause diarrhoea
• A sudden change of diet
• Tumours.

Caecotroph or diarrhoea?

It may surprise you to learn that rabbits actually eat their food twice and produce two types of poo (one of which is soft, sticky and commonly mistaken for diarrhoea)!

1. Caecotrophs - soft clumps of sticky, dark brown poo that you will hardly ever see. After rabbits digest their food, they pass a soft clump of sticky, dark poo called a caecotroph, which they eat immediately. The caecotroph then passes through the guts for a second time, enabling all remaining nutrients to be extracted. It’s unlikely that you will ever see your rabbit eating their caecotrophs, because it mostly happens at night.
2. Pellets - the well-known, ‘typical’ rabbit poo that you will see plenty of! After your rabbit’s food has passed through the guts for a second time, they pass a solid little, round pellets.

It’s easy to mistake caecotrophs for diarrhoea, however, it’s still important to book an appointment with your vet if you find any - rabbits only stop eating their caecotrophs if something is wrong. It can be helpful to take a sample of your rabbit’s poo to the appointment.

Other symptoms to look out for

It can be useful to let your vet know if your rabbit has any other symptoms, such as:

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• A dirty bottom
• Low energy/hiding away/being quieter than usual
• Bloating
• Stomach pain i.e. tooth grinding, shivering, hunching-up.

When to contact your vet

Book an appointment with your vet ASAP if you notice your rabbit passing anything other than normal, hard pellets. Left untreated, diarrhoea can become a serious and life-threatening problem. If possible, take a sample of your rabbit’s poo to show your vet. If you aren’t sure which of your rabbits is passing abnormal poo, take them both/all to your vet.

You know your rabbit best. If they don’t have the exact symptoms listed above but you are still concerned, it’s always best to contact your vet.

Treatment and home remedies

Treatment for diarrhoea will depend entirely on what is causing it. A visit to your vet is essential and shouldn’t be delayed. Never try to treat your rabbit’s diarrhoea at home, left untreated, diarrhoea can become a serious and life-threatening problem.

Published: October 2019