You can tell a lot about your rabbit’s health by examining their feces. Rabbits have 2 types of normal poop: fecal pellets and cecal pellets (aka cecotropes). Fecal pellets are a waste product primarily composed of fiber, and should be well-formed and consistent in size, not wet or mushy but not completely desiccated. Cecal pellets, or cecotropes, are eliminated from the body but carry vital nutrients and beneficial bacteria and fungi that help the rabbit maintain healthy digestion. They are dark brown, glossy with mucous, and often clustered together like grapes. These cecotropes are reingested by the rabbit and processed again to absorb all those good things. Yes, your rabbit is supposed to eat them!
New science shows that humans can benefit from ingesting cecotropes as well. They are full of probiotics that aid our digestive processes and help keep our gastrointestinal flora and fauna in balance. Fresh is best, and they should not be heated as that can compromise their nutritional value. Try them as a salad topping, or even on a scoop of ice cream. Thank your bun for helping you stay healthy, just make sure to save plenty for him, too!
Dr. Morvai enjoys hers in a trail mix.
APRIL FOOL! Please save the cecotropes for your rabbit and do not ingest them yourself. While they are unlikely to harm you, your rabbit needs them for good digestion. Read the REAL scoop on rabbit poop here:
About Us
Our exotic animal hospital is dedicated exclusively to the care of birds, exotic small mammals, reptiles, and even fish! We can offer everything your pet needs for a healthy and happy life, from wellness care and grooming to diagnostics and dentistry, but we can also provide emergency care during our opening hours, along with more specialized treatment for referred patients.