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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 13sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 8 months ago by Howey.

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- 06/19/2011 at 1:54 PM
  Howey
  Participant
  36 posts
  Hello
  
  Its been a big while since I have posted…..but I need help
  
  Long story short…..Our Howey died a year ago :'( leaving our sweet matilda on her own. We now have a french lop called Archibald to bond with her…they do not get on yet but we are working on it (that isn’t my problem)
  
  So my issue….
  He stinks! His wee smells of very strong ammonia, we are scooping out his tray everyday and as soon as he is back in, it stinks again! We dont have this problem with matilda at all. He has been neutered for about 6 months now too! (he is 10months old)
  Is it because he is bigger?? Howey never smelt like this so it cant be because he is a boy……can it?
  
  I have changed litter from paperbased to megazorb….got some powder stuff that you sprinkle in the litter (rabbit safe of course) Is there anything else I can do? I come home from work and am greeted with this strong unpleasant smell
  
  Do any of you with the larger bun have these issues?
- 06/19/2011 at 2:26 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  No, I don’t think it’s a large size rabbit issue at all. He would need a much larger litter box though and perhaps you will need to change it more frequently.
  
  I’m not at all familiar with the megazorb – what is that? Have you tried a wood pelleted litter?
- 06/19/2011 at 2:42 PM
  Howey
  Participant
  36 posts
  His litter tray is HUGE! and we already clean it everyday.
  Megazorb is woodbased, used for horses. It is apparently very good for rabbits too. We have also tried the wood pellet kind, Im running outta ideas
- 06/19/2011 at 3:18 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  How is he using his litter box? Any problems with that.
- 06/19/2011 at 3:30 PM
  Tate
  Participant
  734 posts
  It could be a UTI… sometimes they can change the odor of urine.
- 06/19/2011 at 3:30 PM
  Howey
  Participant
  36 posts
  He is brilliant at using it.
- 06/19/2011 at 3:36 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Well, it wouldn’t hurt to have a urinalysis to rule out a UTI.
- 06/19/2011 at 3:59 PM
  Howey
  Participant
  36 posts
  He drinks planty and seems very well in himself??….could a change of diet be an issue? He was on Adam and page breeder and grower but a few months ago changed to excel burgess pellets?
- 06/19/2011 at 4:05 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  It’s possible. I’m not at all familiar with those pellets though.
- 06/19/2011 at 4:12 PM
  Tate
  Participant
  734 posts
  Just like in people, there are a number of symptoms that are associated with urinary tract infections. Sometimes, all of them present themselves. Other times, only one symptom is present. How often does he pee? Too much is just as indicative of a UTI as not being able to pee at all/straining while peeing.
  It would be wise to get a urinalysis done and then go from there.
  It’s possible also that his diet is too rich. I’m also not familiar with those pellets (they aren’t sold in the US ) but I looked them up online and I think they look fine. But any excess nutrients will usually be passed via urine and that could cause some unusally strong odor as well!
- 06/19/2011 at 5:33 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I agree with Tate – it’s not always obvious. I think it’s good to at least get a vet to check him out.
- 06/20/2011 at 12:31 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  I’m happy to hear you got a new friend for Matilda! : )
  
  A member here had a problem for a while with her girl and she tried Chlorophyll in the water. I don’t know how effective it proved to be though. I’m not usually an advocate of adding things to the drinking water but the general consensus for that rabbit was that it seemed like it’d be okay. The member did check with her vet that it would be okay to do this. Here is the thread about it: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/112613/Default.aspx
  
  Did his urine stink always from when you got him? Do you feed greens? Some of them can cause smelly pee.
  
  I’m also curious if you took him to be fixed yourselves or did he come to you already neutered?
- 06/20/2011 at 8:02 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  Are they in the same space? Is it possible he is spraying urine (even neutered buns can do this) and you’re not seeing it to clean it up? Or maybe some of the odor is due to territorial droppings which can have a stronger scent? If everything health wise checks out, some buns, I’m guessing, may just have a naturally stronger smell.
- 06/29/2011 at 5:18 AM
  Howey
  Participant
  36 posts
  Hiya sorry I aint been here for a few days.
  We got him neuutered ourselves and his wee didn’t always smell, it is definately an ammonia smell. Im about 80% sure it was when we switched his food over……maybe it is too rich. I don’t think itt is UTI but we will get it checked. I also dont think it is territorial as that seems to bring a more distict whiff
  
  We will try changing their food over gradually, as even though it takes a bit longer, Im sure matilda needs cleaning more often than usual too! I’d feel a bit weird putting stuff in their water….
  
  She absolutely loves him btw he is just a bit wary of her…but he is in his bunny teenage years so were not expecting much yet. She looks tiny compared to him aswell
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