10 year old rabbit losing his litter box training

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This topic has 6sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 7 months ago by Ollie’s mom.

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- 09/07/2020 at 7:10 AM
  Ollie’s mom
  Participant
  21 posts
  Ollie is 10 years old. A week ago he had a stroke and I thoughts I was going to lose him.
  
  somehow he has had an incredible recovery. He’s regained his ability to walk and move, but he is unsteady and struggles with coordination. He is not jumping anymore so he’s in a 5 x 5 ish pen and not in his 2 story condo any more. I replaced his litter box with a tray from a hutch. It’s got really low sides so it can’t hold litter, I’ve been lining it with puppy pads.
  90% of the time he’s peeing in his box but 10% of the time he’s peeing on the floor.
  I have carpet so this is a big problem.
  I ended up having to line the whole pen with puppy pads but it’s encouraging him to pee outside of the box.
  
  I am unsure what to do. In the past I would give him an additional box where he’s peeing and slowly move it back to his normal box. But he can’t get in a normal box and there isn’t room for another tray.
  
  Any ideas to help him remember his litter box training? If not is there a way to make the bottom of his enclosure more like a giant cage so I don’t ruin the carpet? I’m not going to keep him in a cage. I need to figure this out.
- 09/07/2020 at 8:04 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  16871 posts
  Could you cut a hole in one of the sides of a normal litterbox so he can get in easier? Maybe that would jog his memory?
  
  It is also possible that the stroke has caused him to lose some of the sensation in the bladder, so that he doesnt always know that he needs to pee. He could have lost some of his bladder control due to the stroke so he cant manage to get to the box (or tray, now) before peeing is a fact. Does he get wet from pee on his legs/inside of thighs?
- 09/07/2020 at 8:27 AM
  Ollie’s mom
  Participant
  21 posts
  @bam he was initially peeing on himself and needing but baths the first few days after the stroke. But now he’s not, he’s lifting his tail and everything. Maybe he doesn’t realize he has to pee until it’s urgent. I don’t know.
  
  I could buy another litter box and cut it for him. That’s a good idea. He’s always had a huge litter box (2 x 3.5 foot bottom of an old cage) I’ve struggled to find something a good size/ I don’t want to ruin the cage in case we need it.
- 09/07/2020 at 10:31 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5781 posts
  Would a boot-tray work? They are large and shallow, but still have a lip. Hay might get everywhere, but if it’s surrounded with high walls, the hay won’t get pushed out too easily. Both my rabbits love lounging in the black boot tray I have. it is also easy to clean and they open track hay into there (one of their hay feeders is right next to it) and like eating in there too. My thought is it’s spacious, so if he ends up liking it, it may give him room to lounge and also have space for him to eat and use the restroom too.
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 09/07/2020 at 11:03 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  8930 posts
  There are some litter boxes meant for puppies and cats with limited mobility that have one low side, which might be helpful for him. Also plant potting trays are good litter boxes for buns with limited mobility (they have a similar low side). I got one marketed as one for senior cats when Bertha lost some mobility in her back leg towards the end of her life, it helped her a lot.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 09/08/2020 at 10:05 AM
  prince dorian the bun
  Participant
  743 posts
  I have seen pen liner blankets that are made for dogs that are supposed to be water/urine proof. It would seem less like a puppy pad if he now thinks of those as where he is supposed to pee.
- 09/08/2020 at 11:40 AM
  Ollie’s mom
  Participant
  21 posts
  These are all really helpful ideas!! I’m going to go pick some of these things up. Thank you!
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