Diarrhea in rabbits is a serious condition that owners must address with immediate urgency. The rabbit digestive system is highly specialized and requires constant movement, meaning any disruption can quickly become life-threatening. Rabbits physically cannot vomit, which prevents them from expelling harmful substances or blockages from their stomach. This inability to clear the gut means that a slowdown in intestinal movement, known as gastrointestinal (GI) stasis, is a major risk. When the gut stops moving, gas and toxins can build up rapidly, causing severe pain and potentially fatal consequences within a matter of hours.
Identifying Abnormal Droppings and Cecal Dysbiosis
Rabbits produce two distinct types of droppings, and understanding the difference is essential for determining the severity of the issue. The most common form is the hard, round fecal pellet, which is dry, high in indigestible fiber, and typically seen scattered in the litter box. The second type is the cecotrope, a soft, nutrient-rich cluster of pellets coated in mucus, which the rabbit usually eats directly to re-ingest essential vitamins and proteins.
True diarrhea is characterized by an absence of the normal hard fecal pellets and the presence of completely liquid, unformed, and often foul-smelling feces. This watery discharge sticks to the fur around the rabbit’s rear end and represents a severe medical emergency.
In contrast, a more common issue is cecal dysbiosis, where the cecotropes are produced in an abnormal, pudding-like, or mushy consistency. A rabbit suffering from cecal dysbiosis often leaves these sticky, malformed cecotropes uneaten. The presence of both normal hard pellets alongside these soft droppings suggests cecal dysbiosis, which is a sign of gut imbalance needing urgent dietary correction. True watery diarrhea without any formed pellets requires immediate veterinary intervention.
Underlying Causes of True Diarrhea in Rabbits
The delicate balance of the rabbit’s gut microbiome is easily upset, and the primary trigger for true diarrhea is often a dietary imbalance. A diet that is too low in indigestible fiber (grass hay) and too high in simple sugars or starches (excessive pellets, fruits, or treats) alters the pH of the cecum. This pH change allows harmful bacteria, such as Clostridium and E. coli, to rapidly overgrow and produce toxins that cause severe inflammation and diarrhea.
Infectious agents are another significant cause, especially in younger rabbits. Coccidiosis, caused by the microscopic parasite Eimeria species, is a common culprit in kits and can be rapidly fatal due to dehydration. Other bacterial or viral gut infections can also trigger acute diarrhea, often occurring around the stress of weaning or in environments with poor sanitation.
Environmental factors like sudden changes, transport, or a new companion can trigger stress, which is known to decrease gut motility and initiate an episode of stasis. Furthermore, the use of specific antibiotics, particularly those given orally like penicillins, can be toxic to rabbits. These medications destroy the beneficial gut flora, leading to an overgrowth of toxin-producing bacteria, a condition termed “fatal dysbiosis.”
Emergency Response and Veterinary Treatment Protocols
If a rabbit exhibits true watery diarrhea, the owner’s immediate action is to contact a rabbit-savvy veterinarian, as delaying treatment is highly dangerous. While preparing for transport, remove all pellets, treats, and vegetables, offering only unlimited, high-quality fresh grass hay and water. Keeping the rabbit warm is also important because a sick or dehydrated rabbit can quickly become hypothermic, which interferes with recovery.
At the veterinary clinic, the protocol centers on supportive care, pain management, and addressing the underlying cause. Diagnostics typically include a thorough physical exam, blood work to check for dehydration and organ function, and a fecal floatation test to identify parasites like Coccidia. Fluid therapy is a life-saving measure, often administered subcutaneously for mild dehydration or intravenously for more severe cases.
Pain relief is crucial because the gas and gut contractions associated with diarrhea and stasis are painful. A rabbit in pain will refuse to eat, worsening the condition. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like meloxicam are commonly used, sometimes alongside stronger opioids like buprenorphine. If GI stasis is suspected, the veterinarian may administer gut motility drugs to help restart the movement of the intestinal tract. In cases where the rabbit is not eating on its own, critical care feeding of a high-fiber slurry is initiated via syringe to provide essential nutrients and fiber.
Prevention Through Diet and Environmental Management
Long-term prevention of digestive issues relies fundamentally on a high-fiber diet that supports the delicate cecal microbiome. The diet should consist primarily of unlimited fresh grass hay, such as timothy, brome, or orchard grass, which provides the necessary indigestible fiber to stimulate gut motility and wear down continuously growing teeth. Hay should make up about 80% of the rabbit’s total food intake, ensuring constant foraging and gut activity.
Pellets should be limited to a small, measured quantity daily, as they are often too high in calories and can contribute to imbalances in the gut bacteria. Fresh vegetables are a beneficial addition, but they must be introduced gradually and offered in appropriate quantities to avoid causing soft stools. Avoiding high-sugar foods, including many fruits and starchy treats, is a simple step to prevent the overgrowth of harmful organisms in the cecum.
Environmental management plays a role by minimizing stress, a known trigger for reduced gut motility. Maintaining a consistent routine and providing a secure, quiet living space helps keep the rabbit calm. Regular veterinary checkups, ideally every six to twelve months, allow for early detection of underlying issues like dental disease that can reduce hay intake, preventing the cascade of events that leads to cecal dysbiosis and true diarrhea.