The healthy functioning of the cecum is critical to the overall health of a rabbit. Gaining an understanding of how this large organ works – and what causes disruption – will help caregivers monitor their rabbits’ health, detect early signs of cecal disorder, and take steps to prevent a bunny’s condition from worsening.

This section three cecal motility disorders; most disorders of the cecum will eventually lead to disbiosis (imbalance of the microbial flora in the cecum and GI tract). When a rabbit’s GI tract works as it should, cecotrophes are produced in a rhythmic fashion and consistently eaten by the bunny.

Clinical Signs: There is an acute onset of disease in 7 to 10-week-old rabbits characterized by anorexia, polydipsia, a subnormal body temperature (99 o-102 o F), a rough hair coat, mucoid to liquid, tan diarrhea with perineal staining, abdominal distention with gas, and fluid-filled intestines. Affected rabbits may grind their teeth.

Considering the importance of understanding the severity of your rabbit’s cecal dysbiosis, diagnostic tools to assess the health state of your rabbit’s cecum and cecotropes are critical in delivering quality clinical care.

Cecal dysbiosis refers to the disruption of the delicate balance of organisms within the rabbit’s digestive tract. The cecum acts as a large fermentation vat comprised of many types of anaerobic organisms, such as Bacteroides species, gram negative oval and fusiform rods, amoeba, and protozoa. 2 The cecum also carries a species of Sarcomyces ...