Excessive cecal production Generally, rabbits on a low-protein or low-simple carbohydrate and low-fat diet will consume more cecotropes to try and obtain adequate amounts of needed nutrients. Rabbits on a higher protein diet will consume less of their cecals.
The treatment of ISC is based first on a serious diet restriction to grass hay, which acts to return the GI tract to normal, and secondly a gradual reintroduction of additional foods after normal cecotropes are produced for at least a week.
A diet too high in carbohydrates, protein, or sugar can upset the balance of bacteria in the caecum causing the production of too many cecotropes. The rabbit ignores these extra dropping as they contain unneeded nutrients and they become stuck in the fur or squished on the floor instead.
Too many treats
Diet is usually the culprit for the overproduction of cecotropes. One of the biggest factors is when a pet rabbit is given too many sweet treats. Foods that contain a lot of sugar promote the overgrowth of bacteria within the rabbit's gut, causing it to be unbalanced.
If cecotropes are not ingested, the rabbit may experience dietary insufficiencies. Additionally, note that a 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.
Fruit, as healthy as it is for humans, can be too much of a good thing for rabbits. The high level of sugar and starch in table fruit makes them too rich for a bunny except as a very small, occasional treat. A diet too rich in digestible starch is one of the most common causes of runny cecotropes in companion rabbits.
A diet too rich in digestible starch is one of the most common causes of runny cecotropes in companion rabbits. A rabbit should be fed unlimited grass hay, such as timothy, brome, wheat or oat. DO NOT use alfalfa, as this is far too rich in calories and protein for good rabbit health.
Excess cecotropes in young rabbits is quite common. It's caused by their rich diet (alfalfa). Generally, it isn't anything to worry about as long as they are eating everything they should and they are not getting poopy butt issues. The problem usually resolves itself when they are transitioned to an adult diet.
Territorial pooping: Rabbits are territorial animals that will scatter their poops around an area to claim it as their own. They will do this when they first explore a new area and if they share an exercise space with another animal they are not bonded to.
Essentially, rabbits produce two types of droppings: fecal pellets and cecotropes. The rabbit consumes the cecotropes as they exit the anus. The cecotropes are nutrient packed, dietary items that are essential for the rabbit's health. Normal cecotropes are dark, greenish-brown and resemble tightly bunched grapes.
It is completely normal behavior for rabbits to eat cecotropes at night or early in the morning, but it is not normal for them to eat their normal stools during the day.
How much do rabbits poop? Not all rabbits poop the same amount every day, since rabbits come in so many different sizes. However, you can usually expect to find somewhere around 200-300 poops a day. The amount that they poop is, understandably, proportional to how much food they eat.
A rabbit's daily diet should consist mainly of large quantities of hay or dried or fresh grass that will provide the necessary fibre for the rabbit. Rabbits should have hay or dried or fresh grass during the day and night.
If you don't have access to cecotropes, add a pinch of acidophilus (a probiotic) to the formula to promote healthy gut flora. This is particularly important for rabbits under one week of age.
Fill a bathroom sink to about 2.5″ depth with lukewarm water. Mix in about a tablespoon of shampoo, and mix well. Being firm and gentle so that the bunny cannot jump and injure himself, lower his rear end into the lukewarm shampoo/water, and gently lave the solution onto the soiled areas until they are clean.
If your rabbit is pooping/spraying pee everywhere, this is probably due to your rabbit marking his territory. It's a good idea to get your rabbit spayed/neutered in order to ease territorial feelings.
Grooming can be a self-comforting behavior for rabbits. If they are stressed, anxious, bored, or even a little sick, a rabbit might try to feel better by self-grooming more often.
The total amount of fresh food that you may give to your rabbit daily (once your bunny has been gradually introduced to it), is a minimum of 1 heaping cup (loosely packed), per 5 pound of body weight, given two times a day.
Unlike most other mammals, rabbits produce two types of droppings, fecal pellets (the round, dry ones you usually see in the litterbox) and cecotropes. Cecal pellets (aka cecotropes) are a special food made by your rabbit, for your rabbit. The cecal pellets are passed from the rabbit and then re-ingested.
Harvesting cecotropes is easier said then done. The recommended method is to put a cone collar on the donor/healthy rabbit, so they are unable to eat them directly, then harvest them from the floor.
Small clusters of shiny droppings that look like a blackberry or a bunch of grapes are technically not considered poop. They are called cecotropes or cecal pellets. They are quite smelly and mushy, but they are common.
A rabbit may produce cecotropes at various times during the day, and this periodicity may vary from rabbit to rabbit. Some produce cecotropes in the late morning, some in the late afternoon, and some at night. In any case, they usually do this when you're not watching (quite polite of them).