Rabbits - Diarrhea

What does rabbit diarrhea look like? As with many creatures, human and animal alike, diarrhea generally has no distinct form. I would say many times it can look like mud. It would be a runny substance with a strong odor that usually sticks to a rabbit’s bottom and rear legs.

A normal fecal pellet should be nicely rounded and firm. Cecotropes should be small, rounded, soft pellets clumped together in a form resembling a cluster of grapes. Diarrhea will have no real shape and will be odorous.

At the first signs of diarrhea in your bunny, immediately administer water and get an appointment with your vet. Your bunny may not be able to survive longer than 24 hours without determining the cause of the diarrhea and treating it immediately. If you must wait, administer as much water as your bunny will allow as frequently as possible throughout the day. A rabbit will dehydrate from diarrhea much faster than most animals, and dehydration will lead to GI Stasis, a fatal shutdown of the digestive system.

Diarrhea is usually caused by some type of infection, though certain vegetables may also cause the condition. At the rabbit rescue, we have had a couple cases where iceberg lettuce and/or cabbage has caused diarrhea. If your bunny has not eaten anything unusual, or you have not changed the diet, then make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately!