bunny smells like urine

[lunavenus]

Lately I noticed my rabbits smell like urine. 
I know I’m not supposed to give them baths but I feel like I should because it seems they aren’t doing a great job at cleaning themselves. 
Their paws are stained with their pee which may contribute to the scent. I clean their cage pretty often. usually every day or if i’m really busy 2-3 days. They have 2 litter boxes as well. 
Is it okay to give them a small quick bath or is that like totally out of the question. 
They really smell bad  

[Azerane]

Butt baths can be given if need be. 1-2cm of water is enough to just rinse the feet and prevents getting the rest of your rabbit wet which can send them into shock. Their fur is also very tough to dry thoroughly which is why bathing all of them is not recommended.

The pee stain will likely not come out with a bath, only when they shed the fur, however a bath would likely remove the smell itself. If it’s happening though it will likely continue to happen so you need to work out what’s causing it. How often do you clean out the litter trays, and what is their litter tray set up? Size, type of litter etc?

[sarahthegemini]

What do you use in the litter trays? Is it absorbant? When I used straw, my Buttercup’s feet got stained (though they didn’t smell) with urine because straw absorbs nothing. The vet told me wiping them with a washcloth or something wouldn’t remove the staining so just wait for the fur to grow out.

[lunavenus]

I have two litter boxes set up for them each on the opposite end of the cage. One has a hay rack with it which is attached about half a feet above the litter box. Their litter boxes are large sized, like the ones cats use. Both my holland lops can fit in them easily. I use feline pine for now since I’m abroad back at home and often times also use yesterdays news when I’m back in Cali. Depending on what is available. I clean out the litter boxes at max 3-4 days but try to do it almost daily because the stench is nasty.

[lunavenus]

I really don’t want to bathe them but feel like I have to because they smell gross. 
BUT I dont want to stress myself and them out either. Putting them into shock is the last thing i want to do  

[Azerane]

When I first brought my pair home, they had urine staining and smelled bad, but I think it went away within a week once they were here and their litter tray was being maintained better. Knowing my pair and their tray, I clean daily, max every 2 days, I know on the one occasion I’ve left mine 3 it was terrible

[lunavenus]

I’ll try cleaning the litter boxes more often. Hopefully that’ll clear the smell.
If they keep smelling funky, I’ll go to the vet to see if they have something else wrong with them
Glad to know I’m not the only one who has stinky bunnies. It gives me hope that they’ll smell better when I maintain their box better.

[Gina.Jenny]

A wipe with unperfumed toddler toilet wipes or baby wipes, followed by a wipe with a flannel rinsed in clean warm water might be better than a bath? I’ve used this combo to clean icky bun bums. I use puppy training pads to line our boxes, and then a layer of hay. Its quick to change the pads each morning, along with any wet hay.

[Mikey]

My Bombur loves to lay in the litter box for little naps To clean him off if he decides to lay in a pee spot, we use warm water on a hand towel and gently rub him down

[Author]

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