I can’t tell if my rabbit is in pain or happy

[HotGinRun]

How can you tell the difference?

This morning, Bean ran around the room for a while, ate some hay and drank lots of water. I watched him jump into the litterbox, pull his feet together, and then he started grinding. His eyes got all squinty and he was grinding, but not that much louder than he does when I’m petting him.

His breathing doesn’t seem to be labored and he certainly isn’t lethargic. He’s hanging out in his usual haunts, so why is he grinding on the litter box?

[Silly Sungura]

You’ll just have to keep an eye on him for any other abnormal behaviors. Is he acting like he is straining to pee?

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’d just keep a close eye on him as well. Sometimes my buns do light grinding motions even when I’m not petting them. If he’s running around and eating, I wouldn’t worry, just watch the water input/output.

[HotGinRun]

Sometimes it looks like he is struggling to pee because he’s squinty eyed but then when he’s finished he hops off and carries on his normal rabbit business. I’m not sure if that’s what straining looks like.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Is he peeing more than normal or dribbling outside the litter box?

[HotGinRun]

He doesn’t seem to be peeing more than normal, but there is a little pee outside his litter box. Oh no! I’m so worried that he’s sick. I think he’s grinding his teeth because he’s in pain.

[CinnabunMom]

When he goes to the potty, is he lifting his tail higher? Almost like he’s trying to pee over the edge of the litter box?

[RabbitPam]

He may be fine, but I just said this to another member as a thought to bear in mind. It’s Thanksgiving on Thursday, so you may be facing a closed vet’s office later in the week and if you decide after tomorrow that he needs to be seen you will need an emergency vet visit and much higher fees for that. If you see that he is still behaving oddly by tomorrow, pees outside the box, has a change in eating or pee or poos or his grinding teeth is louder, then maybe take him in for a check up to be sure he’s OK. It’s better to be wrong than have an emergency on your hands at a bad time.

[HotGinRun]

Well, this is mildly embarrassing but Bean is fine.
He eats normal, drinks normal, and apparently likes to grind his teeth before he goes to sleep. Before I got a bunny, I did so much research (I have slightly OCD tendencies that come in handy for this sort of thing) but nothing really prepares you for the real deal.

Bean does pee outside the box, but I wonder if it’s because he’s a baby and doesn’t have full control of his bladder yet.

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