Diarrhea in Rabbits

Diarrhea could be deadly if not treated. Diarrhea can cause your bunny to become severely dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to many additional serious medical problems. Diarrhea in its true form is rare in adult rabbits.

Signs of Diarrhea:
• Watery or mushy fecal droppings
Causes
• Intestinal parasites or inflammation of the intestine
• Too much of certain types of fresh greens such as Romaine Lettuce

Intestinal parasites or anything that inflames the lining of the intestine can cause diarrhea. Some intestinal parasites include coccidia (Eimeria spp.), roundworms, and tapeworms.

It has also been observed at the rabbit rescue that too much Romaine Lettuce and other fresh greens or excessive treats such as bananas can cause diarrhea. This could occur in some rabbits but not others. Some rabbits may tolerate all fresh green vegetables while others can only properly digest certain types.

Make sure what you are seeing is true diarrhea and not cecal pellets.

If your bunny has developed diarrhea, the first and most important treatment is to keep your friend hydrated. Next, check to see if your bunny has a fever as many infections will cause your rabbits temperature to rise. If a fever exists, make an appointment immediately with your veterinarian and take a sample of the watery feces (and some cecal pellets if possible) with you to test for a parasitic infection that may need to be treated. As infections are normally treated with antibiotics, remember that your bunny has necessary bacteria in their stomachs and intestinal tracts that are very important for your rabbit’s health. Antibiotic treatments such as Amoxicillin, Lincomycin, Clindamycin, or any of the drugs ending in …cillin can be deadly to him/her. Make sure you know what your vet is using to treat your bunny’s infection.

If no fever exists, review your rabbit’s diet and make sure they have the right balance of food. They should receive no more than 1 to 2 oz. per 6 lbs. body weight in fruits per day, a minimum of 2 cups per 6 lbs. body weight of chopped vegetables per day, unlimited hay, and pellet food according to the chart below.

Rabbit Weight Daily Ration

2-4 pounds 1/8 cup
5-7 pounds 1/4 cup
8-10 pounds 1/2 cup
11-15 pounds 3/4 cup

Check the section for Fruits, Vegetables, and Poisonous Fruits and Vegetables to find appropriate fresh food for your bunny.

Diarrhea is more common in baby rabbits and juveniles and is a sign associated with sudden death in kits. It can appear quickly and cause death in very young kits within hours. Keep a close eye on the young and at the first sign of loss of appetite, lethargy, or runny stool, take the kit immediately to an experienced rabbit veterinarian. Any delay could be the difference between life and death for the youngster.