Yucky Rabbit Poo!!! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

jinhopark · 12-11-2010, 01:06 PM

We live in the SW suburbs of Chicago, not quite urban but not quite rural...and our neighborhood is infested with wild rabbits. They are everywhere, which also means their rabbit poo is everywhere.

My yorkie has a disgusting habbit of eating rabbit poo whenever we let her go in the back yard. A matter of fact it would appear as though she seeks it out, and there are tons of it in our fenced back yard. It also doesn't help that the rabbit poo is about the same size, shape and color of her puppy kibble.

Aside from me being completely disgusted by her doing this... Will there be any health issues from her doing this? Can she get ill or get diseases from eating the rabbit poo? I'm not sure exactly how much she eats, but I bet the majority of her time back there is sniffing out and eating rabbit poo...so now my wife and I just limit her outside time to leashed walks around the block. Of course, she still finds the rabbit poo but at least we can reign her in and prevent her from eating it. It's like she prefers the rabbit poo over her puppy kibble. Maybe I should look at better tasting puppy kibble for her, LOL?

yorkieusa · 12-11-2010, 02:47 PM

I don't really have an answer. I have read in the past that there is a risk of worms and that some have had giardia-like symptoms, so I would be careful. Perhaps someone else can give you a better answer.

Maximo · 12-11-2010, 02:57 PM

I am suffering the same problem, and I too am concerned about the possible side effects. This is one of the reasons I keep my boys on Interceptor year round.

I have a nice picket fence enclosing my backyard, and I am considering adding ugly chicken wire to keep the rabbits out.

FlDebra · 12-11-2010, 02:58 PM

Definately keep him away! Here is a video. This is one reason vet's push the lepto vaccine that notoriously causes problems for our Yorkies. Dog Diseases Caused by Bird & Rabbit Feces: Canine Diseases & Treatment | eHow.com

This was one reason I switched to a wood privacy fence instead of the chain link the rabbits were going right through. I haven't seen any evidence of them in the back yard since, but they do still come into my front yard which is not fenced.

Maximo · 12-11-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlDebra

Definately keep him away! Here is a video. This is one reason vet's push the lepto vaccine that notoriously causes problems for our Yorkies. Dog Diseases Caused by Bird & Rabbit Feces: Canine Diseases & Treatment | eHow.com

This was one reason I switched to a wood privacy fence instead of the chain link the rabbits were going right through. I haven't seen any evidence of them in the back yard since, but they do still come into my front yard which is not fenced.

Thank you for the info. The rabbits went through chain link? Those little boogers.

jinhopark · 12-11-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlDebra

Definately keep him away! Here is a video. This is one reason vet's push the lepto vaccine that notoriously causes problems for our Yorkies. Dog Diseases Caused by Bird & Rabbit Feces: Canine Diseases & Treatment | eHow.com

This was one reason I switched to a wood privacy fence instead of the chain link the rabbits were going right through. I haven't seen any evidence of them in the back yard since, but they do still come into my front yard which is not fenced.

Yeah I sort of figured rabbit poo wasn't a good idea. What baffles me most is that I can't figure out why my yorkie finds it so appetizing...and it's like I have to fight her to keep her from eating the stuff. We have a vet visit in 1.5 weeks and I'll have to mention this to her.

Most of my neighbors have dogs or have had dogs, and so nearly everyone has a totally enclosed backyard with a wooden fence. The rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, possums, raccoons and voles are EVERYWHERE. The rabbits probably do the most damage...as they wreak havoc to gardens and dig burrows in the grass and under the fences. We originally thought our home with a fenced in yard would be the perfect environment for our yorkie and now we see all the hidden dangers that are lurking everywhere.

Anyone have any tips on how to keep wildlife out of our backyard? Someone mentioned spraying coyote urine (once again a disgusting thought) around the perimeter of our property to keep everyone at bay...but that my keep us inside as well.

jinhopark · 12-11-2010, 04:06 PM

Oh I forgot to mention I live in a subdivision with a somewhat strict HOA (Home Owner Association), which has rules that govern what type of fence, door, house paint color, roof, outdoor structure you may have on your property. We have a nazi-style architectural committee that you need approval from first before you can change anything on "your" property.

In any event I cannot put up chain link fences, chicken wire, or other unapproved fencing material in my subdivision regardless of logic or reason...so basically there are only 4 types of wooden fences you can put up, and I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of the architectural committee members was one of the approved fence contractors.

Maximo · 12-11-2010, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinhopark

Yeah I sort of figured rabbit poo wasn't a good idea. What baffles me most is that I can't figure out why my yorkie finds it so appetizing...and it's like I have to fight her to keep her from eating the stuff. We have a vet visit in 1.5 weeks and I'll have to mention this to her.

Most of my neighbors have dogs or have had dogs, and so nearly everyone has a totally enclosed backyard with a wooden fence. The rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, possums, raccoons and voles are EVERYWHERE. The rabbits probably do the most damage...as they wreak havoc to gardens and dig burrows in the grass and under the fences. We originally thought our home with a fenced in yard would be the perfect environment for our yorkie and now we see all the hidden dangers that are lurking everywhere.

Anyone have any tips on how to keep wildlife out of our backyard? Someone mentioned spraying coyote urine (once again a disgusting thought) around the perimeter of our property to keep everyone at bay...but that my keep us inside as well.

My one Yorkie is obsessed too.

The problem with any type of liquid deterrent is that it has to be reapplied frequently. It is a hassle and expensive, and none of them are one hundred percent effective. We do it to fight voles, moles, and gophers. Haven't tried anything yet for rabbits.

12-11-2010, 01:06 PM	#1
jinhopark Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bolingbrook, IL, USA Posts: 59	Yucky Rabbit Poo!!! We live in the SW suburbs of Chicago, not quite urban but not quite rural...and our neighborhood is infested with wild rabbits. They are everywhere, which also means their rabbit poo is everywhere. My yorkie has a disgusting habbit of eating rabbit poo whenever we let her go in the back yard. A matter of fact it would appear as though she seeks it out, and there are tons of it in our fenced back yard. It also doesn't help that the rabbit poo is about the same size, shape and color of her puppy kibble. Aside from me being completely disgusted by her doing this... Will there be any health issues from her doing this? Can she get ill or get diseases from eating the rabbit poo? I'm not sure exactly how much she eats, but I bet the majority of her time back there is sniffing out and eating rabbit poo...so now my wife and I just limit her outside time to leashed walks around the block. Of course, she still finds the rabbit poo but at least we can reign her in and prevent her from eating it. It's like she prefers the rabbit poo over her puppy kibble. Maybe I should look at better tasting puppy kibble for her, LOL?

12-11-2010, 02:47 PM	#2
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	I don't really have an answer. I have read in the past that there is a risk of worms and that some have had giardia-like symptoms, so I would be careful. Perhaps someone else can give you a better answer. __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel

12-11-2010, 02:58 PM	#4
FlDebra Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FL Posts: 7,651	Definately keep him away! Here is a video. This is one reason vet's push the lepto vaccine that notoriously causes problems for our Yorkies. Dog Diseases Caused by Bird & Rabbit Feces: Canine Diseases & Treatment \| eHow.com This was one reason I switched to a wood privacy fence instead of the chain link the rabbits were going right through. I haven't seen any evidence of them in the back yard since, but they do still come into my front yard which is not fenced. __________________ FlDebra and her ABCs Annie, Ben, Candy Promoting Healthy Breeding to the AKC Yorkshire Terrier Standard Last edited by FlDebra; 12-11-2010 at 02:59 PM.

12-11-2010, 04:06 PM	#7
jinhopark Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bolingbrook, IL, USA Posts: 59	Oh I forgot to mention I live in a subdivision with a somewhat strict HOA (Home Owner Association), which has rules that govern what type of fence, door, house paint color, roof, outdoor structure you may have on your property. We have a nazi-style architectural committee that you need approval from first before you can change anything on "your" property. In any event I cannot put up chain link fences, chicken wire, or other unapproved fencing material in my subdivision regardless of logic or reason...so basically there are only 4 types of wooden fences you can put up, and I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of the architectural committee members was one of the approved fence contractors. Last edited by jinhopark; 12-11-2010 at 04:10 PM.

12-11-2010, 02:57 PM	#3
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,047	I am suffering the same problem, and I too am concerned about the possible side effects. This is one of the reasons I keep my boys on Interceptor year round. I have a nice picket fence enclosing my backyard, and I am considering adding ugly chicken wire to keep the rabbits out.