Rabbit diggig up litter tray

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Dermod Malley — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 09:35:04 GMT

I remember a case of intractable diarrhoea in a dog in the days before probiotics became fashionable (or profitable). Eventually we learned that the dog self-medicated on wild rabbit faecal pellets and recovered........................ Who needs vets, diagnostic tests, pharmaceutical products, CPD, VAT, RCVS, BSAVA, BVZS, RWF, DEFRA........................ when we have rabbit s**t.

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Anthony Todd — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 21:34:58 GMT

Yes, come to think of it, the dogs I walk with seem to find random faecal pellets on the paths [and love them!!] so I wonder if these "dump sites" are some sort of territory marking by the boss rabbit??

They are very obvious and have a large number of pellets so look like more than one rabbit's dump site.

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Dermod Malley — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 20:25:58 GMT

It's only Homo sapiens who dumps next to his bed. Take it from one in his eighth decade. See this month's National Geographic. Sensible mammals do it in latrines. The rabbits round here save it for the molehills and don't bury it - good old Essex clay.

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Anthony Todd — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 17:15:09 GMT

Actually, if anyone is interested, they seem to dig for the roots of trees or bulbs and their digging on the paths never is more than 4 inches or so, usually about 2 inches.

Their dump sites are less than 12inches in diameter and contain obvious. multiple dumps.

We planted some small shrub seedlings which they devoured until someone suggested Cayenne pepper [don't lick it!!!] which completely stopped that when powdered around the seedlings [after they'd had half of them]

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 17:03:13 GMT

[quote user="Niall Taylor"]

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]what is all the digging for?[/quote]

[/quote]That's a f*****g deep latrine!

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Niall Taylor — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:53:25 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]what is all the digging for?[/quote]

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Anthony Todd — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:17:51 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]quote]Given the amount of rabbit pellets just on the surface of footpaths which gives the impression they just dump where they want, what is all the digging for?[/quote]

Actually they "dump" on the surface in specific places soon surrounded and designated by lush grass [obviously] and they move to other grassed areas, and "dump" sites, via well-worn crushed lawn.

Trouble is they are breeding like rabbits and getting very used to people so over-population will soon be a major problem.

I was going to get a hand or two of greyhounds but thought the PR, for a retired vet, mightn't be good....

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:00:25 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]

.....the sandy paths are constantly being dug up by rabbits. I'd say it's just normal rabbit behaviour.

[/quote]Given the amount of rabbit pellets just on the surface of footpaths which gives the impression they just dump where they want, what is all the digging for?

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Niall Taylor — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 15:16:42 GMT

[quote user="Dermod Malley"]PS: What's newbie? I thought I was an oldie.[/quote]

That's the re-invigourating effect of being a member of the Vetsurgeon.org community - welcome!

Niall

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Dermod Malley — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 15:01:52 GMT

PS: What's newbie? I thought I was an oldie.

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Dermod Malley — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 15:00:45 GMT

.......a sand pit without sand but with sunken walls to block attempts at escape - like we did in the old days, before rabbits moved indoors.

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Anthony Todd — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 10:06:51 GMT

We live on an estate with many rabbits and the sandy paths are constantly being dug up by rabbits.

I'd say it's just normal rabbit behaviour.

Same as cats and scratching posts etc: ie normal behaviour.

Give them a sand-pit.

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Iain Richards — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:51:46 GMT

At the risk of being considered glib, perhaps it's just being confined in an entirely unnatural environment that is creating the problem.

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Kara Gibson — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:16:45 GMT

Thank you Marie, that's great advice. I've already suggested a designated digging area but I shall; have another chat with the owner.

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:57:24 GMT

Sounds a fairly normal behaviour though a little strange it has taken so long to manifest. I would keep the litter tray but offer her a designated digging area too (large deep box of soil/shredded paper/hay/cardboard rolls) so she can show normal digging without upsetting the owner's cleanliness standards. Even better if she can go outside on real soil.

There are endocrine factors in stimulating digging behaviour (hence why females tend to be the diggers) so if abnormally intense behaviour, aggression or other reproductive behaviours develop then a scan to check for enlarged adrenals or any uterine/cervical remnants may be prudent. Also double check she is neutered and the evidence is reliable (many change homes and previous owner statements may not be entirely truthful).

Marie

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:03:50 GMT

I know that you can't relate rabbit behaviour to that of cats but several things I would think are constant: one tray per rabbit and a spare in different areas in the environment; sand based litter and avoid any deodorising agents; tray deep and large enough so bunnies can sit in it comfortably and heavy enough not to be easy to turn over - this basically excludes most commercially available trays. You don't say how big the cage is apart from it's 2 stories or where the litter tray is. If its in the cage its difficult for me to envisage a cage big enough to accommodate the sort of and numbers of trays I describe. You say it doesn't matter if the try is clean or soiled but does clean mean just fresh litter or a really washed out tray?

Failing that,especially as you've said she passed some urine on the sofa so maybe a UTI which ay be wise to investigate.

Prepared to be shot down in flames by someone who knows a bit more, Marie?

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Kara Gibson — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 14:40:11 GMT

Her physical exam was unremarkable, otoscopic exam of her mouth looks fine. Stomach 1/2 full of ingesta, no masses felt, empty bladder and no thickening here. Weight stable.

She lives witha male neutered rabbit (they came together), they get on well, groom each other etc. There have been no changes in the history which is why I find it strange.

RE: Rabbit diggig up litter tray

Dermod Malley — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 14:00:17 GMT

What does your physical examination of this rabbit show? A bit more history would help - for example, does she have a companion? Has she lost a companion recently?