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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR I’m getting really fed up with my bun

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    • Samicles
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        Like, I just don’t even care to have him anymore. I’m tired of his attitude with me, he’s constantly pooping and peeing on the floor and he doesn’t want to be near me.

        When I first got him a few months ago he only pooped/peed in the cage, but the past month or so as soon as I let him out he’ll start going! It’s infuriating!  I’m hardly letting him out of his cage lately cause I’m so tired of it. And I live in an apartment, which we rent. Piss stains on the carpet are a BIG no-no. I got him litter boxes, set them up where he typically goes, including one in his cage and he just goes around them! I’ve been reading tips online on how to litter train the rabbit and nothing’s working. I’ve honestly never given up on a pet before but I’m just getting so frustrated with him.

        He’s also got an attitude with me, we used to be pretty chill, he’d lay down next to me as I do homework or something, I could pet him as I please but now he doesn’t go near me at all. I can hardly even pet him without him just hopping away. He’s not territorial with me whatsoever, I can reach into his cage, clean, add food or whatever and he won’t mind. 

        Overall he just doesn’t feel like a companion anymore, he’s just a fluffy thing that I clean up after . And the whole point of having a pet is for a companion, if I just wanted to clean up after something I’d get a fish.


      • manic_muncher
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          Sounds like he’s going through his hormonal stage, and that is a huge reason for all the marking of territory. Neutering him will likely change all of that and he should go back to his litterbox habits in a couple weeks afterwards. Once his hormones settle afterwards, he will likely act like an entirely different bun. The standoffish attitude is just like my Bumpy got as he matured, we neutered him, his marking stopped and now (6 months later and lots of hand-feeding of his daily amount of pellets) he’s very lovable. Still doesn’t want to be petted unless it’s on HIS terms. But that’s fine with me.

          AndHenry may be able to give you an idea of the extent of peeing she went through with her Henry, all I can tell you is Henry started spraying and that’s when she did her neuter on him. I’m hoping you won’t have to give him up and are able to neuter him to stop this issues, but I really think you will need to neuter him if you want this to stop.

          In the meantime, vinegar/water mix to clean up pee spots, this will eliminate the small completely and deter him from peeing on that spot. If you can find a way to put down a shower curtain and maybe some covering over it for him to run around on, if he pees on it it won’t go through to the carpeting. I hope you don’t give up on him, and I know how you feel. I began having the same irritation with Bumpy at one point. Hopefully others may have more pointers that will help!


        • LBJ10
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            I agree. It sounds like he has hit bunny puberty. Getting him neutered would likely help.


          • Samicles
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              Yeah, though I was against neutering him at first, I’m planning to do it now (hopefully it’ll solve these issues). I’m just waiting until I’m finished this semester, so I can be there for his post-op care. So only three more weeks. Thanks for the reassurance. 


            • Stickerbunny
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                Yep, sounds like puberty.

                To save your carpet, get a bottle of nature’s miracle – let it soak for a couple of minutes on any stains and then dab it up (don’t scrub, soak it up by pushing in to the carpet with a sponge/towel/paper towel) and it should remove any stains (if your carpet is colored, test it first to make sure it doesn’t strip the color off the carpet, it was fine on mine but certain dyes react with it). Vinegar didn’t work for my light colored carpets and the orange pee stains, but nature’s miracle did (even old stains). 


              • Deleted User
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                  Oh my gosh Samicles – I’m feeling ya! As manic mentioned above I had the WORST time with Henry, not just pooping and weeing but ‘spraying’ us too! Imagine two middle aged people in bed innocently watching tv, then this cute MONSTER bunny jumps on the bed. We shivered in fear while grabbing our pillows from behind us as our defence waiting for the monster bunny to turn his back on us and boy did he let us have it – spray everywhere! Not being a BBer at the time and not knowing any better I thought ‘what I have I done’???? We can’t live like this! I actually didn’t like him, his cuteness didn’t win me over when I couldn’t drink my cup of tea cause he sprayed (wee’d) in it. I went into a panic! Then I met BB and a BBer said those magical words…… ‘thought about getting him neutered’? HUH? I rang the vet and had him booked in the next day, ha ha haha – and I haven’t looked back since. And the best part? I LOVE him!!!! LOL!
                  It really is hormones and marking his territory – I had enough poop to fertilise my yard twice over, and wee (it’s till toooo soon, I can’t talk about it yet, ha ha).
                  Don’t give up. Once your beautiful guy is neutered (+ some time for the hormones to leave his body), hopefully you’ll be just like me – in love again.
                  About a fortnight after Henry was neutered he did one wee on my bed (I could live with that) and I still have to pick up the odd stray poop, no prob. And I swear it was the best money I ever spent on him. I know 3 weeks may seem like a long time (living in wee and poop), but remember most of us have done it (so your not alone) and the end result is having an ADORABLE hygienic companion again. Wishing you and your bun all the very best Samicles. Cheers.


                • LongEaredLions
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                    I agree. Get the neuter, then decide. Hormonal bunnies are a pain in the butt.


                  • Beka27
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                      I don’t have too much more to add, but I just want to say that I completely understand your frustration! Just try to hang in there, get him neutered, and give it a little time for those hormones to settle. I don’t recall his exact age, but some buns will still have age-related bad habits (basically a teenager wanting to exert their independence!), so if you can bear with him until he is a year old, you will have a better idea of what his long term personality will be like.

                      He may not ever like being held or cuddled, but if you can get his litter habits under control and come to an understanding where you don’t just feel like a “caretaker”, I think you’ll be happier.

                      If for some reason you decide that he’s just not the right pet for you, even after all of this, being neutered will make him a more adoptable pet. But I do hope you decide to keep him.

                      In the meantime, you’re in survival mode. Do what you can but don’t feel like you have to let him out several hours a day. As long as he’s clean and fed, having less out time for the next few weeks won’t hurt him.


                    • Beka27
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                        ***Do you like how “I don’t have too much more to add?” and then I type out a whole page? Lol!***

                        😉


                      • Megabunny
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                          3weeks probably does sound like a lifetime and I doubt you need to have much time for post-op care. I wouldn’t wait for the neuter. I’d do it ASAP if you have the time. You may end up hating him worse in another 3 wks

                          AndHenry that is hysterical! It’s one of those stories I have to share with my hubby for a good laugh and to know that YOU had it worse! HA HA.   I was going to PM you to alert you to this thread because it sounded like a good one for your input!


                        • Sindri
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                            I kinda have to agree with Megabunny on neutering him as soon as you can. My male didn’t really need a whole lot of after care. the first day they really just want to rest and be left alone. The next day and definitely by the 3rd he was ready to run around and play. It took around 3 to 4 weeks for his hormones to settle back down. Mine acted like a crazy bun during this time so be prepared. Mine was jumping off walls and chewing baseboards and anything he could for a couple of weeks which wasn’t normal for him. I remember you having the peeing and pooing outside the cage problem and I had that as well. Once he was neutered he never did that again it really helped with that. I hope the neuter helps your situation. I think you really should just go for it. I wish you the best of luck!


                          • Ellekke
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                              I have nothing else to add either. I just wanted to say: Good luck!!!!! I hope things work out!!


                            • Samicles
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                                Thanks everyone. It’s so odd cause just the day after I posted the thread Caesar went back to being chill again. I thought everything would go back to normal but I was wrong. He’s still pooping outside the cage (hasn’t peed yet thankfully).

                                He’s snoozing a lot more, but I think that might be because I’m leaving him in the cage more. He was binkying last night, and he hasn’t done that in a while. Otherwise I’ll still be getting him neutered. And though I’d love to take him immediately, I don’t have a car of my own. So my boyfriend would wind up taking me and Caesar to get the procedure done, and it’d just be easier for us (we’re both college students) to wait until the semester ends. It’s only a couple more weeks, and Caesar will be fine until then.

                                Any tips on the whole neutering process? I’ve never scheduled a neuter before, so I’ve got no idea about the care before/after. I assume the vet will tell me. And there’s this program in NJ which offers cheap neuters/spays for certain vets. All you have to do is buy the certificate online (which is $75) then show the vet the certificate. Kinda skeptical about the program, so I’m just wondering if anyone tried it out before? Or something similar? I’ll ask the vet if they accept the certificate before I buy it.


                              • bunnytowne
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                                  I have never heard of this certificate.   You will need a rabbit savvy vet.  Rabbits are considered an exotic and medicines etc for cats n dogs some can kill bunnies.  Dont mean to scare you.  Neuters n spays are safe with vets trained in rabbits.  

                                  You may want to look into this certificate n the vets it includes to see which ones can do rabbits n have experience. 

                                  It was 7 months when my bunny decided to spray.  He was neutered a week later.  Fortunately the spraying stopped right away.  


                                • JackRabbit
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                                    The first time Moshi sprayed I had no idea what was going on. He just kinda slung his rear end around and pee went everywhere. After reading up on it and finding out that they spray things that they love (including people and other bunnies), I had him neutered fast!
                                    I used an experienced rabbit vet and never had a single problem. Pain meds for 3 days, dissolvable internal stitches, take a peek at the incisions daily for a few days, and try to keep him confined for 3 days with no running or jumping was what the vet prescribed. Never had another spray. Still isnt a cuddle bunny (he’s way too busy!) but he will fast asleep during ear and cheek rubs if I catch him between bunny “projects”!


                                  • Beka27
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                                      Many members have used the NJ neuter certificates. It’s a wonderful program that I wish they’d implement in other states!


                                    • manic_muncher
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                                        I dealt with a House Rabbit Society that helped me with a low-cost neuter, limited to residents of MD, DC, VA and WV. It was for a $25 rebate. They also had additional help for “low income” (single, not claimed as a dependent of another person or family, and your annual income is less than $25,000; are single with dependents, or married, and your total household annual income is less than $40,000) They had specific vets they used, but since I was so far away, they actually worked directly with the vet I chose (which was still 2 1/2 hrs away). The neuter was initially like $200 dollars (if I remember correctly) and I only ended up paying like $35. I noticed you specifically said NJ, but wasn’t sure if you were actually IN NJ. I can give you the link if you are in MD or something.

                                        Otherwise, just google something like ‘low cost rabbit neuter’ and your state, and see what you find!


                                      • Samicles
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                                          Thanks everyone for your advice, I was going to schedule Caesar’s appointment next week but sadly he passed away early this morning. Last night he broke his nail on something (still not sure what) and he was bleeding pretty heavily. After over 3 hours I managed to get it down to a trickle then went to sleep, figuring it’d start to clot on it’s own. I checked on him in the middle of the night, then in the morning, around 7:00. He was barely moving, he lost a lot of blood and had no energy. I also realized he didn’t eat all night. So quickly got some stuff together to take him to the vet but he passed in my arms on the car ride there.


                                        • Ellekke
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                                            Oh no, that’s horrible!!
                                            I’m so sorry for your loss.


                                          • Deleted User
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                                              Oh Samicles – how terrible for you. Poor Caesar – I am SO very sorry.


                                            • Katy90
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                                                Oh no! Poor Caesar, sorry to hear that


                                              • manic_muncher
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                                                  I’m so sorry.

                                                  ~Binky Free Caesar~


                                                • Sindri
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                                                    I am sorry to hear about your loss of Caesar.


                                                  • LBJ10
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                                                      I’m shocked reading this. So very sad. I’m sorry for your loss.


                                                    • bunnytowne
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                                                        Oh noooo   poor little thing.  


                                                      • kcomstoc
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                                                          Oh no I’m so sorry for your loss


                                                        • Megabunny
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                                                            That is tragic! I, too, am stunned. You must be devastated. So sorry to hear


                                                          • Samicles
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                                                              I feel terrible, I should’ve taken him to the emergency vet that night, but I didn’t think a broken toe nail would really be fatal… The past few days have been terrible, it’s so quiet in my home, no more hopping or chewing to listen to.. I’ve decided against getting another rabbit, at least not right now. So as a result, I won’t be on here anymore, I hope everyone at least learns from this so it doesn’t happen to anyone else. Because it’s really tragic, I still can’t get over that he died in my arms.


                                                            • JackRabbit
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                                                                I think you have made the right decision. I had gone back and read your previous threads and it didnt sound like you and Ceasar were a good match. While the whole experience was tragic, I ‘m confident that you both are in a better place now. Binky free Ceasar.

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                                                            Forum BEHAVIOR I’m getting really fed up with my bun