Advice PLEASE

[Candied]

First, I want to say I am SO THANKFUL I found this site!! You guys are great! I will be honest and tell you I didn’t research enough before getting my precious Fuzzy. Now, I am at a total lose as to what to do. I started out with him when he was 4 months old and I was living in a condo. He almost immediately litter box trained; and except for the occasional chewed wire and nibbled carpet-he was so easy to take care of. Then…..we moved. Since we moved, he is out of control and I don’t know how to fix it!! I love him so much and he is so loving-(when he chooses)-to me.

Even though I neutered him a week and 1/2 ago, he is peeing EVERYWHERE. His favorite thing to pee on is ME!! As far as pooping, he does that everywhere too. I spend all of my time cleaning poop up! I first thought about making his space smaller to retrain him (he runs free), but he gets SO STRESSED when I put him up!! I bought a baby gate and he can scale that in 5 seconds!! So I got a second baby gate and put it above the first one. I put him in a spare bathroom. He refuses to eat and just lays around looking so sad!!

Does anyone have any ideas how I can get my precious baby back in control? My friends have suggested using a squirt bottle, but I have no idea if that would work on a bunny. He is now 7 months old. Thanks so much for any advice you can give!!!

[Bam]

There is a thing known as post-neuter craze, when the newly neutered bun goes extra-hormonal and litter-box habits deteriorate, you can see cage aggression and increased sexual interest. 1,5 weeks after a neuter is just about when this is at its worst.
In most male buns, a post-neuter craze subsides after 4-8 weeks. So be patient! There’s not a lot you can do to speed things up.

[jerseygirl]

Well I’ll be honest with you and say “Neither did I!” All my learning about rabbits came AFTER I got my 1st rabbit. Lol

It sounds as if you’ve got a double whammy of causes for his loss of habits. The move, coinciding with a neuter. Some rabbits will actually get worse just after neuter but this does settle down. Given it’s only been a 1.5 weeks, I’d say hang in there and allow some more time.

I first thought about making his space smaller to retrain him (he runs free), but he gets SO STRESSED when I put him up!! I bought a baby gate and he can scale that in 5 seconds!! So I got a second baby gate and put it above the first one. I put him in a spare bathroom. He refuses to eat and just lays around looking so sad!!

Sorry to say it, but it is probably best he is restricted. This is what you would do for a pre-neuter bun that has lost habits, or one in a new territory that has lost habits. He may still mark with poop when exploring new areas once allowed but this should resolve by itself. If it’s full on peeing and pooping, go back to square one. Smaller area.

I know you may feel bad about doing it but it should only be temporary. I think it helps to think that a lot of new space might be overwhelming to a rabbit. That they feel they have to mark this big new territory against potential intruders. So restricting the space may actually help with their sense of security. Does that make you feel less guilty?
Is his habitat in a living area where you spend a lot of time? If you can be in the same space, giving attention, giving occasional head pets and treats as you go by, he may settle about being confined.

[jerseygirl]

Oops, I wasn’t aware I repeated what bam said about post-neuter as I was still typing my post. I guess we got our point across about giving things some more time!

[Candied]

Thank you guys so much!! I feel better…..I was beginning to think it was me….lol. I just assumed once he was neutered he would be automatically better. Jersey Girl, I saw in another post you saying you was taking one of yours for a second neuter. Can I ask why you would have to do it twice?

[Author]

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