Smelly bunny

[Rabbit lover]

  Some of my rabbits habbitats really smell I have all my bunnies spayed and neutered except two and I clean there cages almost every other day but the smell just will not leave! 

[equalsign]

 My little boy bunny isn’t neutered yet and he basically has a perma hormonal stink. If they can smell the other bunnies nearby, smell them on you, or just feel like it they’re going to smell terrible. I remember the first time we checked his anal scent glands thinking “This must be it” and they were perfectly clean. I think they can coat their poops in hormonal stinky stuff too. Maybe the spayed/neutered ones are acting horomonal in repsonse to the ones that aren’t spayed/neutered. Which ones are stinking? The altered, unaltered, or both?

[Rabbit lover]

I think just the unaltered

[Stickerbunny]

My buns are both altered and they can still give out a stinky “marking” smell when they want to with their droppings. They have glands they can use to “scent” things with if they want to. But unaltered rabbits have a natural smell to their waste, which goes away when altered as well.

[Rabbit lover]

How can I solve this problem?

[Rabbit lover]

Like how do I get rid of the smell?

[Sarita]

What are their habitats made of? Wood, plastic, etc…

[Rabbit lover]

Well I have two ex pens attached to a cage (each ex-pen houses two bunnies) and the two remaining bunnies have cages.

[Rabbit lover]

Does anyone have any suggestions to get rid of rabbit smells?????????????????

[Sarita]

What is the flooring of the houses.

What type of litter are you currently using?

[Rabbit lover]

I am using the kaytee frsh bedding. The floors are plastic.

[Beka27]

Litter can make a big difference, and you also need to make sure the litteboxes are coming clean and are not retaining the urine smell. Litterboxes should be replaced periodically if they start smelling, even after cleaning with a vinegar/water mixture. You’ll also need to check that none of the bunnies are spraying urine or peeing over the litterboxes and you’re not seeing it.

Are all the buns in the same room? If so, that could also be accounting for some of the smell as they are marking territory against the others.

What is your timeline for altering the two remaining bunnies? This is going to be the most important step in stopping the smell.

[Beka27]

Posted By Rabbit lover on 10/31/2011 05:41 AM
I am using the kaytee frsh bedding. The floors are plastic.

I’m not familiar with this, is this a paper-based litter?  Have you tried a wood pellet?  Those are better with odor control, and usually much cheaper.

[Rabbit lover]

Ok but do you know of anything for now that will eliminate the smell. I heard of something you can give to the unaltered bunnies that will get rid of the smell but I’m not sure how great it is for the buns health.

[RabbitPam]

No, I wouldn’t advise giving something like that to the bunny.
I would immediately switch to Aspen pellets, (they are called Aspen Supreme, and usually sold in major pet stores in either the bunny or bird aisle.)which absorb odors more quickly and for much longer than any other wood pellet – and wood pellets absorb odor the best.

But it’s going to be the neuters that will make the difference really.

One thought: if you are feeding them kale or other greens from the cabbage family, that can cause gas, which does smell (just like ours) so you can try a very mild green like green leaf for a couple of days and see if that makes a difference too.

[Sarita]

That is why we are asking about your litter. There is nothing naturally you can give a rabbit to eliminate the smell.

You need to do the following:

1. Try another litter. Or change their current one more often.
2. Clean the plastic cage bottoms and litter boxes – you need to realize though that eventually you cannot get the odor out of plastic.
3. Alter the rabbits.
4. Clean daily.

[RabbitPam]

Oh, another idea; Far, far away from the reach of the bunnies you can put out a container of charcoal, baking soda or coffee grounds. Those are natural room deodorizers. But absolutely do not try that if there is any risk of a bunny tipping it over. Not to be ingested. Another room deodorizer is to light a match then blow it out immediately. Be careful, and throw it away in a different room (I wet my used matches in the sink before putting in bathroom garbage can) so nothing gets a spark (like hay). But the sulfur from the match when it first ignites is what absorbs the odor. I am allergic to sprays, so I use this in my own bathrooms. It’s a quick fix, but flammability is not to be used often either.

[Rabbit lover]

Ok thanks for the advice I will do that. By the way I used to use pine but it did not keep down the smell the stuff I am using now works better. Thanks again

[Rabbit lover]

Hi I have another question about the smell I tried the coffee and baking soda but it did not get rid of the smell I have been using cinnamon is that ok for the bunnies?

[Sam and Lady's Human]

How often are you changing the litter boxes? Are your bunnies all in the same room?Why aren’t 2 altered yet? THat will help immensely. Covering up smells with stronger smells isn’t the best option, they really shouldn’t smell that awful.

[Rabbit lover]

Well I just got Austa Nanie and Arla spayed and neutered. I clean the litter boxes every other day my bunnies are all in the same room Austa Nanie and Arla are a bonded pair and Bubbles and Bronco are a bonded pair I have there ex pens next to each other because I am trying to bond all four. As for why I have not spayed and neutered them I think I am going to get them done in January. c=

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