Gastrointestinal problems

Rabbits are herbivores. They only eat green food like vegetables and hay (dried grass). These contain sufficient nutrients, but are particularly difficult to digest. It takes a long time for the hay to be properly digested and all the energy absorbed. This is why rabbits have an enormously enlarged gastrointestinal tract. The cecum, which is responsible for digesting fiber (found in hay), is very large. In comparison; We humans only have a very small appendix. This appendix is no longer used. That's because we don't eat grass. Since the rabbit's gastrointestinal tract is so large and important, we need to take good care of it as well.

This piece covers the two largest groups; diarrhea and constipation (constipation). The main focus will be on avoiding the problem. If your rabbit is experiencing gastrointestinal problems, it's always a good idea to contact your veterinarian.

What is normal?
Rabbits rely on caecotrophy for their vitamins and proteins. Cecotrophy means eating the first stool in the morning. This droppings are released into the cecum in the early morning. Therefore, you will not see this droppings in the enclosure. When a rabbit cannot eat this droppings, it often gets stuck to its back, which is what we call sticky droppings.

Diarrhea in rabbits
Diarrhea is a common problem in rabbits. The intestines work too fast and do not allow enough time for digestion. One of the main causes is not enough fiber. Fiber is found in hay, for example. If a rabbit doesn't get enough hay, they can get diarrhea. Too much dry food can also cause diarrhea. In addition, the rabbits are sometimes fed a compound feed, which is of course nice to look at and give, but often only the tasty bits are eaten by the rabbit. In this way, the rabbit does not receive all the necessary nutrients. Not eating the first bowel movement in the morning, dental problems (which means that the hay cannot be chewed sufficiently) or parasites in the intestine can also cause diarrhea.

If your rabbit is still eating, drinking, happy, and curious, you usually don't need to run straight to the vet. You could try giving your rabbit only water and hay for a day and carefully feeding them back some food after that day. Do it quietly for a week and give more vegetables.

If your rabbit refuses to eat or you suspect there is an underlying problem, you should see the vet. A rabbit should never go more than 12 hours without food!

Constipation in rabbits
Unlike diarrhea, where the intestines work too fast, with constipation, the intestines work too slowly. This can be very dangerous for a rabbit. A rabbit needs to have a bowel movement every day. If the stool is very small or misshapen, this could be a sign of constipation. A rabbit that hasn't eaten or defecated for more than 12 hours is in mortal danger. So you have to go to the vet with it. Often the rabbits are lethargic and lie all the time.

An important part of treatment is to start the movements in the gastrointestinal tract. Many times you will have to force-feed your rabbit. Often the veterinarian will also prescribe medication that stimulates the movements of the gastrointestinal tract.

The cause is often unclear and we don't always find it out. Stressed rabbits and rabbits who don't get enough fiber are at a higher risk of constipation. So make sure your rabbit gets enough hay and has as little stress as possible. You can achieve this by providing a suitable attic space and sufficient attention.

This text was translated by a translation machine