One of them I have always had to watch out with his cecotropes - he has a tendency not to eat them all and gets messy. Should I be concerned if my rabbit eats its poop? It is for this reason lagomorphs, a category of mammal including rabbits, hares and pikas, eat their own poop. We have taken our lop eared castrated male rabbit, mischief, to the vet for a check up, as he doesn't eat his cecotropes. The term for eating feces is known as coprophagia or coprophagy. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Rabbits produce two types of droppings and they are very different. MINI BELIEVE IT OR NOT – Roughly once a day, rabbits will eat their own poop in order to reabsorb nutrients. If this is the case, we need to take the rabbit to the veterinarian for diagnosis. Please note we are a *pet rabbit* community that discourages breeding and encourages rescue. Cecotropes also aid in the replenishment …  It’s not regular feces, but a substance called cecotropes; It’s produced through the fermentation of food in part of the digestive tract called the cecum The only other source is from a live or recently dead healthy rabbit. The problems could be anything from an infection to abnormal tooth growth which prohibit them from eating other food. - Causes, My Dog Keeps Licking Her Private Area - All Possible Reasons. SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. Although it may imply disease, this seemingly strange habit is much more beneficial that would first appear. Rabbits don’t really eat feces. The rabbit cannot reach to eat their cecotropes. If there are small, soft, sticky poops stuck to your rabbit's fur, then your rabbit isn't eating its cecotropes. However now it's getting so bad that it sticks to her bottom area and is then making the hay stick to it. Also, picking the rabbit up and trancing them is a common cause of stress many rabbit owners are unaware of. Rabbit poops are in the form of small balls that are uniform in appearance, dry, and hard to touch. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They include: Below we show some images with the two main types of rabbit poop. Rabbits are sensitive, sweet and tender animals. Some mammals will eat feces on rare occasions, such as dogs. But occasionally you might find some that your rabbit missed. In fact, it's a normal and healthy rabbit behavior. Although we may think of eating their own poop as being unpleasant it is purely practical. . Devoting such time to cleanliness may mean you get quite a shock when you see a rabbit eating their own poop. Rabbits get more nutrition from eating cecotropes than from the food they eat. This can happen because the rabbit is too obese to reach around their folds of fat, but it can also happen with rabbits who are elderly and disabled with limited mobility. Some animals such as flies and other insects will eat feces as a means of sustenance, but it is not as common a practice in vertebrates. The second type of waste that rabbits produce is called cecotropes, which aren’t really poop at all. Sometimes there are a lot of cecotropes scattered around because the rabbit is unable to reach their butt to eat their cecotropes. You should not be worried if you see your rabbit eating their poop. Eating a small amount of rabbit poop is generally not harmful to dogs. Why Is My Rabbit Eating Poop (Not Cecotropes)? The rabbits do not eat these. . Improper diets, digestive system problems (diseases and conditions) can cause diarrhea in bunnies. cecotropes on the ground indicate a problem, and you would not want to eat them if you found them. In these cases, the rabbit may physically be unable to absorb the nutrients they require. Cecotropes are not feces, but bunny-made doses of nutrients, so don’t be surprised to find your rabbit eating them. This is why we should only give them the appropriate fruit and vegetables for rabbits. I've found about 4 so far and I'm not sure why he's stopped eating them like he should. On the other hand, when the stool is deformed or not completely formed, it indicates that the rabbit is suffering from stress, a health problem or a poor diet. I'd assumed it happened by accident, maybe she was walking on them or we were walking on them but tonight she started eating her cecotrophes next to me and I saw regular poop dust all over her face and wiskers as well as crushed up poops around her. A rabbit produces two types of excrement: regular fecal pellets and cecotropes. Cecotropes look like a bunch of small pieces of poop bunched together, like grapes. Don’t freak out though — this behavior is pretty common, and it rarely leads to serious illness. In fact, eating rabbit meat infested with certain parasites can be much more harmful to your dog than eating rabbit poop. Cecotrophs contain around 28-30% crude protein and up to 30% of the total nitrogen intake of rabbits. Here you will find information on coprophagy in rabbits. Eating poop is a perfectly normal rabbit habit and is actually a very important part of their digestive process. If a rabbit does not eliminate, she is at risk of developing an intestinal blockage. Below we will take a closer look at each one of them. However, it some animals it can be a sign of disease or dietary insufficiency. Dogs may eat rabbit poop for a few different reasons, which we’ll discuss below. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. But that’s all for this article. Not only does it seem contrary to good hygiene, but rabbits eating their own feces also implies they have a health problem, whether physical or psychological. It is a healthy and necessary part of their digestive process. If their living conditions are insufficient, this can cause psychological problems. A low body temp can indicate a rabbit in a low of pain and in danger of going into shock. So my rabbits not eating the cecotropes and she hasn't really done so for awhile. If a rabbit cannot eat the cecotropes, then she may be missing vital nutrients those special droppings provide. OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS. Is this normal? Cookies help us deliver our Services. Cecotrophy (eating cecotropes / healthy poop) is taught by the mother rabbit (dam) to her offsprings (kits/kittens) as soon as they open their eyes (about ten days). I’ll keep an eye on her :), New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I know that these are cecotropes rather than dihorrea, due to their appearance and the fact as he has been leaving his usual pelleted poo in normal amounts as well. Pipkin rabbit, a free range rabbit eats poop! https://www.animalwised.com/my-rabbit-is-eating-their-own-poop-3575.html The soft cecotropes that are swallowed whole as soon as they are eliminated from the body are packed with key nutrients and help to keep the rabbit’s digestive tract functioning properly. The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The other type of dropping is known as a cecotrope. Rabbit eating videos, or rabbit eating ASMR videos are the indoor rabbit's favorite videos ... Rabbit eating poop! First, check your rabbit's hind end. If you want to read similar articles to My Rabbit is Eating Their Own Poop, we recommend you visit our Intestinal problems category. It may seem gross, but rabbits normally eat some of their feces once a day, either early in the morning or late at night. This can happen when your dog eats rabbit poop, as well as if your dog eats rabbit meat. Poop is at a core the perfect way of telling if your rabbit is not only healthy but if they have any internal issues. Although coprophagy is normal in rabbits, they are only supposed to consume cecotropes. – This guide will tackle everything related to rabbit poop. Image Source Similar to humans, rabbits may be checked for any medical condition or rule out any illness by evaluating their poop. Although the food may have reached the end of the digestive tract, not all of the nutrients have been absorbed by the rabbit's body. Although technically a type of coprophagy, it is also known as cecophagy or cecotrophy. The rabbit will usually only eat cecotropes in their hutch or cage since these areas are quiet. By digesting their food twice rabbits can … I'd assumed it happened by accident, maybe she was walking on them or we were walking on them but tonight she started eating her cecotrophes next to me and I saw regular poop dust all over her face and wiskers as well as crushed up poops around her. One of the most common reasons for this is a nutritional deficiency. It is no surprise they have become such beloved pets by people over the world. I've recently got back from working away and have got my 2 bunnies back, who have been living at my parents. We may even be providing them with inappropriate food. If they do, it is a clear sign they need to be taken to the veterinarian. Aside from little-to-no droppings being found in your pet’s hutch, symptoms can include: Refuses to eat. However, some of the common rabbit diseases affect their gastrointestinal system. They provide the rabbit with the necessary nutrients and vitamins to live. Usually rabbits will eat their cecotropes right out of their anus, so you won’t see very many lying around. If the rabbit is not getting all of their nutrients, they not only eat the cecotropes, but the hard droppings as well. Once they gobble down the cecotropes, lagomorphs can … Rabbits Coprophagy credit:banningvet.com. The one most often seen is the fecal dropping. Normal Fecal Pellets. Rabbits are herbivorous animals. In addition to the two aforementioned types of rabbit feces, we can also highlight other types of excrement in rabbits that can occur in certain situations. If you wonder why my rabbits eat their own poop, AnimalWised explains this behavior by revealing its purpose. Your veterinarian may prescribe a vitamin supplement during the initial treatment for ISC, particularly if this has been a long-standing problem. The feces your rabbit excretes during the day is usually the hard inedible droppings. The fiber in hay for rabbits makes intestinal transit efficient, but in some ways, too inefficient. While eating feces of animals of the same species is known as coprophagy, animals eating species of its own is known as autocoprophagy. She seems to be fine I was just surprised and wondered if anyone else's rabbits do this? Rabbits eat their own poop to digest nutrients they were unable to process the first time round. It is estimated that B12is synthesized 100x the daily requirement. Rabbit poop is important! The short-chain fatty acids in their cecals provide an additional source of energy, and the B vitamins provided can be in excess of the rabbit's needs. I'm quite worried cause she should be eating them and not having things getting attached to her. These are the hard round ones that are seen in the dropping trays. Why Does My Dog Have a Lump on Their Neck? The area around the tail is particularly susceptible. Constipation in rabbits can be dangerous. In this survival situation you would probably eat the rabbit not the cecotropes. A rabbit normally has a clean rear end because, even though cecotropes are soft and sticky, it is consuming these poops as they are exiting the body. I know rabbits eat cecotropes but I've noticed (since having her) that sometimes her regular poops are broken up or crushed. You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. They are high in nitrogen, short-chain fatty acids, microbial protein, B vitamins, sodium, potassium, water, lysine, the sulfur amino acids, and threonine. It is unusual for a rabbit to eat dry waste droppings. These are small, dark brown clusters of fiber, protein and vitamins created in the rabbit’s gut. I've had my lionhead rabbit for a week now and have noticed over the last couple of days that he has been leaving mushy poo around his cage. . /r/rabbits is an open community where users can learn, share cute pictures, or ask questions about rabbits. Most rabbit owners don't see cecotropes, mostly because rabbits "eat them straight from the anus," Alvarado said. What to Do if My Dog has Something Stuck in his Throat? Thinkstock. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain. There are more things that you should learn about why do rabbits eat their poop. Rabbits are prolific poopers. In this case it is not uncommon to see small numbers of cecotropes on the floor of the cage. We hope that you’ve learned a lot. Their diet is mainly made of fibrous hay, supplemented by vegetables and fruit. Sometimes it is referred to as the night droppings. Not all types of rabbit poop are digestible, something we explain further below. That makes me feel better! The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. These pellets are small torpedo shaped droppings which are dark and about the size of a squashed pea. Unlike other animals, rabbit poop is not so unpleasant. The only real issue is whether or not the rabbit is eating the right type of poop. Also, according to House Rabbit Society, “rabbit may not eat cecotropes due to dental or other oral pain as well as obesity or restricted movement (e.g., spondylosis) that prevents the bunny from physically reaching the anus to eat the cecotropes.” Not all soft feces are caecotrophs. Why Is My Dog Bleeding From Its Anus? I've had Luci for 3 weeks now, shes a Netherland Dwarf rabbit, 11 weeks old. The other reason is a medical problem but in your case I would say it is due to the pellets and should resolve itself once you begin adding more vegetables to his diet and reducing the amount of pellets. Since the rabbit is a sensitive animal, we can cause them serious anxiety if we do not provide the right level of care. https://www.rabbitcaretips.com/why-do-rabbits-eat-their-own-poop my rabbit is not eating his cecotropes. We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. However, certain parasites can be passed on to dogs from rabbits. Different Types of Rabbit Poop. Regular rabbit poop barely has any smell to it, and it’s made of mostly grass and other plants that the rabbit consumed. So, why do rabbits eat their poop? If you want to best avoid psychological and physical problems in rabbits, take a look at our rabbit care guide video: This article is purely informative. You shouldn't be too concerned if your rabbit eats his poop. They have the ability to egest between 200 to 300 individual pellets per day. Instead they eat cecotropes. This could be due to us not providing the right kind of food for them. However, it can make your dog feel rotten in some cases, and you’ll want to do whatever you can to stop it, because, well, gross. Vets often consider testing rabbit poop as a part of their medical checkup, and this is also the same with humans. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. The image on the right is from the Conejos Discapacitados website. The feces are eaten after deposition or directly from the anus. They are also considered hygienic as they devote a lot of time throughout the day to cleaning themselves. The vet says that he looks healthy, he is not overweight, his diet is excellent, plenty of hay, a measured amount of daily pellets, fresh veg and water always available. However, their diet is so rich in fiber and cellulose that it can be difficult to digest. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist. Although it is not well understood in dogs, it is believed to be a practice which helps digestion. The generally go from anus to mouth directly. Yes, that means rabbits need to eat their cecotropes to get all the nutrients they need from their food. These special feces are called cecotropes, or “night feces.”. She is a bit cooky and seems to think she’s part hawk sometimes as she’ll climb up onto my shoulder or perch on my elbow or wrist to survey the area before pouncing off . Physiological problems can result in the rabbit eating their own poop out of stress. It’s a result of feces hardening inside a rabbit’s digestive tract. However, a rabbit cannot eat all of their poop. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED. My Kitten Has Diarrhea But Acts Normal Otherwise, My Puppy Has Diarrhea - Causes And Treatment, Why is My Dog Throwing Up Yellow - Causes, Treatment & Home Remedies. You may notice your rabbit cleans themselves more often when they have eaten their poop, but this is usually because the soft feces can more easily stick to their fur. Rabbit fecal pellets offer little in terms of nutrition. Since only cecotropes contain nutritional value for the rabbit, if they are eating their hard droppings, it implies there is an issue. I know rabbits eat cecotropes but I've noticed (since having her) that sometimes her regular poops are broken up or crushed. It is because your rabbit is eating a diet that is high in pellets which contain too many nutrients. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Where cecotropes contain valuable protein, feces contain only indigestible fiber and no water. – James Jenkins Sep 28 '18 at 14:18 In doing so, they are able to fully digest their food and reduce waste. Click to attach a photo related to your comment. For example, if we leave the rabbit's hutch somewhere loud or near another pet which intimidates them. Rabbits will leave two types of poop: These two types of excrement are the most common and the ones that indicate that the animal is healthy. It is not normal for them to be eaten by the rabbit. 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