Bunny pee's when i pick him up, weird?

[l.lai]

Hi there,

My Nethie Racer was born on June 27, so he's about 10-11 weeks old now, i noticed on the weekend that when i pick him up, sometimes for prolonged periods, sometimes not, that he'll pee while in my hands.

Would this be a defense mechinism because he knows i put him down once he pee's?

Thoughts?

 

[Maureen Las]

Maybe he's a little frightenend ; I don't think that it's uncommon for a young bun to pee anywhere

 

[l.lai]

Ah okay cool.

He's pretty inconsistent, sometimes he'll see me and run up to the cage, and when i put my hand in he wont run.

Other times he'll dart into his hiding place.

One time i walked up and he ran straight to the litter tray and pee'd!

Its all so random!

 

[Pipp]

Actually, it may also be that the warmth of your hand is stimulating him. And/or he's too young to hold it.

Although being a Dwarf, it may very well be a human training mechanism. Pipp is usually very good about being held, but she doesn't like certain people and she will use it as a weapon and/or a 'put me down' trigger.

They're very smart little boogers!


sas :bunnydance:

 

[DazyDaizee]

When you go over to his cage it might help to talk to him on the way over. That way he knows it's you. Sounds like he's not afraid of you since he comes over to you and doesn't always run, but maybe he gets startled if he's not sure who's approaching the cage.

I am fostering a litter of 10 lops right now and none of them ever peed while I was holding them (I've had them from day one, they're over 8wks now). Nor did my dutch and I've had her since she was 6 weeks old.

Apparently some rabbits do it, but I don't think it's typical. Another thing you might consider is going over to him and saying hello, then giving him a few minutes without interacting with him before you pick him up. Maybe he'll learn to use the litter box before you pick him up. That could be why he ran and peed in the litter box when you went over to his cage.. Just a thought.
Watch for signs that he might have to urinate while you're holding him, too. I used to have a rat that went everywhere with me and when he had to urinate he'd walk back and forth on my shoulders. I'd set him down and he'd pee, then want to climb back up on my shoulder again. A lot of small animals will give you subtle signs like that when you're holding them and they have to go...

 

[l.lai]

Awesome reply! thanks mate.

I think i had another breakthrough last night when he kinda sat and let me pet him for a sustained period of time, even lifted his nose up when i was patting him.

He's a digger though! While running around on my bed he jumped up onto my chest and started digging there too! Scratched the crap outta my chest! haha at least he's not running away tho!