My rabbit stopped using her litter box. Is she sick or stressed?

Rabbits can be territorial, and will often leave poop to make their territory. I see that Hazel is unspayed, which would contribute to the problem. Unspayed rabbits mark their territory more than spayed rabbits. If you added a new rabbit to the house, this could account for her pooping constantly. However, a sudden change in toilet behavior from a previously litter trained animal can suggest an underlying medical problem. I would recommend taking Hazel to your vet for a physical exam to see if there is a medical cause behind her pooping constantly.

I am sorry to hear about your problem with Lupin (love the name!). If he had previously been using a litterbox well and out of the blue started urinating all over then I would be concerned we could have a medical issue like an infection or kidney problems and would recommend a visit to the vet. If this is an ongoing issue it could be territorial marking especially if he is an unneutered rabbit, or a behavioral reaction to too few litterboxes, dirty boxes, or changes in the environment. I would recommend reading this article: https://articles.extension.org/pages/33013/rabbit-behavioral-problems:-inappropriate-urination which provides some insight into possible causes and how to remedy the situation! Best of luck to you and your bunny!

Thanks for reaching out about your rabbit. A veterinary visit is recommended anytime a rabbit stops eating. Ingested foreign bodies, GI stasis, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), infections are all possible. Yogurt and crackers are not a good food item for rabbits as they do not digest dairy or carbohydrates well, and can lead to additional GI upset. Even if obstructed, they can continue to pass feces for 1-2 days. Try syringe offering water. Good luck.

There is definitely something wrong with him, in most cases when a rabbit shows such symptoms quite suddenly it is because of gut stasis, but it could also be other things. you must take him to the vet ASAP, he will need a checkup and a simple blood test to check for stasis/blockage then he can get the proper treatment.

Hello, sorry to hear about Bunny. some things you could consider is getting a larger litter box. Additionally, you should have the litter box in a place where its private for them so as to make them more comfortable. Finally, you should always an equal number of litter boxes as cats, and then have an extra one. You kitty may not be having enough privacy while going into the box and thus not using it adequately. If this doesn't help, you may need to try a covered litter box or even a different type of litter. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi, It sounds like Luna may just be tired from the increased activity earlier in the day. However, if her appetite and defecation decrease or her behavior is otherwise altered, then that could certainly be a sign of illness. I think it’s fine to wait and monitor her, as long as she keeps eating and defeating nornally. If in doubt, don’t hesitate to take her in to see her veterinarian. Good luck!

Hello, and thank you for your question. Rabbits do not always show obvious signs of pain or illness; oftentimes being more quiet or eating a bit less, or pooping less are the first signs that something is wrong. It does sound like her symptoms may be related to the issue she had in June (gut stasis). Other possibilities would be pain from another area such as her teeth or an injury, or focal or systemic infection. I would recommend having her checked out by the vet within the next 12 hours if she is still acting very quiet. In the meantime, keep her hay and pellets close by to encourage eating, as well as her water, and monitor her poop output closely. If her appetite or energy are worsening over the next few hours, if she is producing very little to no poop, I would get her to the vet sooner, as gut stasis in rabbits can quickly become an emergency. I hope this helps, and that Miss Cottontail feels better soon!