Elderly bun and incontinence

[Orenoko]

Haven't posted here for a while but wanted to ask to see if anyone has any experience of this. Lilac is 10 1/2 (ish) and she sometimes pees on the floor. She doesn't do it very often (few times a week maybe) and the urine is clear, no blood or sludge.

I have taken her to the vet where she's been examined, had blood tests, urine tests and an ultrasound on her bladder. All is normal, the only concern was lower kidney function. She does have arthritis so I replaced her litter tray with a plastic mat and puppy pads on top so there's no edge for her to jump over to get in, and 99% of the time she will go to her litter tray without any issue.

She's on medication to keep her comfortable with her arthritis (metacam, gabapentin and calpol) and has really perked up in the last couple of months. I'm just wondering if this is something that can "just" happen with elderly buns, can they become a little incontinent like a human might? I've never had a rabbit this old so I'm not sure if I'm on the right track. I clean up with white vinegar to try and neutralise the odour and stop it becoming a habit. Just wondering if there's anything else I haven't tried?

 

[joey&boo]

In their old age both Boo & Mouse only ventured to the litter zone to pee, they pretty much pooped where they were. My vet said it wasn't uncommon for them to lose some of the feeling resulting in incontinence. I assume it could happen with pee &/or poop. In the absence of anything worrying on her tests (what a relief) I would assume her bladder muscles arent as strong as they were. A few pees a week isn't many in percentage terms - I think my buns average a pee an hour

 

[Orenoko]

In their old age both Boo & Mouse only ventured to the litter zone to pee, they pretty much pooped where they were. My vet said it wasn't uncommon for them to lose some of the feeling resulting in incontinence. I assume it could happen with pee &/or poop. In the absence of anything worrying on her tests (what a relief) I would assume her bladder muscles arent as strong as they were. A few pees a week isn't many in percentage terms - I think my buns average a pee an hour

Thanks, I think I get very paranoid about every little thing with her given her age! I know she's very much in her twilight years so I just want her to be as comfortable as possible for however long she has.

Edit - here she is relaxing this evening.

 

[a reader of books]

Aww, look at her and her little socks

I think it can just be an old bunny thing, yeah. By the time Sophie and Casper were 12/13 they were peeing on the floor a lot, too. I hardly ever see Casper use the litter tray now; he mostly just pees where he sits, though I don't think it's true incontinence as he does lift his tail and "actively" pees rather than not having any control at all. Like Lilac, there were no health problems to explain it, and their litter tray has a low edge because of their arthritis. So, I'm not sure what it is, exactly. I think j&b is right that they just lose some feeling, so maybe they just don't notice they need to pee in time to make it to the litter tray?

 

[Orenoko]

She is very good with her socks (once they're on at least)!

That makes sense. I have seen her actively lift her tail a few times but today she was seemingly just sitting there and when she moved there was a wet patch. Bless her, I guess this is just something we will have to deal with!

 

[bunny momma]

Lilac looks very cute! It is good her tests were normal. I wonder if older bunnies can get a sense of urgency like humans?

 

[Orenoko]

Lilac looks very cute! It is good her tests were normal. I wonder if older bunnies can get a sense of urgency like humans?

Maybe, she does sometimes seem to be mid-run snd then stops to pee, almost like it took her by surprise! She is a very good girl in all other respects tbf to her, has never chewed anything in the house, dug up the carpet, and she tolerates me having to put her socks on and off all the time so I can't complain!

 

[a reader of books]

She is very good with her socks (once they're on at least)!

That makes sense. I have seen her actively lift her tail a few times but today she was seemingly just sitting there and when she moved there was a wet patch. Bless her, I guess this is just something we will have to deal with!

Aw, yeah, Casper does have that, too, sometimes. I just put washable puppy pads in the spots he sits often so he won't sit in his pee if he has an accident.

 

[Orenoko]

Aw, yeah, Casper does have that, too, sometimes. I just put washable puppy pads in the spots he sits often so he won't sit in his pee if he has an accident.

Yeah i have some vet bed down in certain areas, but when she pees she seems to do it in the middle of the lounge

 

[a reader of books]

Yeah i have some vet bed down in certain areas, but when she pees she seems to do it in the middle of the lounge

Of course she does, that's bunnies for you