To old for a litter box?

[Duane]

Hello everyone, just ran across this site and excited to find it.  I have a question I hope you can help me with.  I have a 2lb 9.5 years old black polish dwarf, cutest thing ever. she has been litter boxed trained since we’ve had her and has been very good. She roams the house and always has.

Here lately she goes everywhere in her area of the house that I’ve built for her, she does not venture out of there very often anymore or I’m sure it would be more places than that.  Is she just so old now she just doesn’t care?  Or is there something else up?  

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Any sudden change like that, especially in an older rabbit, warrants a vet visit. She could have an infection going on that’s not allowing her time to get to the litter box or she may be sore from something an unable to get into the litter box. So first visit the vet for a good workup.

Welcome BTW!!

[MoveDiagonally]

Welcome to BB Duane!

With her age I would definitely go in for a vet visit just to make sure there’s no underlying medical issue for her loss of litter habits. I’m also wondering what type of litter box you have and how spry is she generally? If it’s a high sided litter box it could be that she has arthritis and is starting to have trouble getting in and out of it. You could cut one side or get a low sided box and see if that helps. Is she spayed? If she is not I would discuss uterine cancer with your vet. While I don’t know if I would spay a 9.5 year old rabbit if she’s not spayed the symptoms are something to keep an eye out for. If she is spayed, disregard that last part.

[Duane]

She does go in and out of the box she does not spend much time in it though. She’s pretty normal outside of that. I was thinking about it and wondering if the box is just too old now and it is past it’s usefulness and she does not like it. It’s a few years old sad to say, I’ve just not found one like it with the mesh bottom. About to just make one see if that works.

[Sarita]

I would have a vet check-up. Rabbits this age can have bladder problems, bone problems (arthritis) and a number of other issues that could make it difficult to use a litter box. Boxes really don’t get old and out of usefulness but sometimes seniors have issues with getting and out of them for various reasons.

[Duane]

Ya. . Not much of a vet doctor person. But as mentioned above she gets in and out fine, but only stays in there for a short time. I’ll defiantly try one with shorter sides or with a cutout, but worried about certain things getting out of the box that shouldn’t. Off topic a bit but as anyone found a good resource online for litter boxes?

[Tessie]

If there’s a chance that she’s unwell then it’s very important to take her to a vet.
Do you have a good exotics vet?

I’ve never tried lowering a side of the litterbox, but I would imagine that it would be messier. – it’s worth it for her comfort I’m sure!

[Megabunny]

Please don’t put off vet trip. Rabbits are so good at hiding pain and illness that you won’t necessarily see a change in other behavior.  I’d be worried, given the age.

[LBJ10]

I ditto everyone on taking her to the vet. At her age, there could be a real medical reason for her loss of litter habits. If it is arthritis and she can’t use the box anymore, you might have to try cutting the side out of it so she just has to step in and out. I know for disabled rabbits, people have used puppy pee pads. But I would think you would be able to solve it by simply giving her easier access. If it is a urinary tract infection, then you would need to have that treated for sure. That’s why it is best to take her to the vet to find out exactly what the problem is. Since you are saying that she is getting into the litter box okay, that makes me suspect a URI more. She may just not be able to hold it and ends up going wherever she is.

[Duane]

Wow, everyone thinks I’ve got a cancer riden disabled sad little bunny. Has any of you had a healthy rabbit that’s 10+ years anyways? It doesn’t sound it. I know her pretty well by now and all other behavior is normal and still eating me out of house and home. I got her a new litter box today so trying that.

[Zombie-Sue]

No, but everyone here does think that when someone takes on an animal, it becomes his or her responsibility to seek adequate medical attention for said animal. I realize you might not be a vet-doctor person, but she can’t really hop there herself.

If you put it off, there’s a possibility you’re cutting her life or her quality of life short. Maybe there’s nothing wrong, and I hope that’s the case, but it sounds like there is. If you take her to the vet and we’re wrong, then you still got a vet checkup, which is recommended once yearly for rabbits that age anyway. If you don’t go and you’re wrong, then your pet is suffering. Think about it.

[Duane]

Well sounds like I’m the veteran here, but thanks anyways for trying.

[Tessie]

Lots of people here have rabbits of 10 years or older.

Obviously you do know her best, but you did post the question asking if we thought something was wrong so clearly you think that there might be.

[Deleted User]

Gee Duane, in your original post you said you were excited that you came across BB, and I assume that was because you read a couple of forums and realized what a great bunch of bunny loving guys we are – just like you. I thought it was super cool that your bun is almost 10 years old and you cared enough about her quality of life to ask BBer’s to help and try to find out what maybe wrong so you could make it all better for her (offering to build her a new litter box if necessary? Now, that’s dedication!). Trust me, if anyone knew for sure, no one would be insisting on a visit to the vet. For the few suggestions (how awesome) that could be the problem, no one really knows given her age and your description, and we are all concerned (and that’s why we are BB member’s, cause we really do care) and on the chance that it may be more than that – and seriously, you indicated she has been a wonderful pet, doesn’t she at the very least deserve to be checked out and ‘you’ have confirmation that all is ok for her last few years. I too believe I know my Henry well enough to assume when he is unwell or not – but old age, like us humans, makes it harder to detect genuine illness, why a visit to the doctor is always encouraged. I’m not sure why your not a vet person, but that’s cool – I’m not either, for me it’s cost. But if my boy reaches the ten year mark, for all the happiness he has given me, I would make that investment to make sure his last years are as comfortable as can be. I wouldn’t want to suffer (kids – are you reading this?) and I’m sure you don’t want your girl too (‘if’ something is wrong). With a quick checkup – you’ll get peace of mind, priceless! Wishing your girl good health. Cheers Duane.

[Sarita]

Actually Duane – I have a 12 year old rabbit and have recently had to euthanize two of my other 12 year old rabbits and have had many rabbits over the age of 10 years old. Honestly the problems can be very subtle with our senior rabbits. Even if a rabbit is eating that does not necessarily mean that they are feeling 100% okay – rabbits eat to live and live to eat.

LOL – I don’t think you have a cancer ridden disabled rabbit at all….

It sounds like you are trying something new to help improver her quality of life and I commend you for that. I just find for my peace of mind that a senior rabbit requires at least an annual exam with a vet so they can see if there is anything that we cannot.

[bunnluff]

My dwarf has gotten very sad with her litter box habits as well and I’m getting her to the vet because I think it may have to do with a molar spur that’s been growing. She’s also about 8 years old but she almost never poops in her box and does at least 3 out of 5 pees on the floor of the cage OR in the living room carpet She’s always been feisty and had never 100% gone in her box, but it’s gotten much worse. In this case I’d say her litter box habits are telling you something your bunny can’t.

[Author]

Messages