Potty pattern

[CFYasutomi]

I have a four-year-old female bunny who is spayed. She has free range of the living room during the day and I lock her in her cage at night. For the past two weeks I’ve found her pee in the middle of her cage (outside of the litter box). This is unusual since she is potty trained to poop and pee in her litter box instead. The most alarming thing then happened this afternoon when she peed in one of her favorite sleeping spots in the living room. Upon doing so, she got it all over her feet. I am guessing peeing like this was unwanted since she immediately cleaned herself, then kicked and hopped away. I recently added pellets and Hawaiian ti leaves to her existing diet of treats and hay, but that was a month ago. I am wondering if this is a behavior, diet, or health issue. Please advise. 

[Mikey]

If she peed on herself accidentally, it could be a UTI, bladder, or kidney problem. Possibly a stone.

[CFYasutomi]

Hi Mikey,

Thanks for responding. My husband took her to the vet, and the vet gave her a clean bill of health. I guess this is behavioral?

[tobyluv]

Was the vet able to get a urine sample to test? Did the vet take x-rays to check for stones or other problems? Your bunny could still have a UTI or bladder/kidney problem if the vet didn’t perform all the tests necessary to diagnose such a problem.

One of my past rabbits would pee in her sleep.  As she relaxed and fell asleep, her bladder relaxed and emptied.  I would see her peeing in a deep sleep.  This could be what is happening with your rabbit.  It’s been a long time, so I can’t remember if my bunny did this from the start, or if it came on as she got older.  Your rabbit isn’t old, but there can be some changes as a rabbit ages.

[tobyluv]

I wasn’t familiar with Havaiian ti, so I just did a search on it, to see if it’s safe for rabbits to eat.  I found a site that lists it as toxic.  I’ve never heard of this site, so I don’t know how accurate it is.

animalwhoop.com/don’t-feed-your-rabbits-these-toxic-plants-and-foods/

Hawaiian ti is not listed on either of the HRS lists of toxic plants that use for reference.

[CFYasutomi]

Thanks again for all of your help! I sincerely appreciate your suggestions. 

In regards to the Hawaiian Ti leaf, I was told by local breeders that they’re OK to feed to rabbits. Here’s a blog by a local breeder. https://sites.google.com/site/hillsidefarmhawaii/resource-center/keeping-angora-rabbits-in-hawaii

I also like your suggestion that she was in a very deep sleep when she peed on herself. She indeed did appear to be in a very relaxed, deep sleep when it happened. She hasn’t done it again, but I’ll keep an eye out. 

[Author]

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