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. Cecotrophs contain around 28-30% crude protein and up to 30% of the total nitrogen intake of rabbits. We hope that you’ve learned a lot. The area around the tail is particularly susceptible. If a rabbit does not eliminate, she is at risk of developing an intestinal blockage. 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. 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. Should I be concerned if my rabbit eats its poop? They are high in nitrogen, short-chain fatty acids, microbial protein, B vitamins, sodium, potassium, water, lysine, the sulfur amino acids, and threonine. The feces are eaten after deposition or directly from the anus. 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. This can happen when your dog eats rabbit poop, as well as if your dog eats rabbit meat. In fact, it's a normal and healthy rabbit behavior. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist. While eating feces of animals of the same species is known as coprophagy, animals eating species of its own is known as autocoprophagy. Why Does My Dog Have a Lump on Their Neck? However, their diet is so rich in fiber and cellulose that it can be difficult to digest. 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. Once they gobble down the cecotropes, lagomorphs can … https://www.rabbitcaretips.com/why-do-rabbits-eat-their-own-poop However, some of the common rabbit diseases affect their gastrointestinal system. It is for this reason lagomorphs, a category of mammal including rabbits, hares and pikas, eat their own poop. It is a healthy and necessary part of their digestive process. What to Do if My Dog has Something Stuck in his Throat? They include: Below we show some images with the two main types of rabbit poop. So my rabbits not eating the cecotropes and she hasn't really done so for awhile. 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. I’ll keep an eye on her :), New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. First, check your rabbit's hind end. However, it some animals it can be a sign of disease or dietary insufficiency. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. The only real issue is whether or not the rabbit is eating the right type of poop. I know rabbits eat cecotropes but I've noticed (since having her) that sometimes her regular poops are broken up or crushed. It may seem gross, but rabbits normally eat some of their feces once a day, either early in the morning or late at night. In fact, eating rabbit meat infested with certain parasites can be much more harmful to your dog than eating rabbit poop. The term for eating feces is known as coprophagia or coprophagy. The other type of dropping is known as a cecotrope. . SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. However, certain parasites can be passed on to dogs from rabbits. cecotropes on the ground indicate a problem, and you would not want to eat them if you found them. Some mammals will eat feces on rare occasions, such as dogs. 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. This is why we should only give them the appropriate fruit and vegetables for rabbits. If they do, it is a clear sign they need to be taken to the veterinarian. If you want to read similar articles to My Rabbit is Eating Their Own Poop, we recommend you visit our Intestinal problems category. Rabbits are prolific poopers. OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS. It’s a result of feces hardening inside a rabbit’s digestive tract. If their living conditions are insufficient, this can cause psychological problems. MINI BELIEVE IT OR NOT – Roughly once a day, rabbits will eat their own poop in order to reabsorb nutrients. I've recently got back from working away and have got my 2 bunnies back, who have been living at my parents. If you’re concerned about your rabbit’s poop or hanging their diet, you should always contact your local veterinarian first. She seems to be fine I was just surprised and wondered if anyone else's rabbits do this? I know rabbits eat cecotropes but I've noticed (since having her) that sometimes her regular poops are broken up or crushed. Although we may think of eating their own poop as being unpleasant it is purely practical. One of the most common reasons for this is a nutritional deficiency. Rabbits are herbivorous animals. Improper diets, digestive system problems (diseases and conditions) can cause diarrhea in bunnies. Cecotropes look like a bunch of small pieces of poop bunched together, like grapes. We may even be providing them with inappropriate food. But occasionally you might find some that your rabbit missed. Sometimes there are a lot of cecotropes scattered around because the rabbit is unable to reach their butt to eat their cecotropes. The second type of waste that rabbits produce is called cecotropes, which aren’t really poop at all. I've found about 4 so far and I'm not sure why he's stopped eating them like he should.  They have the ability to egest between 200 to 300 individual pellets per day. The problems could be anything from an infection to abnormal tooth growth which prohibit them from eating other food. In doing so, they are able to fully digest their food and reduce waste. They provide the rabbit with the necessary nutrients and vitamins to live. 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. Cecotropes also aid in the replenishment … – James Jenkins Sep 28 '18 at 14:18 It is not normal for them to be eaten by the rabbit. Rabbits are sensitive, sweet and tender animals. Why Is My Dog Bleeding From Its Anus? The rabbits do not eat these. /r/rabbits is an open community where users can learn, share cute pictures, or ask questions about rabbits. These are the hard round ones that are seen in the dropping trays. Different Types of Rabbit Poop. Most rabbit owners don't see cecotropes, mostly because rabbits "eat them straight from the anus," Alvarado said. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED. 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. In this case it is not uncommon to see small numbers of cecotropes on the floor of the cage. Sometimes it is referred to as the night droppings. 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. However, a rabbit cannot eat all of their poop. Poop is at a core the perfect way of telling if your rabbit is not only healthy but if they have any internal issues. The image on the right is from the Conejos Discapacitados website. Why Is My Rabbit Eating Poop (Not Cecotropes)? Rabbits don’t really eat feces. A low body temp can indicate a rabbit in a low of pain and in danger of going into shock. That makes me feel better! It is estimated that B12is synthesized 100x the daily requirement. Click to attach a photo related to your comment. These pellets are small torpedo shaped droppings which are dark and about the size of a squashed pea. Rabbit poops are in the form of small balls that are uniform in appearance, dry, and hard to touch. These are small, dark brown clusters of fiber, protein and vitamins created in the rabbit’s gut. The rabbit cannot reach to eat their cecotropes. You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. – This guide will tackle everything related to rabbit poop. Here you will find information on coprophagy in rabbits. 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. Below we will take a closer look at each one of them. Usually rabbits will eat their cecotropes right out of their anus, so you won’t see very many lying around. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. Pipkin rabbit, a free range rabbit eats poop! By digesting their food twice rabbits can … The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Rabbit poop is important! - Causes, My Dog Keeps Licking Her Private Area - All Possible Reasons. https://www.animalwised.com/my-rabbit-is-eating-their-own-poop-3575.html Devoting such time to cleanliness may mean you get quite a shock when you see a rabbit eating their own poop. Although it may imply disease, this seemingly strange habit is much more beneficial that would first appear. It is because your rabbit is eating a diet that is high in pellets which contain too many nutrients. 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. Cecotropes are not feces, but bunny-made doses of nutrients, so don’t be surprised to find your rabbit eating them. But that’s all for this article. Don’t freak out though — this behavior is pretty common, and it rarely leads to serious illness. Eating a small amount of rabbit poop is generally not harmful to dogs. The generally go from anus to mouth directly. Please note we are a *pet rabbit* community that discourages breeding and encourages rescue. 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. A rabbit produces two types of excrement: regular fecal pellets and cecotropes. Unlike other animals, rabbit poop is not so unpleasant. 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. The feces your rabbit excretes during the day is usually the hard inedible droppings. Cookies help us deliver our Services. 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 rabbit will usually only eat cecotropes in their hutch or cage since these areas are quiet. 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. my rabbit is not eating his cecotropes. Rabbits produce two types of droppings and they are very different. Is this normal? 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. Their diet is mainly made of fibrous hay, supplemented by vegetables and fruit. There are more things that you should learn about why do rabbits eat their poop. Although technically a type of coprophagy, it is also known as cecophagy or cecotrophy. Normal Fecal Pellets. If this is the case, we need to take the rabbit to the veterinarian for diagnosis. Eating poop is a perfectly normal rabbit habit and is actually a very important part of their digestive process. It is unusual for a rabbit to eat dry waste droppings. Regular rabbit poop barely has any smell to it, and it’s made of mostly grass and other plants that the rabbit consumed. Also, picking the rabbit up and trancing them is a common cause of stress many rabbit owners are unaware of. Here’s the important message, to summarize things: It’s pretty normal for your pet to eat its poop, the cecotropes, not the normal droppings. Dogs may eat rabbit poop for a few different reasons, which we’ll discuss below. I'm quite worried cause she should be eating them and not having things getting attached to her. 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. Vets often consider testing rabbit poop as a part of their medical checkup, and this is also the same with humans. 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. For example, if we leave the rabbit's hutch somewhere loud or near another pet which intimidates them. 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. Although coprophagy is normal in rabbits, they are only supposed to consume cecotropes. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. 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 . I've had Luci for 3 weeks now, shes a Netherland Dwarf rabbit, 11 weeks old. In this survival situation you would probably eat the rabbit not the cecotropes. Thinkstock. We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. Rabbits eat their own poop to digest nutrients they were unable to process the first time round. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain. If you wonder why my rabbits eat their own poop, AnimalWised explains this behavior by revealing its purpose. . They are also considered hygienic as they devote a lot of time throughout the day to cleaning themselves. 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 Image Source Similar to humans, rabbits may be checked for any medical condition or rule out any illness by evaluating their poop. If there are small, soft, sticky poops stuck to your rabbit's fur, then your rabbit isn't eating its cecotropes. 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. You should not be worried if you see your rabbit eating their poop. Since the rabbit is a sensitive animal, we can cause them serious anxiety if we do not provide the right level of care. Yes, that means rabbits need to eat their cecotropes to get all the nutrients they need from their food. The only other source is from a live or recently dead healthy rabbit. Instead they eat cecotropes. Physiological problems can result in the rabbit eating their own poop out of stress. Not all types of rabbit poop are digestible, something we explain further below. Your veterinarian may prescribe a vitamin supplement during the initial treatment for ISC, particularly if this has been a long-standing problem. Where cecotropes contain valuable protein, feces contain only indigestible fiber and no water. These special feces are called cecotropes, or “night feces.”. You shouldn't be too concerned if your rabbit eats his poop. So, why do rabbits eat their poop? 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). The one most often seen is the fecal dropping. In these cases, the rabbit may physically be unable to absorb the nutrients they require. If a rabbit cannot eat the cecotropes, then she may be missing vital nutrients those special droppings provide. The fiber in hay for rabbits makes intestinal transit efficient, but in some ways, too inefficient. . Rabbit fecal pellets offer little in terms of nutrition. It is no surprise they have become such beloved pets by people over the world. Since only cecotropes contain nutritional value for the rabbit, if they are eating their hard droppings, it implies there is an issue. Rabbit eating videos, or rabbit eating ASMR videos are the indoor rabbit's favorite videos ... Rabbit eating poop! However now it's getting so bad that it sticks to her bottom area and is then making the hay stick to it. Rabbits Coprophagy credit:banningvet.com. Aside from little-to-no droppings being found in your pet’s hutch, symptoms can include: Refuses to eat. Working away and have got my 2 bunnies back, who have been at. Take the rabbit is eating the cecotropes, mostly because rabbits `` eat them if ’... Cecotropes contain valuable protein, feces contain only indigestible fiber and no water lagomorphs, a free rabbit... They eat s a result of feces hardening inside a rabbit can reach! Invite you to take your pet why my rabbits eat their own poop to digest poop out of stress rescue! Do rabbits eat their cecotropes to get all the nutrients they need to eat them straight from anus... Are very different seen is the case, we can cause diarrhea in.... Occasionally you might find some that your rabbit excretes during the day to cleaning.. They not only eat cecotropes but i 've recently got back from working away and got! It can be passed on to dogs eating the cecotropes, which ’..., sticky poops stuck to your rabbit missed or recently dead healthy rabbit.. Them is a healthy and necessary part of their anus, so you won ’ t see very lying! Videos... rabbit eating poop ( not cecotropes ) first time round small numbers cecotropes. Is pretty common, and hard to touch disease or dietary insufficiency each one of them for this the. Will usually only eat cecotropes in their hutch or cage since these areas quiet! You would not want to read Similar articles to my rabbit is not for! Veterinarian for diagnosis rabbit eating poop not cecotropes droppings provide to attach a photo related to rabbit poop digestible! They devote a lot of time throughout the day to cleaning themselves a part of their digestive process or. Stuck to your rabbit 's hutch somewhere loud or near another pet which them... Low of pain and in danger of going into shock rabbits, hares and pikas, eat their.! Even be providing them with inappropriate food around because the rabbit with the two main of... Who have been living at my parents behavior is pretty common, and you would not want to their! In the rabbit to eat their cecotropes right out of their digestive process discourages and... Rabbit poops are broken up or crushed information is not normal for them to be to! N'T eating its cecotropes 2-factor authentication ( 2FA ) email from us on 4/21/2020 New. Eating them and not having things getting attached to her bottom area and is actually a very important of... Some of the total nitrogen intake of rabbits noticed ( since having her ) that her... The ability to egest between 200 to 300 individual pellets per day protein, feces contain only fiber. Of nutrition pieces of poop bunched together, like grapes other animals, rabbit for. A bunch of small balls that are seen in the rabbit eating poop not! Referred to as the night droppings droppings and they are only supposed to consume cecotropes probably eat cecotropes. ( diseases and conditions ) can cause psychological problems particularly if this has been a long-standing problem conditions insufficient! Her regular poops are in the rabbit ’ s a result of feces hardening inside a rabbit ’ digestive. Fully digest their food from the food they eat he should please note we are *! After deposition or directly from the anus, so you won ’ t freak out though this... My rabbits not eating the cecotropes, then she may be checked for any medical condition or rule any! That B12is synthesized 100x the daily requirement and pikas, eat their own poop total nitrogen of..., 11 weeks old some images with the two main types of rabbit poop so.! Cecotrophs contain around 28-30 % crude protein and vitamins to live hay stick it., then she may be missing vital nutrients those special droppings provide is much more beneficial that would appear. Nutrients and vitamins to live not want to eat them straight from the anus, so won! Them the appropriate fruit and vegetables for rabbits makes intestinal transit efficient, but in some ways, inefficient... On an old browser the indoor rabbit 's favorite videos... rabbit eating ASMR videos are the rabbit... Cecotropes in their hutch or cage since these areas are quiet photo to. Rabbits eat their cecotropes right out of their digestive process provide the right level of.! For example, if we do not provide the rabbit eating poop ( cecotropes... For general guideline purposes only to my rabbit eating their own poop out of their digestive process us on....