Suddenly going to the toilet everywhere

Question
We have had our house rabbit Hannah for a year and a half now and when we first got her, she was very easy to toilet train. She has never had many accidents, only going out of her toilet tray on the rare occasions where my partner has been working away from home and I've been too ill to clean out her tray every 2days as normal. Understandable because she likes to be clean.

Anyway, we recently moved to Germany and she had to stay overnight in the ferrys kennel, as well as a few hours on the car each side. She is used to being in the car (although it is not her favourite thing in the world) because we take her to our holiday house with us and she uses the tray there fine. She also shows no signs of distress but starts running about happily as soon as we arrive.

However, since we have arrived (3weeks ago) she is peeing and pooing everywhere, even in her own room, and not cleaning herself as well as she used to. She even peed on the couch today which she has never done. She was a bit stressed for th 1st few days but now loves it here and bounds about the apartment quite happily. She still has her own bedroom and free run, and I just cant understand why she is doing this? Is it because she hasnt been spayed? Is she ill?

Please help as I am worried about her, and of the threat of being peed on again, as happened today.

Answer
Dear Katie,

Not being spayed can certainly contribute to this problem, since she could be marking her territory. This will be more likely if there are strange smells since last time she visited.  Spaying is definitely in order, since this will stop marking.  But more importantly, it will also remove her very high risk of uterine cancer.

Uterine tumors can cause incontinence if an enlarged uterus is putting pressure on the bladder.  So I would have this checked as soon as possible.  Please read:

www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

and find a good rabbit vet via the International listings here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Urinary tract problems, such as infection, stones, or sludge, also can cause incontinence.  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html

I hope this helps you get her on the road to recovery.

Dana