Aggressive Rabbit: Need Advice

[Jessie1990]

Background: We have had Ashe for about 4 months, and we used to have a mini lop that we got shortly after to bond with Ashe. Well, when the vet said they were old enough, we took them in for their spay/neuter. We had thought Ashe was a male, and Ashe has always been very motion aggressive. She lunges when you move your hands too fast or walk into a room too quickly. We have gotten used to being careful around her, and we NEVER pick her up because we arn’t sure if she hates hands because of a tramatic experience. When we took the girls to the vet Ashe bounced right back from surgery the next day, but Korra ended up having complications…. she died the day before Easter. They had been housed where they could see each other so they would be familiar with another rabbit’s scent when we decided to start bonding. (I am looking into a new vet that is about an hour away, because I don’t trust this one… no matter how nice she seems.) Anyway, we gave Ashe Korra’s stuffed animal and she groomed it and it is now her favorite toy, she is very possessive of it. I actually think bonding the two may have worked out (We had doubts because of Ashe’s behavior). 

Recently: Ashe’s aggressive behavior had lessened considerably. I have been able to give her A LOT of out of cage time, and I spend the entire time she is out with her, due to her being destructive if she gets bored. I can kiss her on her forehead and she askes for pets quite often. Well, my boyfriend and I had been discussing getting a new rabbit because I start teaching this fall and we don’t want her to get bored while I’m at work all day. I honestly was planning to wait til Ashe was a year old to get a second rabbit even though that would leave her alone for the majority of the school year. 

I came home from work a few days ago and my boyfriend had decided to get a younger sibling of Korra… He thought I wanted to bond them before school started and he knows that they need to be altered and wait a month, so he thought it would be a great suprise. I had mixed feelings about this, but I decided we would just go with it. I have the new baby housed in the hallway at the moment. This unfortunatly means that I have to split Ashe’s play area and keep her in my computer room. I had kept the areas split by a baby gate. 

Ashe knew that there was another rabbit immidiatly and her nose went a million miles per hour. She didn’t seem that stressed, but she had also never actually seen the baby. Well, let the baby out for it’s play time a couple days ago and Ashe saw it zooming around and started jumping between her levels. I put baby away and let Ashe out for play time a few hours later after she calmed down… Ashe tried to scale the baby gate and I had to pick her up to get her off it. 

Ever since this happened, Ashe has been back to her aggressive self. I was cleaning her cage and had a trashbag in the room that she kept pulling things out of and nudged her out of it. In response she grunted and lunged repeatedly while I was inside her cage.. she hasn’t been cage aggressive since she moved into the condo. I was picking up the trashbag to take it out and she lunged at my leg and actually bit me (not hard but there were marks) Which she has NEVER done. She usually just runs her face into my leg or hand. She also scratched my leg when I was halfway into her cage. 

I’m not sure if she is so mad because she feels betrayed or because her space is now restricted… I am thinking about giving her back the hallway and bunnyproofing a new area for the baby to play where Ashe can’t see her. I just don’t understand how Ashe can be so loving at times and then be so mad or aggitated at other times. She has also began trying to grab by hands with her front paws for treats instead of being gentle.

I am pretty sure I am the problem in this situation… and I thought maybe she was just frustrated because I don’t understand what she wants/needs. I know to move slowly and never yell. She lays her ears back if you yell. I snap my fingers if she is chewing a wall or carpet and that seems to be okay with her. 

SOOO… my big question is… what am I doing wrong? Other questions, should I give her back her entire area? Should we return the baby? (I had wanted to adopt, but now I’m very attached to the little thing) How do you guys handle keeping rabbits that are now bonded in a smallish area?

 

 

Sorry this is so long… I let it build up for awhile…

[hannaroo]

This sounds to me like territorial aggression. Having a new scent has made her possessive over her cage. Think of it like a teenager being in their room and mum coming in to tidy and the teen going ‘hey mum get off my stuff!’
Your not doing anything wrong
Could you have her run as round elsewhere while you spot clean? She may calm down then.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

I think she is also concerned about her new addition. Ashe’s aggression only gets out of control when there is a new bunny around… How long have you had the new bunny? Wash your hands after handling the bunny and then going over to Ashe’s cage. She probably is possessive of her cage when there is a newcomer around.

Some bunnies are just generally happier alone. This MIGHT be Ashe’s case. Have you ever considered taking her to the shelter to pick out her OWN partner? She may just disagree with that particular bunny your brought home. I really don’t have much advice to offer. But I hope Ashe opens up her heart to have a partner.

[MoveDiagonally]

I agree with what others are saying about the new bunny causing the new territorial aggression.

Something popped into my head while reading this though. Since you have concerns about your previous vets abilities are you sure they removed both the ovaries and uterus when they spayed her? Some vets do partial spays and both aren’t removed. It may be something to ask the vet about.

[Jessie1990]

I was wondering about whether all her lady parts were removed…. I’ve never worked up the nerve to ask, but I realize it is necessary for her health… She seemed very knowledgable when I asked her a ton of questions and did check ups… I just have a feeling I attributed her behavior to her age but now I worry she might still have an ovary or uterus. I will ask, but is there a way to tell for sure if her parts are still there without surgery? I want the new vet to check it out

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Maybe an ultrasound can let you know. I know there was a member here very recently that had the rabbit spayed for a second time to get an ovary out that the vet couldn’t find the first time around. That sounds pretty reasonable given how territorial she still is…

[Jessie1990]

She actually escalates even without the new rabbit present. She’s always been this way. Even before the new guy arrived :S

[Jessie1990]

Calling the vet now. Phone line is busy though. I’m not really sure how I should approach this… Do I just ask if the remove all the parts? Or should I just be blunt and say, “Were you able to find both ovaries?” I was planning on just calling and asking if they remove the uterus and both ovaries when they spay… I feel like telling me they couldn’t find an ovary would have been something pretty important she should have told me. Also, when I picked her up she said that Ashe tried to bite her and that she hoped she calmed down for my sake, but sometimes it never happens. THAT is why I feel off. But I could be acting paranoid.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Just ask when they spay a rabbit if they remove both ovaries and the uterus. I’ve heard some vets would just snip where the ovaries and uterus connect and take the uterus out. Who knows. But the fact she is still incredibly territorial like that rings a bell. But some bunnies are just like that as well even after a spay.

[Jessie1990]

They said they remove both the ovaries and uterus. I came home and there were no poops in her litter. I changed it this morning! So I am thinking she may have been expressing discomfort… her ears were flat and she didn’t come running So I gave her gas drops which I keep on hand at all times now, and she is currently in her litter box trying to go poo I will let you know the results in a few minutes.. I feel so horrible that I judged her for expressing her discomfort and I didn’t understand!

[Jessie1990]

 *big sigh of relief* Okay so after giving her the baby gas drops she went straight to her litter box and had some not so normal poops. Then went again and they are already back go normal! I feel really terrible for not seeing that she was in pain and judging her for her bad behavior >< She is completely back to her happy self and let me reach in and snuggle her IN her cage. I am so relieved she is okay!

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Oh wow that’s good! Also, stress can cause pooping changes too.

So glad she is coming into her own again! Keep us updated on Ashe’s behavior

[MoveDiagonally]

Wonderful!

I’m glad Ashe is doing better.

[Jessie1990]

My original post deleted itself lol. Anyway, Ashe is doing well. I noticed she behaves fine unless I have to get her to stop chewing the carpet. I think this may be the key to solving the problem. She no longer chews on furniture much, and I’ve tried vinegar and bitter sprays. I may cover the room in rugs LOL. I’m going to order the cottontail cottage when it’s back in to help relieve her boredom

[tanlover14]

Just popping in on this thread… siince I actually had this same problem when introducing my fourth rabbit.

First off, definitely find out if they removed the ovaries and uterus. You should not feel bad or nervous! It’s there job to do the procedure right and alert you if anything went wrong. You paid them to do just that! If they don’t understand your concerns, then they shouldn’t be working at a vets office!

Second off, Ashe is DEFINITELY being territory. Remove the newbie from her play area and refrain from letting them have the same play area as it’s causing her aggression. When I brought Simba (my fourth) home, I let him out in the play area we have for our buns. My third bun, Tanger, IMMEDIATELY began going nuts and running up and down through the levels of his condo. Then began starting fights with his bonded mates. He became very aggressive and it wasn’t until I started stress bonding him with the other bunny that this began to go away. Tanger went totally wild at seeing this new bun in his territory and I’m positive that is what Ashe is doing also. It calmed him down when I moved the new bun where he couldn’t see him and had play time with the other bunny out of his sight also. I would try and keep them not within sight of each other until you begin bonding as I think it will just further Ashes aggression and make bonding much more difficult.

On another side note, I have been helping a lady bond two of her rabbits whom she mistakenly housed next to each other (and gave play times at separate times in the same area). The bunnies became extremely aggressive towards each other. So I had her completely separate from seeing each other for two weeks before attempting to bond in a neutral territory. Needless to say, her bunnies aggression had went down DRASTICALLY and they have been having very positive play dates together

[Jessie1990]

Sorry I will clarify. They are in separate areas even during separate play times. I didn’t want to risk marking. Ashe saw her once the first day on accident, but hasn’t since. My concern is that she has always had aggression triggers with me. I am glad you told me about your bonding situation because I was considering putting them side by side before they bond. Def won’t do that

[tanlover14]

I somehow missed the post where you said after the gas drops she was behaving fine AND that you called the vet! Hence my long post about absolutely nothing, LOL. Sorry! Idk how I missed all that!

Instead of putting them next to each other – you can get their scents with switching litter boxes or my favorite – I gave them each a towel and then switched the towel in between the houses. It allows them to take the aggressive behavior out on the towel instead of the actual bunny!

[Jessie1990]

We were going to do stuffed animals. This won’t happen for awhile though. I will make a bonding thread in maybe 3 months because I’m sure I will need help lol. It depends on how Ashe is doing at that point though, so may be longer. I will update on Ashe when I get off work thanks so much guys!

[Jessie1990]

 Okay, so we now have a new routine lol. I have a set of clothes I wear ONLY around the baby. My boyfriend thinks I’m crazy lol. So now we are back to Ashe’s “normal” level of aggression, meaning she only lunges when I move quickly or I get into a space she thinks is off limites to puney humans I played with the baby for a few hours, and now it’s her turn to be out the rest of the night. (baby is in with my bf and doesn’t chew anything yet.) I think Ashe could smell the baby on me anyway, but she doesn’t seem so high strung. She sniffed my legs for a long time lol. So this will be our routine until I attempt to bond them. I was worried because there wasn’t a huge amount of poop today like her usual but she is still pooping and I am monitoring her intake and output… I really hope we don’t have to go to the old vet before I can make it to the one an hour away and figure out how much they are familiar with rabbits (I want to talk in person.) 

Anyway, things are MOSTLY back to normal, so yay!!!

[Author]

Messages