rabbit smell?

Question
Hello
i have a one year old fixed female rabbit...we got her from the humaine society and she came litter trained and never had any accidents for the first few months...she now had a really horrible smell and what looks like urine? all over her stomach and a bit of a messy bum but it comes and goes and i keep her clean and then she is fine for a few days...she seems to be peeing all over the carpet now because i keep finding tiny spots (orangey red) all over the place? i have looked this up and have made and cancelled vet appoinmnets becaause it comes and goes and she still runs around and eats like crazy and has not been acting sick or any different? i have been noticing when she beats up the cat she often lets off that odour that i smell on her stomach? any idea of what the smell would be and why now she is having accidents? (She still uses litter boxes as well for the majority of her pooping and peeing)
Thanks for any info you can give me!
sarah  

Answer
Dear Sarah,

It sounds as if your bunny may have a urine leakage problem, which can be caused by a number of different things.  You can read more here:

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

It's also possible that this is runny/watery stool, but I can't see/smell it to judge.  Please read:

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

In either case, there is a health problem that needs to be addressed.  You can find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

In the meantime, you can keep her clean and odor free with this technique:

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

Even if the problem is intermittent, it needs to be diagnosed and treated.  Please waste no more time in making an appointment with a rabbit-savvy vet.

I hope this helps.  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana