10 yr old bunny peeing/pooping everywhere

[evansvillegirl26]

My 10 yr old bun has started peeing and pooping all over her cage. She’s always been trained. Every few yrs she would get this wet butt thing and she’d go outside her box. The vet always had be give her a butt bath and it would go away pretty quick. This time around no wet butt. Nothing has changed. Same litter same food. She’s eating and drinking the same and even acting the same. But the constant peeing everywhere is getting to me. There was nothing wrong at last vet visit. Anyone else have a older spayed bun that has gone thru this?? My last rabbit died 10 years ago of kidney problems years ago and there was nothing they could really do to help. I hope this is not the start of another kidney problem bunny

[LittlePuffyTail]

When was her last vet visit?

Any change in behavior is a cause for concern. Especially in an older bun. Peeing outside the box can be a sign of a UTI or bladder problem.

[evansvillegirl26]

About 7 months ago. I think I will call the vet tomorrow!!!

[jerseygirl]

It does sound like she has had some trouble from UTI in the past. Is she dribbling or do you see her consciously left her tail and go?

How agile is she? How do her hocks look? It might be worth trialing a lower litterbox and/or softer litter in case she has aversion to the box for some reason.

[evansvillegirl26]

I have not noticed her tail when peeing. Her hocks look good. They are not wet. Her litter box is pretty low. She has two of them. I use yesterdays news. I did think about the little thing and ended up shredding a bunch of news paper thinking that would make a difference but it didn’t. I am taking her to a new vet today. Her old vet never had any answers about the wet but thing. Just gave me some special shampoo. This is the first time though that she’s peeing this much for this long of time. And drinking more. Hoping to have better luck with the new vet today!! We don’t have many choices of exotic pet vet’s around here!!

[evansvillegirl26]

So the Dr did a Xray and she has no kidney stones. She does have some bridging in her spine that he said is normal for rabbits her age but it may be causing her a bit of pain. Wants me to switch her litter boxes with something that has no lip that she can just walk into. He gave her some pain meds and a round of antibiotics for a UTI. He said there may be a possibility because of her age and that she is spayed she may have some incontinence. We are going to try the litter box thing and the antibiotics first then if that doesn’t help, some meds for incontinence. So we will see!!

[jerseygirl]

Thanks for the update. I hope you see some improvement with this treatment.

For many years, Jersey had litter habits like this. She also drank a lot and had very dilute pee at times. It was difficult to tell if it was behavioural or medical with her. In hindsight, I think it was a combination. 

Is your girl with another rabbit?  I seem to recall you had a bonded female pair. Very likely I’m mistaken! 

We had a member post recently whose rabbit was getting a wet tail on and off, mostly she stayed wet. She was on various antibiotics. They’d see improvement but then a relapse. They thought she might be reinfecting herself and found that regularly wiping the soiled area helped. They used alcohol wipes. There are probably alternatives you could use or a solution you could make up yourself using something like chlorhexidine. There are also baby wipes called Water Wipes that have grapefruit seed extract in them. It’s a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal. Another member mentioned they got these from Target.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Best of luck! Hope this takes care of the problem.

[evansvillegirl26]

Thanks for the replies! I got a tray that slides in into a dog kennel. She’s stillpoopong everywhere but the peeing has cut back some. She doesn’t currently have the wet hurt thing but I will look into those wipes next time she gets it!!! ?

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