Litter and a Quirk

[bonnie_bunny]

Hey folks!

I have two questions concerning my one and a half year old Checkered Giant, Gizmo.

I’ve noticed it since I got him, but sometimes in the evenings, Gizmo will lay down with his front feet tucked in and his back feet out to the side. When he does this, I also notice his head bobbing up and down. It’s too consistent and rhythmic to be sneezing, but it isn’t necessarily jerky and uncontrolled looking. I’ve been trying to catch a video, but no success yet. Has anyone else seen this in their rabbits? He just went in for a check up right before I got him, October 18th I think, and got a clean bill of health.

Second question: The sanctuary I got Gizmo from mentioned his litter habits aren’t super great. So far he’s been very good about not peeing outside his enclosure when he’s roaming free, but he’s still missing the litter box about once every couple of days. I’ve tried dousing the area in vinegar to get the smell out, cleaning fresh stuff up with paper towels and throwing them in the litter box so his sent is there, and trying to herd him to the litter box if I notice the tell tale squat. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[Asriel and Bombur]

Asriel is a head bobber when he’s really relaxed, so it’s nothing serious. Az has never been sick a day in his life, if that makes you feel better

As for his litter habits, how long ago was he neutered? If he was neutered less than 2 months ago he could still be hormonal.

[bonnie_bunny]

He was neutered very recently. Part of the reason he was at the sanctuary is because not one of his six previous families bothered to neuter him. I believe the date was September 21st, so it hasn’t quite been two months. I’m just confused because I suspected that if he was hormonal, he would be peeing everywhere, but so far my rug/floor/bed/clothes/etc. have all survived (knock on wood). He only pees in his pen, and he’ll even run back in and pee there when he’s out, he just doesn’t always hit the litter box. Usually he’s in the right general vicinity, but he tends to pee on the outer wall of the litter box. I tried moving his hay closer to see if that was the issue, but so far it hasn’t helped.

[Asriel and Bombur]

You might want to try a bigger litter box? Maybe his bum can’t get all the way in?

[Author]

Messages