Advice on NEW rabbit and preventing spraying

[Dana]

Hello! 

I am new to this site and so far I have loved the information I have come across. I apologize if what I am asking has already been answered but I have a feeling it has not. In January of this year (2017), I had to say good bye to my sweet mini lop, Mr. Boots. I had him for 4 lovely years. He was a rescue bun and it was the best decision I have ever made. Now that he is passed I have been looking into getting a new bunny friend. I believe I have found him and I am seeking advice on the potential spraying he may do when I bring him into my home, as well on the best way to introduce him to a completely new environment. He is a french lop of 10 months old. He lives in a bunny barn and comes from a breeder. He is the last one left of his pals as the lady told me his brothers and sisters had unique markings and he did not. This made me want to take him even more! He is also missing a small chunk in one of his ears as a rabbit in the cage beside him bit his ear. The poor guy. I just want to take him home and love him but I know that I must ease him in slowly as he is not used to living indoors nor being handled very often. I have already set up a vet appt. to get him neutered but before then he will be spending at least one night in my home and I was hoping someone could offer me some advice on what I should do in terms of protecting the carpet and walls in case he decides to spray everywhere! I am also seeking advice on how to make him comfortable in his new environment and getting used to me. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!!

[Luna]

Hi! I’m sorry to hear about your bun Mr. Boots – it’s a very cute name by the way . Unfortunately, I don’t know about spraying (Luna is female and she is my first bun). As far as easing him into the indoor life, I’d say start small then work your way forward. If you are going to have him be free roaming, keep him to one room/area of the house for a while before letting him explore the rest of the house. Try to introduce him to indoor sights/sounds one at a time (ie. phone ringing, the TV, flushing the toilet) when you are close to him and when he is in a calm state. After each sound, if he reacts well (or doesn’t react at all), maybe give him a little treat.

[Dana]

Thank you! I appreciate your advice and condolences. I have been doing some research as well into introducing him in slowly and your advice matches up quite well. I’m also wondering what size pen would be adequate to keep him in as he begins his new transition into the new space and also while he heals from being neutered as I was told they shouldn’t be out running right after this. Thanks again! Every bit helps

[Limit]

Unfortunately there’s not much you can do about spraying except protecting carpets with Lino on top or old shower curtains. I’d get him neutered as soon as possible to prevent spraying. He sounds lovely and I’m sorry for your loss of Mr boots x

Settling in can be difficult, I suggest somewhere dark and quiet where he can be left for a while (except for feeding etc).

[Dana]

Thank you for your help! I will be sure to take preventative measures in case he chooses to spray. I read a few articles saying that they can still spray after being neutered!? Is this true?? I am getting Mr. Grey (not very original, but will do for now) on Friday and I have a vet appt. Set the same day to look him over and then neuter him. So he’ll have a big transition in one day but I figured maybe this would be best to get it all done in one day and then he can begin to heal and ease into his new home. I guess we shall see! Fingers crossed!

[Boston's Mama]

Usually if not neutered before or at onset of spraying ( which starts at sexual maturity – so 4-6 months of age depending when they “drop” ) then it can sometimes become a habit or behavioural issue rather than a sexually driven mark – then it can stick as a problem once neutered
It’s a territorial marking of their territory ( btw it isn’t just boys – girls can too ) so as long as there aren’t entire adult rabbits in the room and you neuter on time you rarely get an issue from my experience .
My 5month old sprays occasionally but he is likely intersex as nothing has dropped at all yet so I cant neuter him just yet.

Btw mr Gray is a cute name ! if you aren’t happy with it though and just have it as a “for now ” name you could go for Grayson

[Luna]

Grayson! (and Samson ). As for Mr. Grey’s pen size, I think normal size is fine. I would just be sure to put a good sized hide in there in case he gets startled by a new indoor noise, and maybe a towel over part of the top of the cage to minimize the brightness of artificial ceiling lighting until he is more comfortable. Also, is he already litter trained?

[Dana]

Well he is 10 months old and not neutered! So hopefully he’s a nice bun and doesn’t decide that he can spray everywhere. I have an appt. set for him to be neutered the same day that I am picking him up from the breeder. I have never had a rabbit that I didn’t have neutered so i’m hoping that by doing this now I might still get lucky and prevent him from spraying up a storm in his new home. Fingers crossed! I don’t have any other rabbits in the house. There may be a bunny smell that is lingering from my past rabbit so i’m hoping to wash everything and get that out of there. Maybe airing the pen outside and such. I bought two large litter boxes because I will also be taking on the task of litter training him. I have only had to litter train one rabbit before and she was young and easy to train. I read that older rabbits catch on quickly but I think it really depends on the rabbit. Hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Big transition for Mr. Grey to go from being in a barn to inside. Will update once the process begins. Thinking maybe of even documenting his progress. Wish me luck! And thank you!

[Dana]

Those are cute names! I have a 21+ sq ft pen with a cute door on it. It’s plastic so hopefully he’s not a BIG chewer. I will have to find a big box of sorts for a hide as he is a decent sized bunny. He is a French Lop. Chincilla coloring. 10 months. Not litter trained or neutered yet
Will be neutering him on Friday when I get him! Will definetely put a towel or something on top to give him extra privacy. Thank you!

[Dana]

Just curious but what is an intersex rabbit?

[Limit]

Posted By Dana on 3/28/2017 11:19 AM

Just curious but what is an intersex rabbit?

A rabbit that is both male and female  

[Boston's Mama]

Sorry just seen this now – yep intersex is both – apparently isn’t that uncommon ( I hadn’t heard of it before the vets started muttering about it when examining Oakley )

As for the other bunny smell – you can dilute white vinegar in water and use that to wipe down your pen , cage and anything else wipeable that he will be using I do this once a week also as part of my cleaning for my boys
I had missed the age part in your first post sorry – and yep neutering asap will help – he may already spray if he has been in breeding quarters as he would have felt the need to mark his space against a lot of other hormonal bunnies – but that still can settle with neutering and becoming a only bun where he doesn’t need to mark his territory
Lots of people adopt ex breeding rabbits and desex them then have them inside – big step up in their quality of life in my opinion
I think you are doing a wonderful thing and it sounds like grey will have a wonderful life with you

[Dana]

Very interesting and good information to know about intersex! I love how much you get to learn through this site . I hope Oakley is doing well!

That’s a great idea. I will do that tomorrow and then let things air out as well. I heard about diluting vinegar before for cleaning and I did used to do that once in a while with my previous bun, Mr. Boots! Oh I miss him so much. It will be nice to welcome a new fur friend into my home again! I even look forward to litter training him, haha!

From what I understood is that he has not had veggies in his diet. Just grass hay and pellets! I will be giving him timothy hay. I wonder if this will affect his stomach going from grass hay to my Oxbow timothy hay? I bought a bag of oxbow pellets as well since he is used to eating a fair amount of them. Hoping to cut that down and have his diet 80% hay, 15% veggies/greens and 5% pellets.

Well wish me luck! Thank you so very much! I hope he will enjoy indoor living and hopefully he will be able to free roam once this litter training business kicks in. ?

[Boston's Mama]

The change in hay shouldn’t cause issues but to be safe you could ask the breeder to give /sell you a small amount of what he is used to and mix in yours with it
Pellets you aren’t changing right? Just the amount? Do the amount gradually – don’t suddenly decrease ( unless vet says he is overweight ) my Oakley has 1/2 a cup a day ( 1/4 morning and 1/4 night which I was told by many breeders is good for a normal weight male lop )
Boston is little so he’s unlimited

If he hasn’t had veges don’t start that at move in time – keep it the same for a good few weeks as the move itself from outside to in , new home – and neuter – and hay change is definetly the limit for changes immediately

[Dana]

No for sure! I’m going to do things very gradual for him and start out with giving him what he would consider to be his regular diet. A good month of healing and settling in before anymore change. That’s a good idea. I will ask her if she could sell me some grass hay to mix in with my timothy hay! As for pellets i’m not sure what kind she has been giving him..I just bought the Oxbow brand bcuz i’ve known this to be a good one.

Do you think it would be fine to start litter training him asap, i.e once he’s back from being neutered? Or at least have the litter box’s in the corners and put hay in them to get his attention.

Thank you for your help!

[Azerane]

Timothy hay is a grass hay so you should be fine Usually the only time hay causes issues is if introducing young rabbits to alfalfa hay when they’ve previously been on a grass hay such as timothy.

At 10 months, getting rid of any spraying behaviours from neutering should be quite easy. In cases where I’ve heard of it sticking, it’s always been bucks that have been spraying for several years, not just a few months.

[Dana]

You have been most helpful! Thank you!! I actually got him today and he is now neutered as well. He’s a touch timid and he has been laying in the same position for a little while. I saw him eat some hay but I don’t see any droppings yet. Hope he’s alright. Will keep monitoring him!

[Boston's Mama]

Did you find out what pellets he was on before in the end?
If not make sure you only start with tiny tiny amount of pellets – like 1/2 a teaspoon a day and build it up to 1/2 a cup over a month
Too fast could cause him gi stasis
If you found out what he is on keep him on that for a few days then slowly start introducing yours by mixing a little more each day and reducing his current ones a little each day

The hay is the main part he needs – unlimited. He will be fine on that while you build the pellets up slowly if you don’t know what he was on

And yes you can start litter raining Straight away – he may take to it quickly , he may not , but start us process
Try one tray in one corner
Each time he poops out of the box use tissue to collect it and pop it in the box. For urine accidents soak them in tissue and place hay tissue in litter tray so he smells where to go, then clean the accident spot in cage up with 50%white vinegar and 50%water solution – so he can’t smell where he urinated before

He sounds lovely

[Boston's Mama]

If he seems to frequent a different corner and ignore the one you chose for tray you can move his tray to there instead ( this is common – they pick their own corner )
If he uses the tray sometimes but other times uses another corner you may need to add a second tray just for a while – eventually he will favour one and you can slowly remove the other but better to have two trays for a while than struggle to train him what a tray is for
Rabbits are clean and like to be clean so as long as you notice the signs above about where he is toileting and clean up and mistakes you should be fine

[Dana]

I’m so proud of him! For having zero experience pooping in a litter box he already started using one! I have two set up in opposite corners. I have it set up so he needs to be in his litter box to access his food. I watched him as he was just laying down and then he got up, jumped into his litter box..stayed for a while and then got out. It even appears he peed in there. I’ve been giving him his space as he is skiddish. So far he’s pretty quiet. Lays down a lot but I figure he is also healing from his neuter now so this makes sense not to be extremely active. He has a hide box I made for him and he was digging in there this morning. And I witnessed his first side flop which tells me he must be getting more comfortable. Today is only day 2 for him. For having been in a bunny barn I have to say he is doing quite well so far. I did not find out what kind of pellets he was on, so I will do that now. Right now he has free access to some but he’s been eating them slowly. He seems sleepy but curious about who I am. He sniffs me and then backs away. I don’t push it. He has access to lots of hay and he drinks a lot of water!! He weighs 10.5 pounds. The girls at the vets didn’t want him to leave bcuz he was so mellow and soft.

[Author]

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