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Forum BEHAVIOR adult rabbit peeing in sofa

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    • Bam
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        I’ve had my rabbit for more than a year, and he was fully sexually mature when I got him (found him in the woods). I’ve littertrained him and it has worked excellently – until last week when he suddenly began peeing in my sofa. He doesn’t have a cage.He’s not neutered. He seems to be in good health, he is affectionate and never aggressive in any way, he has a very good appetite.

         

        I’ve put a shower-curtain on the sofa and I’ve cleaned up each time he has peed, but he persists in sneaking up to pee there. As soon as noone else is in the room he jumps up and goes. It’s no small amounts of urine either, it’s big, fat puddles! I’ve tried putting another litterbox (with a little poo and peed-on fabric in it) close to the sofa but he ignores it. Bitter apple spray is not available in Sweden, the odour of vinegar I believe would annoy me and the dog, not just the rabbit.

         

        Could neutering him help even if he’s an adult? Has anyone here experienced anything like this? I fear I must get rid of him unless I can do sth about this. I’m grateful for any tips.


      • RabbitPam
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          I would definitely neuter him. Even an adult rabbit can develop more aggressive, hormonally related tendencies that will be helped by a neuter. It’s besically good for his health if performed by an experienced, rabbit savvy exotics vet.

          It may be a bit territorial since you and the dog all share the couch. I would spray a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water there. You actually shouldn’t smell it at all – the smell dissipates into the air almost immediately. Your dog might, but it won’t be forever that you will need to do this. Keep the litter pan available where you have it and try to both stop him when you see his tail go up, and reward him every time you put him in the litter pan instead or you see him go into it himself. Keep a little box of raisins, or some pellets, handy near the litter pan to treat him with and praise him. He will learn that going in the litter pan is rewarding, going on the couch is not. It’s the positive reinforcement that will work the best.


        • Bam
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            Thank you so much for your advice! I will start spraying with vinegar and water tonight and monitor him closely for any tendencies towards using the sofa as a toilet again. It could very well be territorial since my dog usually lies on the sofa (I tend to spoil my pets). I’ve put chairs and boxes in the sofa for now so the rabbit won’t jump up, but that means my dog too has to lie on the floor, poor thing!

            My rabbit is not pleased with this access denied either, he definitely sulks. He lies with his back against me and doesn’t look at all pleased when I try to pet him.

            As for neutering him I’m a bit nervous about having him anaesthetized since it’s always a risk. And I feel sorry for him too, it doesn’t seem kind to have his balls cut off, but if the vinegar + positive reinforcement fails I guess I must get it done. I have a rabbit-savvy vet who’s given Bam his myxie and RCV-shots.


          • BinkyBunny
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              It’s definitely important to have a rabbit-savvy vet due a the surgery. Not sure what your access is where you live.

              A rabbit can be triggered to mark by many things — other animals, new scents etc and sometimes for reasons we humans just don’t fully understand. And neutering can be helpful in many cases. I just have to warn you though that it may not fully stop it. My bunny, Jack who was neutered (granted a bit later after bad habits had already set in). would do exactly the same thing as your bunny. I just ended up not allowing him up on the furniture at all. Like you are doing, however, I did keep him confined while I was gone to another room. )Maybe you could put boxes and big pillows etc on top of the couch to prevent from access as well?) Anyway, while I was home I just had to watch closely and as soon as he jumped up, he shooed him off. He didn’t like that at first, but i just made sure he had fun things to do and explore on the ground. Tunnels and boxes that would hold his interest — hide treats in the corners somewhere. I would also be sure to grab some pillows and hang out on the ground with him and give him attention there so he wouldn’t feel neglected.

              After a while (a few months) he just stopped going up on the couch at all. And the time he dared, he looked a bit nervous and would quickly jump off, so I didn’t have to shoo him off. There was a time I was able to also get him to jump up and just hang out without peeing because I would just shoo him off the moment I saw the tail go up, but in general it just became a habit for him to not go on the couch anymore. When I got him a buddy, she just seemed to follow his behavior and she never got up on the couch.

              I did have more of a problem with the couch in the bunny room as I couldn’t supervise that area all the time and it was their free reign place. It seemed like they were also have pee duals with each other there. I eventually just blocked that off with big pillows so they couldn’t jump up there and after a few months the same thing happened. It seemed like they just forgot that jumping up there was an option.

              Good luck and keep us updated.


            • tanlover14
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                If you leave any scent of him on the couch (from where he peed on the couch) that may be the reason he’s doing it again. So I would definitely recommend the vinegar solution. Cleaning the accident up as soon as you find it is the only way to really deter them from doing it again.

                I know you may be having 2nd thoughts about the anesthesia and him having his “things” removed, I wouldn’t worry too much. Do you have any idea how old he is? Or has a rabbit-savvy vet checked him out since you’ve had him?? They can do tests and an exam to ensure that his body is up for the procedure and if you use a rabbit-savvy vet everything should be quite fine! It’s actually a lot more stressful for the girls than the boys. My boy was right back to normal within 24 hours and when he came home he wanted nothing more to do than gobble up a huge meal and run around (which was not allowed!). This was all an hour or two after his procedure. It may seem horrifying to you but really he’s not going to even notice. My buns are VERY happy buns and all of them have had their man-parts removed. It does nothing but eliminate their sexual tendencies! If you have to give him away to a Rescue or as another pet, he will most likely be neutered anyways so if this helps you be able to keep your bun and give him a happy, long life with someone who really cares about him, it’s worth it!

                Good luck with your bun! I have three little ones and definitely feel your pain of bad litter habits!


              • Bam
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                  I’ve tried sparying with lemon, I’ve blocked the sofa off with big pillows and cushions – but he still managed to get up there, I found scattered pooh and a wet pee-stain this morning. I never thought he could jump that high, he is a small and somewhat chubby rabbit. Except he probably only looks chubby because he’s a mini-lop.

                  I called my vet and got an appointment for tomorrow, but then I came to think of possible complications, and since they’re not open during the holidays, I decided to reschedule to Jan 14. They are supposedly the best rabbit-vet in this region, they neuter rabbits all the time, rabbits are very popular pets in Sweden.

                  I’ve sprayed with vinegar and water now. 

                  Again, I’m very grateful for all the tips and advice you’ve given me.


                • LittlePuffyTail
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                    Good luck with the neuter!


                  • Bam
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                      Thanks! Wish I could’ve had it done tomorrow but the risk is too great seeing Christmas is coming up. There are emergency vets of course but it’s still not a good idea.

                       

                      Now he’s confined to his cage. Had him out for a bit but he seemed absolutely determined to get up into the sofa, although I’ve put even more cushions in it and sprayed it heavily with vinegar and water. He hasn’t peed at all since this morning.He eats and drinks and poops.


                    • tanlover14
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                        Lots of luck for your neuter — definitely keep us updated and let us know how it goes!


                      • Bam
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                        • Beka27
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                            This post seems to have been deleted or something? Did you have an update, or is this some kind of glitch?


                          • Bam
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                              Beka27, I made an update about all my worries about the neutering of my rabbit on Monday, then I felt silly and erased it again =/


                            • Beka27
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                                Oh Ok… I want sure what had happened.

                                Don’t worry about anything… He’ll do great!


                              • Snowytoshi
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                                  Once he’s neutered his litterbox habits will definitely improve! I understand the worry that something might go wrong, but if it helps shelters neuter rabbits all the time and very rarely is there a complication. When there is a problem it is typicaly because the rabbit had some underlying medical condition, but since your bunny sounds healthy that won’t be an issue. If the risks were high vets wouldn’t offer the surgery and shelters wouldn’t do it for every rabbit that came to them

                                  Good luck!

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                              Forum BEHAVIOR adult rabbit peeing in sofa