My bunny eats sand

[Cinnabunn the bunny]

After an increase in destructive digging behavior I decided to make a dig box. At first I tried a box with newspaper but he just slept in that. Now I am using a box full of play sand and he seems to enjoy it. He will dig and flop around in it but he has also been eating the sand. I know for some animals, eating bits of gravel helps with digestion however I don’t think that’s the same case for bunnies. Is he doing this for nutrition? Should I scold him when he does this? Is eating sand bad for a bunny?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

If he’s eating it I would take it away completely and try something else-you could get an impaction from him eating it, and scolding is not going to work.

[vanessa]

You mentioned a box with newspaper. Is it shredded? I tear newspaper into inch wide strips. You could also try a box with a foot of hay. Guin likes to toss it up in the air and tunnel through it. Not the same as digging, but it distracts her from wanting to dig. I weaved sisal rope through a NIC panel. (The pic is in the habitat/toys thread). She likes to scratch at it and triesto pull up the pieces of sisal rope. You can also buy sisal/wood scratch boxes on etsy.com. I have one of those. Guin likes to chew ont he wood. BUt I also give her maple branches to chew. I would take away the sand and try a variety of other entertaining past-times to distract yoru bunny from the digging urge.

[tobyluv]

I agree with the others – definitely take away the sand. Besides the fact your rabbit shouldn’t be eating it, I would be afraid of it getting in his eyes and causing irritation. Sand could also cause respiratory problems if your bunny is inhaling particles of it when he is digging.

[Cinnabunn the bunny]

Yes the paper is shredded but he just sleeps in it. He uses a box of hay as his litter box already and I have never seen him dig in it. I am just trying to think of ideas of things for him to do besides destroying and eating my carpet. He likes tearing up boxes but that isn’t enough to distract him. I try using tp rolls but he ignores them even when I fringe them and fill them with hay. Any toy from the store has no effect on him either. trust me, I spoil him a lot and have tried wooden toys, branch balls, treat balls, baby toys, etc but he still gets bored and starts tearing up the carpet or playing with things (like his litter box. he likes to flip it over). any suggestions?

[Chelle]

If you are handy I would build him a scratch box that has carpet around it- the cat towers are too enclosed to be helpful….. it is simple and very cost effective and heavy enough he cannot flip it over. But the carpeted corners will be his delight- to get him to use it I would put treats in the corners where he will most likely dig to encourage him to go to the corners…. the sides should be low. Hope this helps!!! XX

[tobyluv]

My bunnies have always liked ripping apart old phone books. Maybe you could try those.

[Author]

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