Smelly and Dirty

[Phinnsmommy]

I know that baths are stressful for bunnies.
Phinn is neutered and has been for 4-5 months. He lives indoors in an NIC cage, but will soon be moving outside for the spring/summer. He recently suddenly stopped using his litter box

I dont know what made him stop, he used to be perfect. Anyway, so his feet and butt get quite dirty and smelly from this, they are stained brown (he is black) I think because of pee.

When you pic him up you can smell urine.

Anyway I can clean up his feet and butt without stressing him out?

Thanks,
Silvie&Phinn

P.S. I also need tips on how to re-litter box train him, Ive tried putting his poo and newspaper in pee in his box. I think one of the problems is that he likes to use his litter box as a bed:X

 

[Flashy]

I used to just bathe the area that was dirty with luke warm water, and some form of bunny shampoo. They didn't seem to mind it, and it has never had any ill effects.

I have recently seen grooming and cleaning wipes and similar things in various pet shops, I have not tried them, but I wonder if something like that might be helpful? You could just wipe off the urine, etc.Just a thought, and like I said, not tried and tested.

With regards to the litter tray, if he likes sleeping in it, maybe let him, and get another litter tray for his toilet (or buy a new litter tray for him to sleep in and put it where the other one currently is,and use the one that he used to use as a litter tray elsewhere.

With the second litter tray, maybe put it where he seems to go to the toilet, and put his poo and any sawdust/paper/whatever with urine on it, in there too.

Keep persevering, you will both get there

 

[Bunman]

Very good:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/buttbath.html

 

[HoneyPot]

Hmm, I'm concerned that he is dirtying himself. A healthy rabbit should not be getting urine all over himself.

When you say he has stopped using his litter box, do you mean he is just going all over the floor? Have you seen him just sitting in it, or when he goes does it just get all over him?

He's neutered... did it start happening before or after the neuter...how long has it been that he's been peeing outside the litter...

A bunny doesn't usually just stop using their litter unless something changes - either environmentally or health wise. I'm concerned that he stopped using his litter and is now urine stained...that to me may indicate a bladder issue or something health releated.

Is he peeing regularly - do you see him straining to pee, or is he peeing in small amounts in various locations? Is he acting totally normal otherwise?

_________
Nadia

 

[Phinnsmommy]

Nadia-- Yes, he pees and poops all over the place.
He has carpet in his cage and it gets quite soaked and I can only air it out so much.

It started happening after his neuter, no changes in environment.

He is peeing regulary, not straining or anything. He is acting normal, eating fine..everything normal.

I think its just him hopping around his cage and getting his feet wet.

He went to the vet excactly a week ago for a checkup and got a perfect bill of health.

This litter box thing started around the time he started his first molt (its still going)
Its a pretty bad molt, he's losing alot of hair so maybe he's just stressed from that??

Thank you so much and if you think I should contact my vet I will.

She is very rabbit knowlegable, she is on the vet list from this website (thats how I found her)

Silvie&Phinn

 

[HoneyPot]

Hmm.. like you said, if the carpet is getting soaked, it could just be that he is sitting in it and getting himself dirty. What I would be looking for is any change in his behavior or peeing. Or if you see him peeing and getting it on himself.

____________
Nadia

 

[Pipp]

I'd be concerned about how much control he has. It's more common for a rabbit to pee in a box and poop everywhere else.

Any new animals or people in the house that could have caused territorial issues? (Even that should have let up after a few weeks).

And I'm alsoconcerned that a moult is going on this long and this badly, and that it occured around the same time. (Are you saying months?)

I don't know what complications can occur :anyone:but I'd be inclined to take him back to the vet who did theneuter and make sure there isn't an underlying issue. Was it a simple neuter done after his boy parts descended?

sas :?

 

[Phinnsmommy]

His molt has probobly been going on for about a month but has gotten bad in the past 2-3 weeks.

The vet that did his neuter was on the reccomended vet list (from here and from the HRS) She did the neuter after his "boy parts" have descended.

He will OCCASIONALY pee in his box, but thats rare.

Thank you guys so much!

Silvie&&Phinn

 

[Pipp]

I was looking at Phinn's set up, and I think the litter box = bed thing is the problem, along with other setup issues.

I'd keep a high-sided cardboard 'play box' for him with newspaper and hay and let him mess that up. He can digand shred and chew and eat (and poop and pee) to his heart's content.When it gets trashed, just put a new on in there.Depending on how high the sides are, you may need tocut down part of it for a small lower-sided entrance way.

Depending on how much room he has, you may want to try adding a corner litter box with litter as well (it will helptrain him, handy if you have to take him somewhere else, he'll recognize the litter),although the play box will take the brunt of it.

sas