Doe with poopy butt

[mystang89]

I have a 2 year old doe with a poopy butt and too be honest I'm really not sure why. She is on fodder and hay and has been on the same fodder and hay for about 2 months. Her poop is nice and large but when I went to check her receptiveness she was caked with wet poop.

So I know a good first place to start would be by giving her some oats. Check. What else can I do? I don't have raspberry leaves or any other type of leaves right now nor do I have pellets to give her.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Oats and hay. MaggieJ knows all kinds of plants that help... I think Plantain, Shepard's Purse, and the leaves of Strawberry, Blackberry, or Raspberry help too.

You should also probably give her some Probiotic paste. I have the one by Manna Pro for large animals.

 

[mystang89]

Thanks MSD. I was trying to do some more reading on it and found this

Mobility issues may also cause your rabbit to suffer from poopy butt. Older rabbits, obese rabbits, or those with arthritis, may have a difficult time reaching their bottoms, preventing them from consuming the cecotropes. If your rabbit is overweight, reduce or eliminate pellets from his diet, and provide unlimited timothy hay and fresh greens. For rabbits with arthritis, your rabbit-savvy veterinarian may be able to prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug to help ease the condition.

Can't remember the website but since I don't feed pellets I may also try reducing the amount of fodder I give her. She is a 10 lb rabbit so I feed a full 8oz of fodder since I worry very much about under feeding my rabbits. I'm very unsure of myself with checking their backbone unless I'm actually looking at it when I'm processing them....by then it's a bit late. So I think I might also reduce her feed from 8oz to 6oz. Does this also sound like a good idea? Thanks again.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

If the poop on her tail is thick and pasty, it could be cecotropes, but I doubt it... if it was on her feet because she stepped on it that would seem more likely to me.

I would cut the fodder completely for a day or two until her poop firms up, and gradually reintroduce it.

I'm very unsure of myself with checking their backbone unless I'm actually looking at it when I'm processing them....by then it's a bit late.

When you process them, make sure to run your hands over their backbone and overall body before dispatch. Then take a good look at the skinned carcass. The more you do that, the better you will get at determining not only proper weight, but overall conformation.

 

[MaggieJ]

I'd cut the fodder for a couple of days, as MSD suggests and just give her hay and kitchen oatmeal. I wouldn't worry that she is not getting enough... A light diet is indicated when there are digestive issues. Once her poops firm up, gradually reintroduce the fodder, but keep an eye on her. Once the weeds and berry plants start growing, you will be able to balance her ration by including those plants that MSD listed. They are all excellent food for rabbits and help regulate their stools.