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The digestive system

The digestive system of the rabbit is evolved to eat large amounts of grass with a high fibre content. Fibre is fermented by bacteria in the large bowel to produce caecotrophs which are expelled and then eaten to provide vitamins and other essential nutrients.

If the rabbit’s diet consists of a high percentage of cereal-based pellets containing easily digested carbohydrate rather than grass or hay which is high in fibre, an excessive number of caecotrophs will be produced. These stick to the bottom and may look like diarrhoea. This is known as “sticky bottom”.

This can be distinguished from true diarrhoea in that the rabbit will also produce normal, hard faeces as well. If true diarrhoea is present, both types of faeces will be watery. True diarrhoea needs immediate veterinary attention.

Sticky bottom can also be caused by dental disorder, obesity and back problems, all of which impair the rabbit’s ability to eat its caecotrophs.

You can see the hard faecal droppings surrounding this rabbit

Fly strike

This is when flies lay their eggs in the faeces covered fur around the anus of your rabbit. The eggs can hatch quickly and the maggots eat the rabbit’s flesh. The maggots produce a toxin, which is often fatal. Warm moist conditions encourage flies; you should avoid soaking the rabbit and clean the faeces away carefully. You can prevent fly strike by giving your rabbit a high fibre diet to prevent obesity and ‘sticky bottom’.

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