Bunny problems

[Flowerbunny]

I’ve been having quite a few problems with lily (she is an angora mix that weighs about 3 or 4 pounds) who I got about 2 months ago from the local animal shelter. I was told she was rescued in a humane investigation and came from a home with 30 rabbits. I have another rabbit and she is very social and comfortable with me but I’ve noticed lily is very timid and a lot more shy than I’ve ever seen my other rabbit (Luna). Whenever I go near her cage she stiffens up and starts breathing heavily, on the other hand Luna comes to me and sniffs. Lily also doesn’t want to play with any of the toys I give her and only uses the litter box when she chooses. The biggest concern I have right now is that she is peeing absolutely everywhere in her cage and she’s very fluffy and white so her fur is always getting soaked in pee. I’ve tried everything to make her use her litter box but again she chooses when she wants to use it. I’ve had fleece in there for her for a while then she started peeing all over that and it was drenched so I took it out and now I’ve noticed what appears to be sore hocks so I have the fleece back in there but I’m having to wash it every single day. I’m also concerned the sore hocks are from her sitting in her pee. She’s in a basic pet store rabbit cage but I’m getting her a large doggie crate to move into next month. So is there anything I can do to treat her sore hocks from home? Is neosporin okay? Could her peeing all over the cage be causing the sores? What can I do to prevent her from peeing all over her blankets?

[I love bunnies!]

Is she spayed? Usually the spraying stops if you spay them. I am not sure what do do about the sore hocks though. Maybe Lilly just needs time to get used to you. Luna is comfortable because you’ve had her For longer I believe, and you to have bonded. But lilly just need a little more time for you and her to bond!

[Jessica]

Have you tried changing up brands or types of litter? My angora only likes paper pellets in her litter pan. Also try different kinds of toys my girl loves toys that crinkle, her favorite toy right now is a black plastic bag that is cut flat and super crinkly and loud. She shakes it and digs it and runs around with it, but she won’t play with any standard bunny toys.

If she will let you handle her enough, consider trimming they extra long fluff on her feet so that it won’t soak up as much pee, also keep her sanitary area and bum trimmed. I have done this with both of my angoras

As far as her being nervous about you being around, give her more time, it sounds like she had a really rough start. She probably hasn’t learned to associate people with good things. Consider giving her some kind of small treat every time you walk up to the cage. She will learn pretty quick that you equal good things. If she’s not eating out of your hand yet place it in her dish and praise her then just let her be.

I personally have not felt with sore hocks so I don’t have any advise.

[Flowerbunny]

She is spayed and as for litter I originally was using feline pine and she refused to even go in her litter box so I switched to fresh news and now she uses it occasionally so I don’t think litter is the problem. When I don’t have any fleece in her cage she uses the litter box more often but when I put the fleece back in there she now only uses the fleece to pee and poo on. I need to fleece in there now that she’s developed sore hocks so I don’t know what else to do :/

[Jessica]

Have you considered putting carefresh on top of the litter so its just as soft? She just might prefer peeing on soft things.

[Author]

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