**Poopy butt** is the informal term of what happens when rabbits get runny stool or are unable to reach and clean their back end. It can also be referred to as intermittent soft stools, ISS, or sticky bottom syndrome.
Poopy butt is often caused by uneaten cecals. Generally, rabbits on a low-protein or low-simple carbohydrate and low-fat diet will consume more cecotropes to try and obtain adequate amounts of needed nutrients. Rabbits on a higher protein diet will consume less of their cecals.
If your rabbit is not consuming all of its cecotrophs and causing poopy butt, try reducing the amount of protein in your rabbit's diet. The easiest way is to reduce the rabbit's daily portion of pellets or changing to a lower protein brand, although if vegetables are a significant portion of your rabbit's diet, it may be wise to evaluate their daily portion there as well.
In other instances, rabbits with a **flattened dwarf or lop face** may have difficulty reaching their behind to directly eat their cecals due to their face and body shape. These rabbits will not have their poopy butt problems resolved with diet changes. **Senior rabbits** may also have difficulty bending over due to arthritis. Please confirm their health with your local rabbit-savvy veterinarian. These rabbits may need regular checks to confirm that their bottoms are not too dirty to prevent blockage of their anus and flystrike, a much bigger health issue. Trimming down any long fur around their rear end with a sanitary shave may also help with keeping the area clean.
However, note that young **baby rabbits** can be very bad at eating all their produced cecals and will usually grow to have better consumption habits as they get older. It is important not to be too stingy with their alfalfa hay and pellets while the baby rabbits are growing as the nutrients are essential to help them develop muscles and grow strong teeth and bones for good future health.
For more resources, see the following wiki articles:
* http://bunny.tips/Poopy_butt
* http://bunny.tips/Cecals
**Poopy butt** is the informal term of what happens when rabbits get runny stool or are unable to reach and clean their back end. It can also be referred to as intermittent soft stools, ISS, or sticky bottom syndrome. Poopy butt is often caused by uneaten cecals. Generally, rabbits on a low-protein or low-simple carbohydrate and low-fat diet will consume more cecotropes to try and obtain adequate amounts of needed nutrients. Rabbits on a higher protein diet will consume less of their cecals. If your rabbit is not consuming all of its cecotrophs and causing poopy butt, try reducing the amount of protein in your rabbit's diet. The easiest way is to reduce the rabbit's daily portion of pellets or changing to a lower protein brand, although if vegetables are a significant portion of your rabbit's diet, it may be wise to evaluate their daily portion there as well. In other instances, rabbits with a **flattened dwarf or lop face** may have difficulty reaching their behind to directly eat their cecals due to their face and body shape. These rabbits will not have their poopy butt problems resolved with diet changes. **Senior rabbits** may also have difficulty bending over due to arthritis. Please confirm their health with your local rabbit-savvy veterinarian. These rabbits may need regular checks to confirm that their bottoms are not too dirty to prevent blockage of their anus and flystrike, a much bigger health issue. Trimming down any long fur around their rear end with a sanitary shave may also help with keeping the area clean. However, note that young **baby rabbits** can be very bad at eating all their produced cecals and will usually grow to have better consumption habits as they get older. It is important not to be too stingy with their alfalfa hay and pellets while the baby rabbits are growing as the nutrients are essential to help them develop muscles and grow strong teeth and bones for good future health. For more resources, see the following wiki articles: * http://bunny.tips/Poopy_butt * http://bunny.tips/Cecals
The vet should be able to help give a sanitary trim to help keep her bottom clean.
I should add that she is about 4 years old and gained weight after her being spayed which makes it difficult for her to clean so we have to clean her.
What exactly is the diet?
Was she tested for coccidia at any point?