We have recently brought our rabbit inside in the hope to make him toilet trained. However, we have noticed that he has a tendency to eat his own faeces (pellets). Is this normal? Or is there something wrong?
2006-11-02 20:50:40 · 14 answers · asked by Emma M 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
That depends. It is not only normal, but necessary for rabbits to eat their cecals. The bunny's digestive system is set up so that they ingest these cecals for nutrients they need. When you see your bunny bending over to his tush, that's what he'd doing.
Rabbits will typically not eat their fecal pellets (the little round, hard pellets), but some do....ours ate one this morning!
Here is a good link to information on bunny poop:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html
An all around good site for rabbit care information.
2006-11-03 03:40:44 · answer #1 · answered by Martha G 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to my biology teacher. Bacteria colonies in the rabbit's guts help breakdown the indigestible fibres into sugars. Sometimes the process was interrupted (especially at night I was told) and it came out prematurely from the other end. The wise rabbits know that and swallows the predigested pallet again.
2006-11-02 20:59:00 · answer #2 · answered by unnga 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES, OF COURSE IT IS!!!!, Don't frett, it is completely natural for a rabbit to eat its poo. In order to get all of the nutrients, they must consume their poo, once each. If they eat the poo they've already eaten, thats when its bad, but as long as you clean his/her cage regulary, or if he's potty trained, easy. It mostly occures with younger rabbits. Call a vet and they'll tell ya the same thing. I called about my bunny - he's a house bunny - potty trained and I was so creeped out to see him eatimg his poo one day, at first I would make him stop, but once I found out, I'd let him eat the fresh stuff (yuckie, I know). Your bunny is just tryin to be healthy!!
2006-11-03 05:28:19 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa Marie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is normal and if he should stop then you should worry. It sounds like you need to read up about rabbits. I suggest the book the House Rabbit Handbook and these websites.
2006-11-03 03:32:04 · answer #4 · answered by sugarcarat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi yes it is & it's shows as a shiny type first thing in the mornings & rabbits need this as it contains something tht the rabbit needs in it's gut...I bred & showed rabbits for a number of years so I can confirm that they really do need to...Regards Jake
2006-11-02 21:00:08 · answer #5 · answered by Jake 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits tend to eat their own feces because the second time around, they get the nutrition that they need. Grasses and hay are very hard to digest. Usually they eat the feces right away.
2006-11-03 12:06:09 · answer #6 · answered by Rabbit girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They actually have 2 diffrent types of pellets! if you'll notice one type has a 'coating' around it. They eat this type only. It helps them with digestion.Rabbits are only able to digest as they eat new food.
2006-11-03 02:21:15 · answer #7 · answered by vanislandwitch 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. rabbits recycle their feces the first poop is runny then they eat it and it comes out as the pellets you see in the cage.
2006-11-03 05:32:46 · answer #8 · answered by akira 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perfectly normal.
2006-11-03 12:52:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, a rabbits poop has a lot of vitamines in it.
2006-11-03 05:22:05 · answer #10 · answered by Jenna 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋