aggression

[bunnyfriend]

 Has anyone else felt like you’ve lost your rabbit because their personality suddenly changes? A week before her spay Wilbur began biting me hard when she never had before. She was just spayed on Thursday and since then makes a gunt/hiss noise, lunges, and breaks skin biting me. Yes, of course I know that this is because of hormones, as well as she is stressed, confused, and in pain from the surgery. She definitely needs time. I also know that this can also be because she is growing up and the personality of a rabbit as a baby isn’t indecative of the personality they will have as an adult. That however doesn’t stop me from feeling like “Who is this stranger bunny and were is my baby?”. For now I am trying to be very understanding and making sure she is comfortable and feels safe while she’s healing. To anyone who has gone through something similar to this: when did the agression go back to normal? If never, can you elaborate? Did the personality permantly change in any way? I’d love to hear anything anyone has to say about going through an experience like this. [I know I’m sort of jumping the gun on this one, it’s been less than a week. And I’m writing this after bleeding from being bitten 3 times checking her stitches, feelings are a little hurt lol but poor Wilbur can’t be feeling to good right now either I don’t blame her for biting the stupid human for grabbing her]. 

[Monkeybun]

Aggression is usually due to fear, or pain. Has she healed up well? Did she get pain meds?

[Sam and Lady's Human]

You might want to call the vet, Samson didn’t act like that at all after her spay, she was pretty chill. She was on metacam though, so that could be why…

[Michelle&Lolli]

I never really noticed Lolli’s behavior change due to hormones. But then she was 2 months old when I got her and I had her spayed by the end of February/first part of march after I’d got my tax refund. So I don’t think her hormones really had a chance to kick in. lol

But first off…..does her incision seem red or inflamed at all? To me, that needs to be ruled out first. That her general health is ok. Lolli’s incision was a nice healthy pink by day 3.

I don’t really have any advice on the hormones as I’ve never had to deal with it. But don’t take it personally! (((Hugs to you both))) From what I’ve read on here, it’s rare that a rabbit’s personality permanently changes. If she was friendly before, she’ll be friendly after, etc. If you’re able to, you can always wear gloves to protect your hands. And like us, they don’t want to be messed with when they don’t feel good.

[RabbitPam]

It could definitely be hormones + discomfort. My question is also – when you checked her wound site, was there any redness, swelling or oozing of any kind? It doesn’t have to be much, but you want to be sure it’s healing properly. One way to check the site that is less stressful for her (and safer for you) is to hold a treat just above her nose so she has to stand up, then set a hand mirror down by her feet and look at the incision through the mirror. You never really need to touch her, and she is appeased by the treat. If you can use several pellets you can do it more than once if you don’t see well enough the first try. If it isn’t a gentle pink and clean looking, call the vet today.

Otherwise, if her personality didn’t have any aggression, it’s likely that she will be much calmer in about 3 weeks. Bunnies are so small and harmless looking that they have to try whatever works to scare off an attacker, and even though she knows you’re her person, she wants everyone to back off right now.
It’s possible that she’s discovered biting and growling gets her what she wants, so it may be a bit in her adult behavior, but probably not often. Squeal in a high pitched voice when she bites and she will get the message that she hurt you, then say a firm No, or No Biting. Back off a bit so she can calm down.

Ironically, this morning my little girl (who DID growl from day 1, as a baby, but it was cute then) was all growls and very feisty. No reason except maybe the howling wind outside. Really pounced on me a lot before her breakfast. 15 minutes later I was sitting with my coffee and felt kisses on my feet. She lay down next to my chair, looking like she was sorry, and let me pet her on the places where she’d pushed me away earlier. They know when they are acting up, and really can show that they are sorry. They do have moods, but let the hormones die down and it will be only on occasion after this.

[amysbunnersons]

my sweetie liam  bit me hard and didnt let go a couple weeks after he was neut.   think it was bella buggin him and i held another male rabbit……but i waz crushed..i know he was just being a bunny and we r fine now..but i was soooooo sad..my little sweetie…so i understand how u are feeling.  i am thinkin they do probably settle into sweetness again but maybe with a little more independence…..bella and liam sends kisses for ur owies…..and wilbur will gives u some kisses later….

[bunnyfriend]

Thank you everyone for your responses!

Monkeybun and Sam and Lady’s Human: She was given 4 days worth of Meloxicam (same as Metacam). She is now off her meds, do they usually give them for longer?

Michelle&Lolli and RabbitPam: Great idea about using the mirror and treat! I just checked her stitches using that method; the skin is a light pink, kind of white, I can’t even really see the incision line (good thing I’m hoping?). This whole time, even the day of her surgery, that area has never looked red, swollen, or infected. I will try squealing when she bites me, there is some doubt whether she can hear, she *failed* when the vet snapped behind her ears but lately I’ve noticed she has regained partial control of her ears and seems to be responding to noises sometimes. It is good to hear that rabbit personalities don’t change often and that she’ll probably return to normal in 3 or so weeks!

amysbunnersons: Definitely understand how you felt, I hate knowing Wilbur is unhappy.

[Stickerbunny]

Stickers had gotten VERY hormonal before her spay, she was digging non-stop and would run up and bite me anytime I sat in her room. After her spay, she was thumpy and grunty and still wanted to bite. After about a month, that behavior went down a lot and a little training worked to get it mostly all gone… she’ll still run up behind me and give me a nip if I am near something she thinks is hers, but she isn’t that aggressive anymore, now it’s just a “HEY! MINE! GET AWAY!” warning nip and doesn’t hurt. What I did when she bit me was gently push her head away from my skin (so she couldn’t bite me again) and that is the only response I made, since noises really didn’t stop her, when she stopped being mean I would pet her or give her a treat.

[Michelle&Lolli]

the skin is a light pink, kind of white, I can’t even really see the incision line (good thing I’m hoping?)

Yes, that’s good! So she just needs for the hormones to work out of her system. And maybe be left alone. lol Not anything against you. Even my snugglebug Eddie had moments where he wanted me to leave him the heck alone. LOL

[bunnyfriend]

Heehee yeah I’ll leave her alone for a bit!

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