Rabbits have a lively nature and most of their behavioral characteristics capture the attention of the people. An evolutionary adaptation and the biological intricacy lie behind their unique or attractive behaviors, but a few seem disgusting, like toilet habits. They do not stop pooping while running and excrete the waste material when they feel the need to do so.
Rabbits poop when they run due to their natural instincts, stress, lack of litter training, dirty litter box, and predation risks. Muscle movement of the stomach stimulates the release of droppings when they are running. They mark their territory by leaving the fecal pellets everywhere. But sometimes, it can be a health issue if it occurs more frequently.
It is essential to understand the behavior of pet rabbits to know their health condition. Poor observation can lead to severe health problems. No one wants to clean the scattered pellets on the floor, so you should stop them from doing so. However, it is only possible when you know the reason for this behavior. In this article, the reasons for rabbits to poop while running and the ways to prevent this behavior are thoroughly explained, so read it carefully if you have a pet bunny.
Why do rabbits poop while running?
Rabbits have a well-developed digestive system designed to digest food efficiently, mainly plant fibers. They are pretty clean animals that keep their enclosures clean. Moreover, they leave poop pellets in one place to keep other areas clean. However, some rabbits are not good at keeping their place clean and drop fecal pellets at different places.
1- Natural Instincts
They possess remarkable instincts to poop while running, as this behavior is deeply rooted in their survival instincts and helps them mark territories.
Primarily, it allows the maintenance of their digestive health by efficient processing of food and quick release of waste material.
As hindgut fermenters, they require a second pass of the food material through their digestive system. It allows them to extract all possible nutrients from it.
They do not keep waste material in the body for hours and excrete it immediately. It helps prevent the buildup of potentially harmful bacteria in their gut, so they remain pooping constantly.
This instinctual behavior is particularly crucial for wild species, where competition for resources and mating opportunities is fierce.
Additionally, pooping while running allows rabbits to maintain a heightened state of alertness and readiness to escape from death.
2-Predator Stress
When rabbits feel threatened or stressed, their bodies enter into a fight-or-flight response mode. The adrenaline surges through their systems, and the rush of this hormone triggers a series of physiological changes. It results into an increased heart rate, blood flow redirection, etc.
Additionally, the gastrointestinal tract functionality is not their priority when they have any external stress, leading to a process of “stress-induced defecation.”
Dropping of coco puffs when they run confuses predators because the scent of droppings may deter them. They quickly disappear and move to the hiding spots without stopping for defecation.
This behavior helps them minimize the risk of becoming vulnerable to attacks because predators attack when these stop to release poop.
3-Muscle Movement
The role of muscle movement in rabbits is not limited to mere locomotion. They are also involved in a variety of physiological functions that are crucial to their survival and well-being.
When they run, the muscles of their digestive tract get stimulated. This stimulation ultimately leads to the release of fecal material. The rhythmic movement helps push waste down to the digestive system.
They eat their own poop because their fecal pellets are nutritious and provide healthy nutrients. They cannot extract all nutrients during the first digestion process.
The rhythmic movement of their hind legs aids in expelling waste, effectively reducing their weight and enabling swifter escape from potential predators.
4-Health Issues
When it comes to pooping while running is a critical aspect of their overall well-being. It indicates some health issues in rabbits as behavioral changes indicate underlying medical problems.
One common problem affecting their ability to poop while running is the gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis). In this condition, digestive system slows down or stops altogether.
Several other factors, including poor diet, stress, lack of exercise, or dental problems can also be the reasons. When rabbits experience GI stasis, they find it hard to produce droppings.
It leads to a disruption in their normal movement patterns. Additionally, other issues like intestinal blockages, infections, or parasitic attack can interfere with their ability to defecate during motion.
Pet owners should monitor their bunnies closely for any noticeable changes in behavior or pooping habits. An early detection of issues can help prevent serious complications.
5-Dirty Litter Box
A dirty litter box can be the reason for this behavior in domestic rabbits because they usually stay away from dirty environments.
It is considered their way of protesting against your negligence because they cannot complain. They cannot say, “Pay attention to my litter box! It is dirty.”
So, you should check their litter box if they are pooping outside, as it is one of the potential reasons for scattered fecal pellets.
Sometimes, they do not like the odor of the cleaning products used to clean their litter box that can deter them from approaching the tray for defecation purposes.
6-No Training for Litter box
They have a notorious reputation for leaving droppings all over the place, especially when they are not litter-trained. This litter training can help rabbits to manage their waste up to some extent.
It is essential to understand that even litter-trained rabbits can still leave droppings outside their designated area occasionally.
If your pet rabbits are not litter-trained, they will spread their droppings everywhere, mainly under the furniture, on the carpets, around plants, and in other house areas.
I trained my bunny after getting fed up with the removal of scattered pellets when my friend told me that training a rabbit for a pooping place can help save energy.
So, you can also train your rabbit, but rabbit but it is better to do it in the early stage of their growth. It is more difficult to train an adult pet because they have already adapted to live in a particular way.
7-Mark their Territory
They are known to scatter poop or droppings everywhere, and their tendency to leave droppings all around their enclosure serves a vital purpose in communication and territorial marking.
They have scent glands located underneath their chins that release secretions. These fluids leave a distinctive odor on their droppings in combination with defecation.
In addition to this, they effectively mark their territories and interact with other rabbits in the vicinity by scattering their feces throughout their environment.
This behavior is particularly common in unneutered or unspayed rabbits, as they have a stronger drive to show their dominance and mark their territory.
Although it can be unsanitary to humans, this behavior is perfectly natural for rabbits and plays a crucial role in their social interactions. They rely on scent marking to establish boundaries and avoid potential conflicts with other rabbits.
My neighborhood friend, Katie told that her bunny started scattering droppings everywhere when she introduced a new rabbit, but they adapted to live with each other after some time.
How do I stop my rabbit from pooping when it runs?
It is hard to stop rabbits from relying on their natural instincts, but there are a few ways to minimize the risk of leaving droppings everywhere.
You should maintain their litter boxes every day and provide a clean environment. These furry friend mostly poops outside if the box or tray is not clean.
It takes some time to see a visible change in their pooping behavior after getting spayed or neutered, but it helps solve the issue.
You can reduce the likelihood of scattered fecal pellets by your bunny if you remove the source of hormonal-driven marking behavior.
Their natural instinct to mark territory becomes more visible when other rabbits are introduced into their play area. They will show dominance by pooping coco puffs in their territory.
If you want to litter train your bunnies, you should make some changes in their litter boxes to attract them. You can place their favorite food around it, such as timothy hay and carrots etc.
Use a larger litter box with shorter side walls in which they can jump, move, and play easily. They will use their favorite place for pooping, so place litter boxes at their favorite places.
Sometimes, a change in their litter habits can occur due to underlying health issues. So, you should consult a vet because your bunny can be suffering from digestive issues or sickness.
Read more
➡️ Can Rabbits Be Albino?
➡️ Why Do Rabbits Twitch Their Nose?
➡️ Do Rabbits Wag Their Tails?