Rescue Bunny Smell

[KatieND]

Okay so I recently was on here asking about my female Netherland dwarf bunnies sneezes. Thankfully the sneezes have subsided and she’s doing fine. However Friday we went to a local shelter and fell in love with a male dwarf lionhead mix named Rusty. He was part of a few unexpected litters that the owner just couldn’t handle, so she sent them all to the Rescue Center. While at the shelter I noticed it smelled but I figured it was just the massive amount of bunnies they had playing the same room etc. the shelter itself was very clean, well organized and extremely helpful. However now that we ve brought Rusty home, the smell has come with him. I thought maybe it was his feet because I noticed he had walked through some urine at the shelter, so I wiped him down with a little wet wipe, tried to brush him out as best I could. The smell still remains though. I can’t tell if it’s his poop, or just the smell hanging on from the shelter or what. I was hoping you guys could give me some pointers on how to get rid of it. I know you can’t bathe bunnies, shock hypothermia and all that. However is there anything else I can do? He’s 6months- 1 yr, they think. He was neutered at the rescue, it’s been a little over a week I believe (Bc they told us to keep in away from our unspayed female for at least two more weeks. She’s still a baby so we re getting her spayed as soon as possible) Thank you everyone for your help!

[jerseygirl]

I wonder if it’s the litter they use that’s made the fur smell??

If its his fur, you could try a dry bath technique to see if it helps. You rub pure cornstarch into the fur then comb it back out. Ive only done this on some urine stained fur once and it did help with the staining a bit.

[tobyluv]

It could be that some of the other rabbits sprayed him if they were housed together or in adjacent cages. Hopefully, the cornstarch will help with the smell.

Males can actually impregnate females for a month, or even a little longer after being neutered. It really would be better if you didn’t introduce the bunnies until your female was spayed and recovered, and had a few weeks for the hormones to level out. The first step in bonding is always for both or all rabbits to be spayed or neutered, with a few weeks passing since their surgeries. The hormones that an unspayed rabbit has can cause aggression, which can lead to fighting and injuries. And the male can react to her hormones even if he is neutered. You can keep them in the same room and even do some pre-bonding – swapping out their blankets and such, but don’t let them get together physically, even for short play/exercise periods, until she has been spayed.

[Serenity]

I agree with tobuluv, spaying/neutering is necessary if possible. I know it can be pretty expensive in some places, but it’s worth it.
As for a bath, I have found that baths are not as dangerous as most people say (absolutely no offense to anyone who says otherwise, if you do not wish to take my advice, then I will not be insulted. Bathe your bunny at your own risk but I recommend not bathing any bunny under at least 7 months). The most important part is making sure they get dry and keep the water very warm or else the cold will shock them very badly and make them sick or kill them. However, depending on the age of your rabbit, bathing is okay.
Before bathing him, make sure you try the other dry-cleaning methods people suggest, as they are safer. If none work, you could consider bathing. Just, like I said, make sure the water is nice and warm and he gets dry very quickly and very well.

[KatieND]

Yes we re going to get her spayed, she’s just too young right now.

With Rusty though I’ve picked him up wiped him down and he doesn’t actually smell, I’ve been noticing it seems like his poop is what gives off an odor. Is that a thing? Or normal? We ve had him three days now and I still am noticing it around his litter box. I feed him the same things as my Netherland Dwarf and hers don’t smell. (Sorry if this sounds crazy!)
Could it be what the rescue had been feeding him? (I wouldn’t think it would hold on that long considering we ve had him a few days and are feeding him the food we have for him)
Thanks again everyone!

[jerseygirl]

Would you say they have an onion-y odour? Or like stale cornchips?
He may be doing territorial poops. They look like normal bunny poop but have a slight sheen to them. That coating is what is smelly.

[KatieND]

That’s exactly what it smells like! Yea his poop does have a sheen too it, they’re slightly wetter than my other bunnies (not diarrhea wet or anything ). Will the odor go away?

[jerseygirl]

Haha, corn chips x sweaty socks.

Well, the smell should dissipate once he’s finished marking with the “terri-poops”. It’s not unusual for rabbits to do that in a new space or when the defect another rabbit. They’ll normally leave those ones scattered about on the floor. Regular prop hopefully will be in the litterbox.

You might get it a bit again when you do bonding work but again, it should only be temporary.

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