Rabbits are very cute, friendly and hygienic animals. It is not strange then that these sweet animals have earned the affection and home of many people. But if you have a rabbit in your care, it may have surprised you with many of its peculiar behaviors, among which is eating its own feces.
And surely, if you are reading this article on our site, it is because you are worried in case you have seen your rabbits eat their poopand therefore what you can do about it. If you want, then, to know the causes of this strange habit, we encourage you to stay and read until the end.
Why do rabbits eat their poo?
Rabbits are herbivorous animals, since their diet is fully made up entirely of vegetables, among which grass stands out. However, this diet so rich in fiber and cellulose is not exactly easy to digest, because when the food reaches the rabbit's intestines, it still contains many nutrients that have not yet been absorbed by the body.
It is for this reason that both rabbits and hares have a method to digest food completely, which can be a bit unpleasant for us, but it is really useful for them, since it allows them to absorb as it is because of the nutrients that it has not previously been able to. As you may have deduced, this is eating its own poop to digest it a second time
What do rabbit poops look like?
Rabbits have the capacity to make between 200 and 300 poops per day And these are characterized by being uniform, same-sized dark balls (about the size of peas). Now, there are two kinds of feces quite easy to distinguish by their texture:
- Common droppings: Harder in consistency, but crumbly if a little pressure is applied. They are the ones that they normally make throughout the day and they are not edible.
- Cecotrophs: rather pasty in consistency, and hooked together. These are edible, but they are not that common to see, since the rabbit normally eats them immediately. As the owner, you may even have never seen your rabbit eat them.
These two types of droppings are the most common and the ones that tell us that the animal is he althyOn the contrary, when the faeces are misshapen or not fully formed, they indicate that the rabbit is suffering from stress, a he alth problem or a poor diet.
Other types of poop in rabbits
In addition to the two poops mentioned above, which are the most common, we can also highlight other types of rabbit droppings that can occur in certain situations, such as the following:
- Hair-bound poo: they may be found bound by hair, in case he ingested them while grooming, but you shouldn't worry, because these poops indicate that the intestine is working properly by being able to properly expel the hairs. Of course, if they appear very frequently, it could be Hairballs in the stomach of rabbits.
- Poops hooked two at a time: You may also sometimes see poops that are hooked two at a time. This is normal in the case of older rabbits, because the intestine slows down and the droppings collide and stick together. However, they can also be caused by stressful situations that your rabbit is experiencing, so it would be convenient to check that they are well, that is, that you are providing them with the care they need. As well as pay attention to whether there has been any change in the home and your routine, which may be causing stress.
- Diarrhea or bloody stools: finally, we should be concerned if we observe diarrhea or bloody stools, a situation that will require an unquestionable visit the vet.
Next, we show some images with the two main types of rabbit poop. The image on the right belongs to the Conejos Discapacitados website.
Should I be worried if my rabbit eats its poop?
Not at all As you have seen, your rabbit eating its feces is a completely natural behavior and necessary for your pet, as we see in this other article on Rabbit Behavior. Now, it is important that you pay attention to the type of poop that it ingests, because as we have already mentioned, there are two easily distinguishable types of droppings, and the ones that your rabbit should normally eat are cecotrophs.
This behaviour, moreover, is usually carried out in its nest or in a place where it is calm You may also notice that your rabbit is clean insistently in case its fur is dirty with faeces, but this situation is reasonable, since cecotrophs are usually rather soft and sometimes get caught in the animal's fur, especially under the tail.
Therefore, the droppings that your rabbit excretes during the day, that is, those small, black, hard and round ones, are not edible, so it would be very rare for your rabbit to ingest them.
If he did, it would certainly be a reason to take him to the vet, so that he can detect if he has any problems organic, such as a nutrient deficit. But you should also make sure that your rabbit's psychological well-being is covered, because if he is alone and bored in his cage all day, he will probably engage in this behavior due to his discomfort and unstimulating environment.
To learn more about your furry friend and his behavior, we encourage you to read this other article on Rabbit care.
