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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

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 Stop SPRAYING ME!!!!!

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    • Morgan Bun
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        I took on a rabbit, 16 weeks old, male holland lop. Not neutered (yet). Hes a sweet little thing. Very curious, very energetic. He “had to go” from his other home cuz he was purchased for some small children and Mom didn’t realize how much work he was gonna be for her. Seemed like a pretty sorry excuse, they only had him two weeks, but I found out pretty quick what I think to be the real reason they got rid of him.

        Every. Single. Time. That I reach into his cage (food, water, litter, cleaning, whatever) he sprays the heck outta me. He does NOT seem fearful. He is rather interested in what I’m doing, then BAM, he throws his bunnybutt around and gives me a good ol’ stinky shower. And everything else that gets in the way…. cage, food bowl, wall, whatever.

        WHY???? He will be neutered, probably next month….but in the meantime, what can I do to discourage that? Isn’t he a little young for hormonal bs? I feel like I need a full poncho with face mask just to clean the rabbit’s cage.


      • Stickerbunny
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          He’s being hormonal and territorial, some rabbits are about their cages. Simplest way would be to not clean etc in his cage while he’s in it, but get him to go into an x-pen or something while you do it. He feels like you’re invading HIS space so he’s showing his displeasure and marking you.


        • Monkeybun
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            Not much you can do to discourage it besides getting him neutered. He can’t help it really, his hormones are telling him to mark you as his.

            At 4 months, he is old enough to get neutered.


          • Sam and Lady's Human
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              I agree with the above, boys mature around 3 months, he’s ready to be neutered yesterday

              Most rabbits though, altered or not, are territorial about their homes, easy fix is just clean while they are out in play time.


            • RabbitPam
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                Make the appointment asap. He’s ready. Ditto the advice about letting him out first. You can also fill his food dishes when he’s out, so he finds food when he goes back.


              • Morgan Bun
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                  Thanks everyone. His appointment is next month due to lack of appointments on the vet end, not cuz I want to wait. I’m going to try to sweet talk my way into something sooner (I’m not above begging) but if all else fails, in January, his cotton balls are history.

                  I will try taking him out to clean/feed…. So far he’s not too keen on coming out on his own. Honestly I don’t think he likes the laminate flooring, so I’m putting blankies down outside the cage door to coax him out for now.

                  I’ma wrap his whole cage in plastic if he keeps it up. 😀


                • Morgan Bun
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                    How rude…. I come here askin’ for advice and didn’t even share the cuteness!!!

                    His name, due to his enjoyment of peeing on me, is R. Kelly.

                     


                  • Beka27
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                      He is so precious!!!!! Of course, I’M not the one on the receiving end of his “adoration”… lol.

                      I would call the vet first thing Monday morning, and depending on your flexibility, explain what’s going on and let them know to call you if they get a cancellation. Vets, like any doctor, do get last minute cancellations and it would be great if you could get put on the short list… I also encourage this b/c if allowed to go on too long, spraying can become HABITUAL, rather than just hormonal. This usually happens with older buns, but I wouldn’t want to chance that cute ball of fluff deciding he enjoys spraying, even after neutering.

                       

                       

                      Now… is it bad of me to say I kinda hope he DID spray his previous owner?  That should teach her to get a pet and (most likely) do little to no research on what they require.  Hopefully next time the kids beg for “xyz animal”, she’ll get them a stuffed one instead…  


                    • Mandyyy
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                        I don’t have much advice besides get him neutered, but my god you should have seen my face while reading this. Lol.

                        He is ADORABLE!


                      • peppypoo
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                          Nothing constructive to add, but HAHA, brilliant name (and adorable to boot).


                        • LBJ10
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                            Posted By Morgan Bun on 12/03/2011 04:49 PM

                            His name, due to his enjoyment of peeing on me, is R. Kelly.

                             

                             

                            Oh my gosh, you’re terrible! LOL, I love it!


                          • Morgan Bun
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                              Beka…. Well, if you’re bad, I’m bad too. I am kinda thinkin’ the same thing. I do think, though, that a lot of rehomes would be avoided if a person would be HONEST about the reason they are getting rid of the animal. Had he gone to someone else, would they put the money and effort out to neuter and try to curb the spraying? Or would they have gotten rid of him too? Had I known he was a sprayer, I probably still would have agreed to take him, but at least I’d have known and decided that for myself.

                              Mandyy…. Glad I could entertain.

                              Thanks, Peppypoo

                              LBJ…. LOL! Glad someone can appreciate my humor. When you’ve had as many animals as I have (fosters), you tend to get creative with names…. you can only have so many fluffies, and spikes, and fidos…..


                            • bunnyfriend
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                                Awhhhh he is cute! The only advice I can offer is what everyone else said, he needs to be neutered. And fast, because even though mine was neutered, the humane society likely waited too long because he still has a spraying habit once in a while.


                              • jerseygirl
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                                  I can’t believe that sweet looking bun could do such a thing.

                                  Ditto all the above on that hormones would be a BIG factor in this.

                                  They can also do it as a bit of a stress relief so maybe changing his habitat might help in the meantime. Do you have room to set up a pen? I’m thinking his being in a cage in the previous home possible with small children reaching in or poking could have caused some stress. A pen also might be easier for the clean up, you could line the sides and he won’t be at your level if he does go to spray.

                                  Another trigger could be the smell of the other animals on you. Rabbits have a very keen sense of smell. Do you have other rabbits? i.e. that cutie in your avatar?


                                • rexanater
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                                    Houdini sprayed a ton, (i got him from another family, as well). In fact last christmas he sprayed on all the presents as we were opening them D: haha But like the others said, after i got him neutered he hasn’t sprayed at all


                                  • Rabbit lover
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                                      Yup get him neutered. And by the way cute pic!


                                    • Morgan Bun
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                                        Well, I begged for an appointment this month. So, if I keep my fingers and toes crossed, and send positive thoughts up to the stars, (lol), I may be getting him in on the 18th. It’s a lowcost clinic, and December is a charity spay/neuter event with low income qualifications that I don’t meet, so if I’m able to sneak him in, it’s ONLY cuz the HS owes me a favor. 😉

                                        Yes, I do have one other rabbit living here, yep, the guy in my avatar. He is upstairs in a room all his own, and Mr. Kelly is downstairs in the dining room. I have no interest in bonding them, as the avatar bun is a HS foster, and won’t be living here permanently. I do have cats, but he WANTS them around, and seeks them out when he sees them.

                                        I don’t have a puppy pen, but I do have two small rabbit fences that I ziptied together and have been letting him out in those while I clean/feed. He still zaps me every here and there, but not as badly. The cage he is in here, did not come with him when they surrendered him. She wanted to keep the cage in hopes of selling it.

                                        So. Here’s to hoping the 18th is my lucky day!


                                      • Elrohwen
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                                          What a cutie! The name is pure genius.

                                          I don’t have any suggestions outside of what others have said, but I hope you can get him in soon!

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                                      Forum BEHAVIOR Stop SPRAYING ME!!!!!