You’re sitting in your room alone with your rabbit and hear a sound that could only be described as a fart. You look down at your rabbit in surprise. Was that your darling bunny, or did someone break in to pass gas? Do rabbits fart? Is that even possible? You will be surprised to know that they do fart! Read on to learn more.
Can Rabbits Fart?
Rabbits most definitely fart, but it’s honestly not every day that you’ll hear it. Passing gas is a way to expel a build-up of gasses in your rabbit’s gut, naturally produced as food is digested and broken down.
If you hear your bunny “toot” occasionally, it’s not a cause for concern. What you’ll want to be watching for are signs of diarrhea accompanying your rabbit’s farts or even signs that they aren’t passing gas, which can be associated with GI stasis.
The Rabbit Gastrointestinal Tract
Rabbits have a gastrointestinal tract that is relatively similar to that of horses. In both types of animals, they are unable to vomit or burp. As such, anything they ingest has to be able to pass through their gut. These animals are hind-gut fermenters.
Rabbits (and horses) have a cecum, an organ in the lower portion of their GI tract. This organ helps digest the fibrous material these animals eat as the main portion of their diets.
Unlike cows, rabbits have a gastrointestinal tract initially shaped like that of humans, dogs, and cats, so they can’t break down everything in their guts. They’ll need high-quality roughage rather than the tougher material that cows can subsist on.
The cecum contains many microbes and gut bacteria that help break down the grass and hay your rabbit consumes. Some nutrients, such as volatile fatty acids, can be absorbed through the cecum, but many must be passed into the stool.
After the cecum has done its work in the evening, your bunny passes special fecal pellets packed densely with nutrients. Your bunny then eats those fecal pellets to get all those nutrients.
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Can Your Rabbit Die if They Don’t Fart?
If your rabbit can’t pass gas, it could have a deadly condition known as GI stasis. If you’re not seeing your rabbit eat and pass stool, it must be examined by a veterinarian immediately.
Potential signs of GI stasis include:
A hard or painful stomach
Gurgling sounds in the gut
Tiny, hard stools
No stools
Teething grinding
Lack of appetite
Hunched posture
Lethargy and decreased activity
There are a couple of home remedies for gassy rabbits, but GI stasis may need intensive therapy, so you must contact your veterinarian.
A gentle tummy massage can help expel excess gas. Gently rub your rabbit’s stomach from its chest down to its tail. Stop immediately if your rabbit seems to be uncomfortable.
Your veterinarian may recommend simethicone to break up gas in rabbits and can help you determine the correct dosage for your bunny.
Your veterinarian may need to provide food and fluid therapy to help your rabbit’s gut process foods appropriately. They will often use pain medication to control your rabbit’s discomfort. Other medications, such as metoclopramide, help promote intestinal motility.
Do Rabbits Release a Smell?
Your rabbit could undoubtedly pass a smelly fart, but it’s more likely that smells are coming from one of their various scent glands, most notably the ones at their rear that produce a smelly, waxy substance. Your healthy rabbit will generally keep this area clean, but rabbits that are ill or overweight might need to be up to cleaning themselves.
If you hear a farting sound come from your bunny, don’t panic. It can be a perfectly natural way to release gas building up in their gut. If you’re not seeing your rabbit eat or pass stool, you need to have them examined by a vet to ensure they don’t have a health condition like GI stasis, which can be very dangerous for your rabbit.
Your bunny has been hopping around normally, but you notice they’re having diarrhea. Is this diarrhea a concern, or will it pass on its own? You’re probably also wondering why your rabbit has diarrhea.
Let’s explore the differences between diarrhea and soft cecotropes, the causes of diarrhea in rabbits, and how to treat diarrhea in rabbits, both at home and through your veterinarian. It’s time to talk about rabbit poop!
Rabbit Stool 101
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Rabbit stool should generally look like solid, round pellets. Diarrhea in rabbits is usually watery and unformed rather than discrete balls. It may be crusted around their rectal area or on their hind legs.
Your rabbit also produces cecotropes, pieces of stool formed within the cecum, a branch off the intestines. As gross as this might sound, rabbits eat cecotropes to get extra nutrients. For instance, cecotropes are high in vitamin B, which rabbits don’t create on their own.
It’s important to differentiate between normal stool and cecotropes because the cecotropes can be a little softer. In addition, there are different causes of soft regular stool and soft cecotropes.
The 9 Reasons Diarrhea in Rabbits & Treatments
1. GI Stasis
One of the most significant health issues plaguing pet rabbits is GI stasis. This condition is not generally associated with diarrhea but can be for some rabbits. With GI stasis, the rabbit’s gut contractions decrease, so food doesn’t move through readily. Because of the reduced motility, the gut bacteria also become unbalanced.
GI stasis is often painful and can cause gas. Treatment utilizes pain medication, fluids for the rabbit, and GI motility medications. Since GI stasis is commonly associated with rabbits not getting enough fiber, treatment generally involves supplementing with plenty of hay.
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2. Intestinal Parasites
Rabbits are at risk of contracting several intestinal parasites. These parasites include:
Coccidia
Pinworms
Stomach worms
Tapeworms
Coccidia tends to be the most common intestinal parasite in rabbits. Young rabbits are especially at risk. A rabbit with intestinal parasites might not show any signs but might have diarrhea.
Treatment depends on the type of parasites. Your veterinarian will diagnose them based upon a physical exam and fecal exam, and treatment may include a dewormer or specific antibiotics, such as Albon, for coccidia.
3. Antibiotics
Your veterinarian must be very careful when prescribing antibiotics to your bunny. Some antibiotics are very strongly not recommended in rabbits due to the high likelihood that they will disrupt the normal populations of gut bacteria, which can lead to diarrhea.
Rabbit veterinarians typically don’t recommend certain antibiotics for rabbits, including:
Amoxicillin
Penicillin
Clindamycin
Cephalexin
If antibiotics cause your rabbit’s diarrhea, they need to see a veterinarian experienced with rabbit medicine as soon as possible. Your rabbit will likely need supportive care, such as fluids and a critical care diet.
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4. Infections
Your rabbit can be affected by viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Some of these can cause diarrhea.
A virus causes rabbit hemorrhagic disease. Affected rabbits often die suddenly and may have signs of bleeding. Rabbits that don’t die quickly may have diarrhea and neurological signs.
Bacterial infections can cause peritonitis, which is typically painful and may cause the affected rabbit to exhibit GI signs. Certain bacterial infections can cause devastating gastrointestinal signs in bunnies, such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Clostridium piliforme.
Your veterinarian will determine treatment based on their tentative or confirmed diagnosis. Your rabbit may need cultures done to determine the cause of the infection. Treatment may involve supportive care, antibiotics, and pain medication.
5. Mucoid Enteropathy
Mucoid enteropathy is a condition with mucus accumulation within the intestines. Unfortunately, it’s not a well-understood condition. Pathogens, diet, and even stress may play a role in it.
There are a few treatment options, but the prognosis is poor for rabbits with mucoid enteropathy:
Anti-ulcer medication
Pain medication
Probiotics
Antibiotics
Fluid therapy
Dietary changes and support
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6. Diet
Feeding rabbits a diet not high enough in fiber is a quick way to cause gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, and other issues like GI stasis. You’ll want to make sure they have plenty of hay and a limited number of pellets. Watch out that the fresh fruits and vegetables they get aren’t too high in moisture or sugar: both can cause intestinal disruptions.
For affected rabbits, you’ll need to increase their hay intake immediately. Ensure you’re only using alfalfa hay if directed to by your veterinarian because it is higher in protein and carbohydrates than your rabbits usually need and can cause GI issues.
7. Toxins
Unfortunately, there are lots of potentially toxic plants and chemicals that may be around your house. Some may produce diarrhea in your rabbit. Examples of plants you should be aware of include:
Rhubarb
Foxglove
Ivy
If you find your bunny has gotten into a potentially toxic plant or household compound like cleaner or poison, you need to contact your veterinarian right away. The type of treatment depends on what your little hopper has gotten into. It may be harder to treat your bunny than a dog because bunnies don’t–and can’t–vomit, so there’s no way to get the poison out of their system.
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8. Chronic Diseases
Some diseases are linked to GI signs like diarrhea or GI stasis. Dental disease can cause your rabbit not to eat, setting them up for GI stasis.
In the case of dental disease, your vet will need to treat affected teeth. Your veterinarian should perform a thorough physical exam, including an oral exam, to make sure everything is normal. Some animals need extractions or their teeth trimmed to make it more comfortable for them to eat.
9. Dirty Bottom Syndrome
Dirty bottom syndrome in rabbits is associated with diarrhea or soft cecotropes. A significant cause of this condition is not getting enough fiber. Rabbits are also particular about their grooming. But when a bunny gets overweight, they may have trouble cleaning their back end or eating their cecotropes.
Your rabbit might develop dirty bottom syndrome if they have dental disease, where it’s painful to eat. With dental disease, they may not eat their cecotropes.
Your veterinarian will need to take a detailed history and then perform a thorough physical exam to try and pinpoint the cause. The cause of the dirty bottom will take some digging, and treatment will depend on your veterinarian’s diagnosis.
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What About Soft Cecotropes?
If it’s just your bunny’s soft cecotropes, you usually need to assess what your furry friend is eating. Some examples of diet that may contribute to soft cecotropes are:
If you can identify one of these causes, you can often eliminate it from the diet to help get your rabbit’s gut health back on track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can stress cause diarrhea in rabbits?
Stress can definitely cause diarrhea in rabbits. Unfortunately, it can take up to a week for rabbits to develop diarrhea secondary to stress, so it can be difficult to identify the inciting cause.
Stress can cause diarrhea in rabbits in a few different ways. First, adrenaline slows gut motility, which can lead to GI stasis. The cecum can also become less acidic or more alkaline if rabbits aren’t eating their cecotropes. This change in acidity leads to fit dysbiosis, or alterations in the gut microflora.
Will feeding treats to my rabbit cause diarrhea?
Feeding a wide variety of foods to your rabbit can lead to diarrhea. High-sugar fruits or other foods with a higher carbohydrate amount can lead to “bad” bacteria overcrowding the populations of “good” bacteria in the gut.
If you’re offering a treat, it should be a small amount (generally speaking, less than 10% of the diet). Feeding larger amounts is making a rapid change in your rabbit’s food and can cause diarrhea.
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Conclusion
Rabbits are curious creatures, so you’ll need to watch what they eat carefully. If you start to notice softer stools with your rabbit, contact your veterinarian for an exam, especially if they are young or old, making them more at risk for being immunocompromised. While waiting for your appointment, ensure your rabbit eats a complete and balanced diet.
Caring for our pets and monitoring their health is part of responsible pet ownership. This is particularly true for exotic pets or small animals like rabbits, as their bodies and how they work can differ from those of more common pets. Urine is usually a good indicator of how well your pet is doing; it’s easy to see, is produced daily, and is normally a yellow-straw color in cats, dogs, and people.
In rabbits, however, the color of normal urine can be very different (and sometimes even alarming); it’s important to know what’s normal and what’s not so we know when to take them to a vet. This article will teach you what normal rabbit’s urine looks like and which colors are concerning, so you’ll know when they may be unwell.
However, keep in mind that this information is not a replacement for a veterinary exam, and if your rabbit isn’t well in any way, please contact your vet so they can get the treatment they need promptly.
Normal Rabbit Urine Colors
All of the following colors are completely normal for rabbits in most circumstances. However, in some situations, these colors could indicate a problem (which we’ve highlighted below), but for most rabbits, the colors are normal and don’t require veterinary attention.
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Besides monitoring the color of your rabbit’s urine, keep an eye out for any other signs of illness that may indicate they are genuinely not feeling well, such as reduced or absent appetite, decreased or increased drinking, lethargy and inactivity, reduced defecation or absence of fecal production, and hunched, painful, or distended abdomen. All of these need urgent veterinary attention.
1. Clear
Rabbit urine that is clear and non-cloudy is normal and indicates that your rabbit is well-hydrated and drinking enough water. Rabbits get lots of water from the vegetables they eat, which helps hydrate them alongside the water they drink throughout the day. Clear urine is normal for this reason and will likely be a sign that they’re getting enough water from their diet.
However, if your rabbit displays other signs such as urinating more frequently, leaking urine (urinary incontinence), drinking excessively, and having clear urine, they may have an issue with their bladder or kidneys that a vet should check.
2. Pale Yellow
Pale, straw-yellow is another standard color of rabbit urine and is arguably the most commonly seen color. Pale yellow pee indicates your rabbit is well hydrated since the water they’ll get from their diet dilutes the urine to a paler hue. The urine should be clear and non-murky; if your rabbit has pale yellow pee that’s cloudy or murky, it is a sign that they could have mineral deposits in it. Cloudy urine is something a vet should check, as bladder stones or sludge can sometimes be a cause.
Sludgy bladder is when the normal calcium crystals in rabbit urine get retained in the bladder, building up gritty sediment that can irritate the bladder lining, causing pain and inflammation. In the case of sludge, urine can also seem quite thick, staining the rabbit’s back legs and causing straining and difficulty when passing urine.
If your rabbit’s urine is pale and seems excessive in amount or there is a change in the bunny’s drinking, appetite, or behavior, they should be checked by a vet. Dysfunction of the kidneys will cause a very dilute and pale-looking urine and may lead to increased drinking and increased urine production.
3. Yellow-Orange
Rabbit pee that’s yellow to orange is also usually normal and is caused by your rabbit eating certain foods. Beta-carotene is a substance found in many veggies that rabbits love, including carrots and spinach, and it can give their urine an orange hue if large portions are eaten. The urine should change color back to normal in a few days, sometimes as long as 3-4 weeks, but orange could be the norm for your rabbit if they indulge in foods rich in beta-carotene regularly!
However, orange pee can also indicate slight dehydration in rabbits; monitor how much water your rabbit is drinking, how good their appetite is, and if they are behaving as usual and offer them veggies high in moisture to increase their intake. Good vegetables to increase hydration include celery and cucumber. Don’t give them too many since they can upset their stomachs. If you’re concerned about how hydrated your rabbit is, contact your vet as soon as possible.
4. Red
Amazingly, even bright red urine can be normal for some rabbits! This can sometimes be alarming, but most often, red urine in rabbits is caused by a substance called porphyrin. Alongside porphyrin, there are other plant pigments usually from certain foods such as cabbage, broccoli, and dandelion that may change the urine color, particularly if the rabbit is not used to eating them.
However, some rabbits may produce red urine after seemingly unrelated changes, such as sudden cold weather or certain antibiotics. In addition, blood in the urine (hematuria) is a less common occurrence in rabbits and can look like specks of blood spread throughout the urine, especially at the end of urination, rather than a uniform clear red color, although this is also possible.
However, distinguishing true blood in urine from the presence of a benign pigment is not possible by plain eyesight and requires your vet to run some tests on the urine and check it under the microscope. If your rabbit is showing signs of urinary distress with red urine, such as straining to urinate or going very often, having a hunched or painful abdomen, or showing signs of general illness with lethargy and reduced appetite, you should take them to the vet. Alongside urinary issues, blood in the urine may indicate a disorder of the reproductive tract in female rabbits.
5. Brown
Brown urine can also be normal in rabbits. Sometimes urine can be pasty, beige or brown, which can again indicate sludge, and if it stains the back end and legs, it can easily be mistaken for diarrhea. As mentioned before, there is a great variety in urine colors and it’s very much dependent on nutrition and hydration. If you find your rabbit isn’t quite right, or has any of the previously discussed signs, it’s important to get them checked by your vet immediately.
Concerning Rabbit Urine Colors
The following urine colors are concerning and indicate that your rabbit might have a problem with their bladder, kidneys, or other parts of their urinary or reproductive system. If your rabbit has any of these colors showing up when they pee, or on the other hand, their urine is normal but they are not feeling well, showing reduced appetite, changes in drinking, and reduced fecal production, take them to the vet and get them checked out.
6. Beige
Rabbits have a great capacity for filtering out calcium from the blood when they need it. When the resorption of calcium by the kidneys has reached a maximum, excess calcium gets excreted as calcium carbonate in the urine, causing cloudy or sludgy urine. When metabolic demand for calcium is increased by growth, pregnancy, nursing, or metabolic disorders, less calcium is excreted and the urine appears clear.
Thick, beige urine in rabbits indicates sludge in the bladder. Bladder sludge is a thick paste that settles in the bladder, causing irritation and pain and often being mistaken for diarrhea since the sludge is very thick and almost brown! This color of urine is often accompanied by other signs of illness, including pain, straining to urinate, and urine staining on the legs. If your rabbit has thick, beige urine or exhibits these signs of disease, they should be taken to their vet for an assessment.
7. Dark Brown
Brown urine can sometimes be a normal color for rabbits, resulting in pigments being released by some of the foods they eat. It can also signify dehydration, which we discussed earlier in the article. However, dark brown urine (especially if it’s thick) can indicate a serious problem. Blockages of the urinary system (urinary tract obstruction), which stop the movement of urine from the kidneys to the bladder, or from the bladder to the end of urethra (and then outside), can present with dark brown or bloody, usually thick urine or inability to pass any urine at all, and are a medical emergency. Common causes of urinary tract obstruction include urinary tract infections (UTIs) or bladder infections that lead to swelling of the tissues, restricting urine flow and creating urinary stones and sediment that cause a physical blockage of the ureter or urethra. Signs include dark brown urine, hunching in pain, not wanting to move or difficulty moving, and peeing little and often (or not at all) but posturing as if trying to pee. This is an emergency, and your rabbit should be taken to the vet immediately.
8. Cloudy or White
Cloudy or white urine can indicate that your rabbit has excess calcium in their bladder from their diet. Rabbits need calcium to keep their bones and teeth strong, which they take in through food. Rabbits absorb all the calcium from their food and excrete any they don’t use into their urine, giving it this chalky white appearance.
Thin, clear, easily-passed or slightly white urine is usually an indicator of adequate calcium and not necessarily any other problems. A thicker paste-like white urine can indicate bladder stones or sludge buildup. This urine can dry to a semi-solid state, and it can be very difficult for rabbits to pass. If your rabbit has white or cloudy urine, take them to the vet for a check-up to discuss their diet.
9. Blood-Spotted
If your rabbit has normal-colored urine with spots of blood inside, they may have true hematuria and need to see a vet. Blood in the urine can come from a few places, including the bladder, kidneys, or reproductive tract in female rabbits. Causes of blood in the urine can vary in rabbits, but the most common include:
Reproductive tract disease
Kidney or bladder stones
Kidney or bladder infection or inflammation
Blood clotting disorders
Blood in the urine is usually distinguished from red-colored pee by a test as it’s not immediately obvious, so if your rabbit has been showing signs of illness and you see spots of blood in their pee, take them to the vet to be checked over immediately.
What Causes Concerning Urine Colors in Rabbits?
Most of the concerning colors of urine in rabbits are caused by a buildup of calcium deposits in the bladder or kidneys, which can form a sandy, gritty substance called bladder sludge. The sludge moves freely and causes many problems, including the potential to stop the movement of urine from the bladder and prevent the rabbit from peeing altogether.
Uroliths (urinary stones) can also form from these deposits, which need to be surgically removed as they cannot be passed. Some can be very large, and both sludge and stones in the bladder are painful. Other common causes of changes in urine color are dehydration and disorders of the urinary tract or reproductive system.
How Often Do Rabbits Normally Pee?
Rabbits usually pee around two to eight times per day, producing an average of 120–130 milliliter (ml) of urine per kilogram of their body weight in a day. It’s important to get to know your rabbit’s pee habits to tell if they’re not peeing enough or peeing (or trying to pee) too much. Changes in toileting habits are one of the most noticeable signs of illness in rabbits with urinary problems, such as straining to urinate or only producing small spots of urine at a time.
What Should I Do if My Rabbit Has Stopped Peeing?
If your rabbit has stopped peeing, you must take them to their vet as an emergency. Blockage of the urinary tract system is a severe and potentially life-threatening issue that can be caused by several things, including uroliths or sludge in the bladder or blockage and swelling of the tubes connecting the bladder to the kidneys. A complete blockage is rare, as partial blockages are typically caught before they progress. Male rabbits are more susceptible than females and adult rabbits are usually affected.
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Conclusion
Rabbit urine comes in several whacky colors; luckily, most are normal! However, knowing what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to pee is essential since many illnesses can be caught early by looking at your rabbit’s pee. Alarming colors like red and orange can be normal and natural, but closely monitoring your rabbit’s urine and behavior for any changes is always best. If they show any even subtle signs of illness alongside changes in urine colors, take them to the vet for a check-up.
