Rabbit won’t stop trying to eat carpet! *this is a new habit*

[Athena's Mommy]

So my bunny, Athena has formed a new habit of EATING the carpet while recovering from GI Stasis atm. I’ve had small incidents in the past where where she will dig and chew, but it was an easily broken habit and she never actually ingested it. I know this will only make her stasis worse and keep her from recovering the rest of the way, so I’m a little worried. She needs her exercise and she usually gets free range of the house for most of the day. But since this habit started I have to keep her in her cage 24/7 and only letting her out for an hour or two with extremely close supervision, like following here every move around the house. I feel bad that she has to stay in her cage all day, knowing how depressing and boring it must be, but she leaves me no choice when she’s causing harm to herself. I’m almost 9 months pregnant so following her around like this if getting to be less and less of an option. She will not listen to me when I tell her no or clap (she usually does and doesn’t have a problem behaving) even when I have to pull her away from the carpet she just goes right back or fights my hand to keep chewing at it. I’ve tried offering food like fruit, carrots, etc. when she starts to chew at the carpet but she’d rather eat the carpet. She literally acts like it’s the best thing she’s ever tasted and like she’s starving. I’m completely out of ideas, HELP!! This is definitely very unusual behavior for her.

[Peony]

Here is a few things you can try if it is just one or two spots:
(these tips on the bunny proofing thing of this site)
https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/8/PID/940/Default.aspx

Use Scented Deterrents

My vet told me about this trick. Spray a little perfume on the area. I have found that spraying it can be too strong for even the humans, so I spray perfume into a paper towel and wipe the towel on the area. This works well. Many of the areas my bunnies have permanently rejected but some areas I still have to refresh every few weeks.

Member Tip- “Rub a little pure lemon oil on the spot lasts longer than perfume, and I think it is just as effective. If you don’t have that, just rub a lemon rind on it.” By ScarletRose

Commercial Bitter Sprays for Pets This works for two of my rabbits, but Jack actually likes the Bitter Apple Spray, so it has the opposite effect.

Put a bend a bridge on the spot (A toy you can get at pets mart or something)
http://www.petco.com/product/116368/Planet-Petco-Bend-A-Bridge-Small-Animal-Chew-Toy.aspx

You can also lay a phone book there or towels you do not mind them tossing around over the spot.
You can also put a cardboard box there (make sure the bottom is over the spot and put hay or shredded paper to play dig with.

My rabbit has a spot in the kitchen she wants to chew at. First we put this rug down under some of those cube things. (We had a cube wall already there to stop her from getting at something else) She still dug the rug out to chew at it. (The real floor carpet) So I put the rug back with a cube thing on the bottom so she can’t dig it up anymore.

 Here is a picture to show what I did (Not sure if it is really explained well above):

[Athena's Mommy]

Thanks Peony! I will try some of these things! (: It is just a few specific spots for the most part now, so maybe these will work! I know we used to rub bar soap on cords that we couldn’t hide so she wouldn’t chew on them and that worked, but idk how well that would work on carpet.

[Author]

Messages