Rabbit peeing everywhere

[Monica]

Ok, my 3-year old rabbit used to use his litterbox, then this past spring he stopped. I had him neutered about 2-3 months ago hoping that would help, but it hasn’t. He doesn’t stick to one spot, will pee anywhere and everywhere and then lay in it too, which is causing skin issues. Luckily he doesn’t mind baths. When I had him neutered we ruled out all health issues. I’ve confined him to a dog-kennel sized area (he’s a Flemish Giant, so this is tiny for him especially since he used to have free roam of a room) lined with compressed wood pellets for litter. This helps absorb the pee so he doesn’t soak himself in it at least and is keeping him cleaner. I was hoping this would become his ‘litterbox’ if I confined him to it and after a while. Then experiment with letting him out for a couple hours exercise. But, when I let him out he will just pee wherever he happens to be, not in his kennel. I’m looking to make his area bigger because I feel bad for him in a small kennel most of the time, but cannot let him free-roam his room like he used to. I’m thinking an x-pen with some sort of flooring that won’t absorb pee that I can keep lined with the wood pellets. He’s not a chewer, fairly lazy (if you can’t tell) so I’m not worried about him chewing something potentially toxic. I’m not sure what to use that he won’t slip on? I’m hoping I can make his area 3’x5′ or somewhere around there. It has to be something I can easily clean, even take outside and hose off because he is so messy. And it has to have around 3″ sides to keep the wood pellets inside and the pee from leaking out onto the floor. i have a 3×4 rubber mat, but can’t think of how to incorporate the edges and make it leak-proof when he pees in the corners. Ideas?

[Sarita]

I think that the kennel being lined with wood pellets might be confusing to him. You are going to have to start from the very beginning especially since he is newly neutered.

He definitely needs a bigger space and a very large litter box – that would be the place to start. You would want the x-pen with a linoleum floor and you need to put the litter box with they wood pellets and a handful of hay in there and keep cleaning to show him to use the litter box. Basically start from square one to train him.

[Monica]

I do have a large litter box, about 3×2. Ill have to read up on litter box training. He just kinda did it on his own when I got him as a baby. How do I handle him laying in the pee? Thats the reason I resorted to a kennel line with pellets in the first place, because he was so covered in pee and I couldn’t get him properly clean for long.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Not sure how you can get him to stop laying in the pee but you can use a small amount of cornstarch on his wet fur to absorb the pee. This will help prevent skin problems.

[jerseygirl]

When I had him neutered we ruled out all health issues.

i am guessing you have gone over all possible behavioural triggers also? It’s unusual for them to lie in pee unless ill. Although my lop has has layed in his bonded mates pee on occasion. :/

Behavioural triggers can be simple or complex. New pet or person came into household, change in “scent” of the owner i.e. new fragrance someone is wearing, change in flooring in household or habitat, change in type of litter or even brands…

Health wise, it might not be directly related to bladder or urinary tract. A rabbit may stop using the box due to arthritis or sore hocks. You may have already looked into those things.

For pen lining the only thing I can think to do with the rubber mat is split each the corners enough so you can fold sides up to create a tray shape. Then use silicon to seal the corners. I don’t know how durable that would be though.

[Monica]

Thanks for the replies and advice. I ended up buying a exercise pen, making his cage 4×4 and lining it with a PVC tarp so I can clean up messes easier. I’ve read all about potty training and I’m going to try hard to keep up with his puddles so he doesn’t lie in them and do what the article says as far as feeding him in his box and trying a few different things. I did change one thing last spring that may have caused some issues? I let him outside in our fully fenced back yard for a few hrs every day. I guess now that you mention it, it started shortly after that. He loves to be outside, but its winter now and I don’t want him out there in the cold, or overnight in the warm months. Maybe he’s unhappy to be indoors after learning he can go outside?

[jerseygirl]

It’s hard to say for certain and you know your rabbit best. Also hard for you to test the theory. I wonder if he sensed other animals near when he was outside that he now feels he needs mark his territory (the house) more??

You may still see an improvement post neuter yet. I hope so.

[tanlover14]

Hey there — just thought I’d throw in some comments since I actually had this SAME problem with my bun 2-3 months after his neuter also. I did a lot of research and I know it’s frustrating but if you keep up with him and his litter box training (and he’s not ill) I think you’re situation will get much better. The biggest thing I can contribute is as soon as YOU start to slack, he will too! So ALWAYS, ALWAYS remain on top of the litter box habits.

Another thing, not sure how well it will help in your situation — BUT I read up on some horror cases where the vet thought they removed everything but it turned out they hadn’t gotten everything and that’s why the bunnies were spraying. I don’t think it happens often but I was having such trouble with my boy that it was worth the free-charge taking him back for one last look down there. My vet who did the neuter did it for free after I explained to her my situation and what I had read up on. She was also willing to talk back and forth with me about some of the potential issues it could be. And what to watch out for to make sure that he wasn’t ill. As my bun was just having behavioral issues, this wasn’t the case but maybe if you’re vet is willing to do the same thing it COULD help the problem.

It took a good month of constant watching and putting pee back in his litter box and boy was it stressful but it worked! And my bun has good litter habits now and it was well-worth all the stress it was for the month. SO keep with it! And don’t get too discouraged!

[Monica]

Ok I have been following everyones advice and its working great! Only one or two messes a day now, usually in the mornings. And I sweep up his poo and pile it in his box too and that seems to be helping as well. Now, my question is about cleaning the litter box. I haven’t cleaned it for a while now, I use pellets and its not even sawdust anymore, just clumped up dark, stinky mess with lots of poo. I’m worried changing it will confuse him and he’ll start peeing wherever he wants again. Do I clean the whole thing out and put fresh litter in, clean it part way and mix it together or just leave it for now?

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