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Loss of litter training

22 10:40:33

Question
Our 8 month old neutered male has suddenly lost litter training.  We have not changed any environmental factors.  We took him to the vet and he was pronounced a very healthy bun but given a course of baytril to make sure there was no minor infection.  We are nearing the end of the course and there is no improvement.  Today when I was giving him a nose rub, he got up and the floor was wet.  There was no evidence of tail lifting at all, he then proceeded to hop around dribbling.  The vet suggested if it hadn't stopped in a week or so that they may try hormone therepy.  Do you know why this is & do you have any other suggestions for cause.  He has no other symptons of anything like EC.

Answer
Dear Lucy,

Ummmmm...as far as I know, hormone therapy for incontinence is pretty much limited to females.  I could be wrong.  But I've never heard of it used for males.  (I'll check with my rabbit vet friends.)

There are things besides bladder infection that can cause incontinence, including bladder sludge and uroliths (bladder stones).  Please read:

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

and then check the list linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to find another rabbit-savvy vet who can give you a second opinion.  The signs you describe are not normal, and I very much doubt they are due to hormone problems.  

I hope this helps get you started.

Dana