urine on bum & next to litterbox

[lwayne]

Ok so my two buns Arduina & Leo have bonded for about 5 months now and are free run 24/7 in one room and when we’re home the rest of the house.  About a month ago I switched their litterbox step (ie removed the always open xpen).  They seemed to pee occationally next to the litterbox (even before the switch), so I also added another one next to the current one.  Two litterboxes, not a big deal, now however it seems like they (not sure which one) are peeing occationally outside both litterboxes (getting worse).

Part of the issue is Arduina has had a wet bum (tail and feet) for the past week or so.  I normally clean the boxes every other day, but started the past week cleaning the one on the outside every day and adding more litter.  So when she jumps out of the box the urine tracks and then I think its Leo saying ‘oh its ok to pee here’.

Arduina also has sore hocks, which I’m not happy for her feet always being covered with urine (I’ve had to give her several baths).  Cleaning the litter boxes more every day and using more litter (3 scoops insead of before 1) seems to only be a cover up solution.  (After cleaning everything, litter boxes and blanket, by the next morning they’ve tracked urine out onto the blanket).

I have several questions:  Why are things different than before?  Its it because they dont like this new set up?  Do I need to clean both litter boxes every day/2x a day/use more litter? Why wasn’t this necessary before? Is something wrong with one of them?  They aren’t peeing any where else in the room/house.  Lastly, am I being over paranoid?

This photo is two days after a total room cleaning, the green/open litterbox was cleaned the day before:

 

Previous set up:

[KatnipCrzy]

I find it concerning that her bum stays wet with urine- has she been seen by a vet for this?

[lwayne]

Maybe they are peeing more, its hard to tell how much water they drink because they like to run around crazy and bump in to everything. It also seems like they don’t like this batch of KM’s bluegrass hay (the last one they loved).. I’ll start giving them the last of the 3rd cut.

This morning they looked good (after last night’s blanky & litter boxes cleaning), we’ll see how it is this evening. I don’t mind cleaning boxes once a day, I just am a bit stingy (how do I not use so much litter? I guess I have to).

[Deleted User]

I got the litterbox screen kit from the BB store which helps save on litter, as the pee goes through but the poos stay on top so you can just throw out the poos daily along with the hay you use for topper.
The wet bum should be checked by a vet in case it is a UTI though.

[lwayne]

Hmm.. I think it was either that I need to clean the litter box more often or they don’t like the new batch of KMs bluegrass hay, as they weren’t pulling it down from the hay rack into the litter box. Arduina’s bum seems to be fine with changing the litterboxes everyday and adding more hay to them (if they don’t like to eat the bluegrass, i’ll just have to use it as litterbox bedding.

Petzy, I’m not sure if I want to use any wire type things with Arduina’s sore hocks. I feel guilty using Good Mews (sam as YN) but care fresh is just too expensive.

How do I not use so much litter?!

[skibunny8503]

My Gracie has the same thing with a wet bum sometimes. So far the vet hasn’t given me an answer but I’m saving up to get an x-ray done to get more info. Good luck and if the vet finds out what’s wrong let us know, I’d be interested to know if maybe my rabbit has the same thing.

[Deleted User]

I have three mini rexes and cannot risk sore hocks. The screen I was talking about has not affected their hocks.

[Author]

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