“My canine ate rabbit poop!” Not phrases an proprietor needs to must say.
However don’t fear, though disgusting this horrible behavior isn’t the worst one they may decide up.
Let’s check out what the dangers are, and what to do when it occurs.
Table of Contents
Is It Protected For My Canine To Eat Rabbit Poop?
Rabbit poop is totally different than the droppings of different animals.
Rabbits produce two sorts of digestive substances: small brown waste pellets and cecotropes, that are smooth, shiny droppings that the rabbit eats to acquire important vitamins.
Since rabbits normally devour cecotropes as quickly as they exit the physique, it’s more likely that your canine has eaten the small pellets that rabbits depart behind as a last waste product.
Consuming a small quantity of rabbit poop is mostly not dangerous to canines.
Nevertheless, sure parasites could be handed on to canines from rabbits. This could occur when your canine eats rabbit poop, in addition to in case your canine eats rabbit meat.
In reality, consuming rabbit meat infested with sure parasites could be way more dangerous to your canine than consuming rabbit poop.
Fortunately, the most typical kind of parasite present in canines which have eaten rabbit poop (coccidia) isn't dangerous to a canine’s well being.
Canines with coccidia of their gastrointestinal tract have a situation known as coccidiosis. Coccidiosis doesn't usually trigger diarrhea or another type of drawback in most canines.
Often, younger puppies or grownup canines unwell could endure from gastrointestinal misery attributable to a coccidia an infection.
My canine ate rabbit poop – What ought to I do?
Consuming a small quantity of rabbit poop doesn't essentially imply an emergency go to to the veterinarian’s workplace.
You possibly can monitor your canine for any indicators of gastrointestinal misery, comparable to vomiting and diarrhea, particularly in case your canine may be very younger or has any well being issues.
Your vet can examine a pattern of your canine’s stool for coccidia, however the presence of coccidia is normally innocent in canines.
You should definitely take away rabbit droppings once you discover them. This consists of home rabbit poop in the home in addition to wild rabbit poop within the yard.
In the event you uncover your canine has eaten rabbit poop, converse to a vet or canine conduct specialist about methods you'll be able to forestall your canine from consuming any type of feces in the long run.
What Signs Will My Canine Present If They Have Eaten Rabbit Poop?
Most canines will present no signs or indicators of sickness after consuming rabbit poop.
In case your canine ought to develop a case of coccidiosis that's extreme sufficient to trigger signs, you'll be able to anticipate to see
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- belly ache
- dehydration.
Take your canine to the vet in case your canine is experiencing these signs.
What’s the Greatest Remedy For Coccidiosis?
A course of antibiotics that comprise sulfa is the most typical remedy for coccidiosis. Extreme circumstances could require different medication, in addition to fluids for dehydration.
Consuming rabbit meat contaminated with other forms of parasites could cause a distinct set of signs than coccidiosis.
For instance, tularemia (or rabbit fever) is a bacterial an infection that may be handed to your canine instantly from rabbit meat or by a tick chew.
Canines with tularemia could exhibit various signs together with
- fever
- swollen glands
- lethargy
- lack of urge for food.
Hold this in thoughts in case your canine spends loads of time open air and comes into frequent contact with useless rabbits or uncooked rabbit meat in addition to rabbit droppings.
Why Would My Canine Need To Eat Rabbit Poop?
So why does my canine eat poop?
This can be a frequent query for a lot of canine homeowners. Whether or not it’s their very own poop or the feces of one other animal, poop-eating is frequent canine conduct.
The technical time period for consuming feces is coprophagia. There are lots of causes for coprophagia, some are organic, and a few are behavioral.
Bodily causes for poop consuming embody dietary deficiencies or the lack to soak up vitamins from meals.
Behavioral causes are extra frequent and may embody stressors like
- confinement
- isolation
- separation anxiousness.
Is there something about rabbit poop that makes it any extra engaging to canines than the poop of different animals?
Cecotropes are wealthy in vitamins, however since rabbits are likely to devour them immediately, it's unlikely that canines have many alternatives to hunt them out.
How To Cease My Canine From Making an attempt To Eat Rabbit Poop?
There are lots of issues you are able to do to forestall your canine from consuming rabbit poop.
In case you have a pet rabbit, remember to clear up any droppings it might depart when it's unfastened round the home.
Your own home rabbit’s litter field needs to be stored in its cage, away from the canine.
Are there wild rabbits that stay in your backyard or neighborhood? Clear up any rabbit droppings you discover within the yard and preserve your canine on a leash when out for walks.
Canine conduct consultants advocate educating your canine the command “depart it” to discourage poop consuming.
You should definitely discuss to your veterinarian for those who suspect that your canine’s poop consuming has a bodily, somewhat than behavioral, trigger.
My Canine Ate Rabbit Poop
It’s a truth of life…canines typically eat poop!
So, for those who uncover that your canine has eaten some rabbit poop, don’t fear.
For almost all of canines, ingesting rabbit poop isn't dangerous. Most canines will present no indicators of sickness after consuming rabbit poop.
Typically, rabbit poop could comprise the parasite coccidia. However most often, it won't hurt your canine’s well being.
Simply bear in mind {that a} very younger or weak canine could develop coccidiosis, a coccidia an infection that may be handled with antibiotics.
Does your canine eat rabbit poop? Inform us your prevention ideas within the feedback under!
References and Additional Studying
Merck Veterinary Guide
McKeown D, Luescher A, and Machum M. 1988. Coprophagia: Meals for Thought. The Canadian Veterinary Journal. PMCID: PMC1680886.
Georgi JR et al. 1987. Tapeworms. The Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Apply. DOI: 10.1016/S0195-5616(87)50003-1
Meinkoth KR et al. 2004. Naturally occurring tularemia in a canine. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation. DOI: 10.2460/javma.2004.225.545
Simnett KI et al. 1961. The affect of food regimen on the vitamin B12 exercise within the serum, urine and faeces of rabbits. British Journal of Diet. DOI: 10.1079/BJN19610068
Varga I. 1982. Massive-scale administration methods and parasite populations: Coccidia in rabbits. Veterinary Parasitology. DOI: 10.1016/0304-4017(82)90122-4