Many rabbit owners need to know about the frequency to change rabbit bedding and ways to do it. This practice ensures the healthier lifestyle of the pet bunnies. Lack of knowledge about the appropriate type of bedding material and changing frequency can cause health issues in these furry animals. Every type of bedding material requires different care as some last longer than others, while a few are more attractive to microorganisms than others.
You should change rabbit bedding once or twice a week or more often if you notice a bad odor. The frequency of changing the bedding depends on the rate of absorption. Paper pellets, straw, and hay have good absorption capacity and need to be changed once a week. However, the size and age of the bunny, their number, and litter training also determine this time. Infrequent replacement of old bedding can lead to respiratory irritation due to ammonia buildup.
The process of removing the old bedding material and adding the new one is a time-taking process, particularly for newbies. If you do not have prior experience, ask for help from professional vets and experienced pet owners. You have to clean the litter box inside out after removing the bedding. In addition, it involves washing, drying, and adding material to it. After that, you can introduce your pet rabbit to the box to sit within it.
How often should rabbit bedding be changed?
Every type of bedding has varying absorption capacity and needs to be changed at various times. Paper bedding has good absorption capacity, so there is no need to change it more often.
Changing the paper material once a week is enough if you have kept only one bunny in the box. The situation gets different when you put more than one rabbit in it. You need to change the paper material twice a week. It helps avoid the stinky odor and wetting of the box.
No matter how cute rabbits are, their pee stinks a lot!
So, you have to be careful about the bad odor and quickly remove the bedding material when it begins to stink or feels wet.
Shredded paper or newspaper bedding is cost-effective but is not highly absorbent. You should change this bedding after 1 or 2 days because it easily gets wet. Moreover, bunnies chew on the material while urinating, so the ink on the newspaper is not safe for bunnies to chew.
Wooden shaving offers a good absorption capacity, so you should change it once or twice a week. Moreover, it is also good at odor control, so it overcomes the problem of stinky cages. You should avoid pine or cedar shaving because these shavings contain high amounts of phenols, which can cause respiratory problems in bunnies.
You can reuse cotton or fleece bedding after washing. Remove it from the litter box and wash it properly. Clean the material and put it back into the box. This process needs to be repeated every 2 to 3 days. It seems to be a cost-effective option. However, some people doing jobs find it hard to clean the bedding material frequently, so they should avoid using this type of material and look for long-lasting solutions.
Hay or straw bedding offers high absorption capacity, and it is one of the favorite bedding of bunnies and their owners. Generally, you need to change hay bedding once a week, but if the rabbit cage stinks, do it twice a week.
Factors determining the time to change the rabbit bedding
It is essential to replace the dirty bedding after 3 to 4 days or at least a week. It helps maintain a healthy lifestyle of bunnies. But, this duration depends on some factors, including the size of the rabbits and their age. Other factors need to be considered also, so read it carefully if you want to be a responsible pet keeper.
1. Rabbit size and age
Rabbit size and age are important factors that determine the time after which rabbit bedding needs to be changed or washed. Large bunnies eat more food than smaller ones. So they are more likely to produce more poop. You have to change the bedding more frequently if you have kept giant breeds of bunnies at home.
Moreover, some studies suggest that adult bunnies are more susceptible to flystrike. So, you should keep their bedding clean to avoid flies and bacterial or fungal growth.
2. Litter training
Litter training plays a significant role in determining the time because trained bunnies use their box for pooping or peeing. Their bedding needs to be changed more often than those that are not trained.
Moreover, adult bunnies are usually trained and pee inside the box, unlike the younger ones. Therefore, if you have young rabbits, you have to remove the material after a week as they pee outside their box more often.
However, pet owners do not feel happy to have these young, untrained bunnies despite the need for bedding replacement after a week because they create a mess outside the box. They have to clean the garden and areas near the hutch in addition to cleaning the litter box.
3. Rabbit health status
A healthy rabbit poops less often than a rabbit suffering from diarrhea. It means you have to add new bedding more frequently if your furry pet is ill or struggling with a health issue.
In addition, they are also likely to produce more poop if consuming a fiber-rich diet. Accordingly, change the bedding material twice a week if your pet is not feeling well or getting a fiber-rich diet.
4. Number of rabbits
If you have more rabbits in one place, there will be more poop and pee, and the bedding gets wet quickly. If you have chosen bedding with less absorption, then you have to change it frequently.
If you have a group of bunnies and only one litter box, you should use bedding with a higher absorption capacity, such as paper pellets, straw/hay bedding, etc.
I replaced the shredded paper bedding with the hay because I have 4 bunnies. I had to change it twice or even thrice a week, so I decided to choose an economical and friendlier option after discussing it with my friend.
5. Weather conditions
In hot weather or highly humid conditions, the bedding material is prone to the growth of bacteria or fungi. In summer or rainy weather, you should change the bedding after 2 or 3 days; otherwise, it will stink.
Moreover, there are more chances of an attack of flystrike on your rabbits in the humid weather when they lay eggs in the wet placed and find the bedding material suitable. So, you should change it more often in hot and humid weather to keep your bunnies healthy.
What happens if you do not change rabbit bedding?
Provide clean and dry bedding to rabbits, as they feel irritated when they live on wet material. When you replace the material with one with a fresh odor and dry texture, they feel comfortable and happy.
It is essential to pay attention to their living conditions, just like you do not compromise on the cleaning of your apartment. Infrequent replacement results in the accumulation of feces, ammonia, and the growth of bacteria or fungi.
The high buildup of ammonia in dirty bedding is extremely toxic for bunnies that can also cause respiratory irritations. You should immediately consult a vet if they cough and sneeze more frequently. These could be signs of respiratory irritation that occurs due to accumulated ammonia in dirty bedding.
Let me explain to you by telling the story of my neighbor!
My neighbor Jack owned five pet bunnies, but he could not manage to take care of them due to a busy routine. All of his rabbits got sick when he was out of the city, and he did not change the bedding material for almost two to three weeks.
After returning home, he took them to the vet and learned the reason for their lack of attention to bedding replacement. He became worried when he saw all of his pet bunnies sick. Luckily, his rabbits received appropriate treatment and became healthy again.
The professional vet informed him about the risks associated with dirty bedding and told him to change the material to avoid the buildup of ammonia in the bedding, which can cause respiratory issues.
In addition, rabbits will not pee or poop in the wet litter box and roam around the house. You have to clean the entire house if you leave their box unattended for long. So, it is better to keep things simple and change the material frequently.
Furthermore, stinky odor from the dirty litter box will spread all around the house, which is, of course, not acceptable for anyone. Pay more attention to cleaning if you are using soiled bedding, as it invites microbes and other pathogenic organisms.