Is My Bunny Sick?

[SummerRayne]

Hello Everyone-

I’m new to this site and newer to the rabbit world, so I’m still learning with my first rabbit. 

I thought I would just include a little background information to provide as much information as I can.

I got my rabbit when he was just a baby and he is almost two now (Apirl 17th is his big day!), and he has also been a really easy keeper (never chews and has only been to the vets once for a check up and to be fixed). He has always loved to play, be pet, eat, and usually only took naps in the mid afternoon and some time after supper. The first problem I had come across was that he started going through some big sheds so I was always trying to brush him to get rid of extra fur. But he absolutely hates being brushed! Even to the point where he almost hates being pet, and is even slightly aggressive towards my hands. Which led to some aggression while I clean out his cage or touch his stuff. So I try my best to get rid of any extra hair, but I know I don’t get most of it. I just kept a close eye to make sure his dropping where still normal and that he was still acting normal. I also noticed he became more skittish and becomes spooked by a lot of things (like when I enter the room and hes out running, he will run off and stomp his feet and become scared of me for a second). However, recently ( for about five days) he has not wanted to come out of his favorite spot ( His second level of his cage, where he sleeps and visits me when I’m working on my computer)  in his cage to come out and play as much, and also doesn’t still have as much of an appetite. Now he still eats hay and still enjoys his pellets and other treats,but my worry is that he’s not eating as much as he use to. I have tried researching myself, but I’m getting no where!

I’m just asking everybody’s opinion as if he could be sick or maybe its just a change in behavior.

Is there anything else I should be looking for if he was sick? 

And if he isn’t sick, how to I help him with some of his behavior changes (Aggression, brushing, and being scared)

[DanaNM]

OMG he is SO CUTE!

OK, got that out of my system. Since he’s already neutered and his poops are neutered, my guess would be a dental issue. Would be good to get his molars checked by the vet, as they could be causing him pain that makes him scared/aggressive/ and more picky about his food.

Many bunnies also get grumpy when you mess with their stuff in their cages, so try to do major cleaning and rearranging when they are out for play time, to avoid stressing them out.

Not all bunnies enjoy being brushed, and many get grumpy during their big molts, but the behavior changes you mention in the last part of your post could def be due to a medical issue, so I would get him to the vet soon.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Luna]

Binkie is ADORABLE!! For the brushing sessions, try brushing him only in a neutral area (ie. hallway or bathroom), that way he is less likely to associate you approaching him everytime in his cage/play area with the brushing that he dislikes. When Luna started exhibiting this behavior with me when I would try to trim her nails in her room, I changed the nail trim area to the hallway (then the kitchen table but that’s another story) and she stopped running away from me every time I got really close to her in her room.

[meridiian]

Wow! What a gorgeous bunny!

Agree, a vet visit just to be sure there isn’t a medical/tooth issue causing his trepidation.

My bunny is playful and never aggressive BUT she does not like me rearranging her area when she is present and can thump and push me away. They just don’t like it and that doesn’t mean he is changing his behavior for the worse. Housekeep when he is out playing. 🙂

Keep us posted and good luck. 🙂

[SummerRayne]

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments!
Since posting I have gave him some fresh pineapple as I saw it can help make passing the hairballs easier, just in case that was causing an issue. He went crazy for it! And I will continue to give him little bits from now on. A little while after that I decide to give him some hay up in his sleeping quarters to see if he would eat some more there. He started pigging out and since then he has eaten quite a large amount of hay. He still didn’t want to come out as much and soon retired to his home for bedtime (like he always does), but continued eating the left over food he had where he likes to sleep. I’m not sure why he wouldn’t want to eat outside of his cage as much, as that has always been his litter-box/eating station since I brought him home. However, I did do a cage clean tonight as I want to try out the suggestions of having him away from his cage as I cleaned it, plus I wanted to make sure I could see any new droppings and to make sure I could see if he was still going. This worked a lot better, as he enjoyed his toys and food and didn’t even realize I was cleaning his cage.
I will be calling his vet in the morning to get their opinion, and to see what his last check up said about his teeth. I also will try bringing him into the living room to try and groom him tomorrow and see how that goes.

Once again, thanks everyone for the nice comments and all the help provided! It has eased my mind a little, and has helped make his life better
I will keep everyone posted!
-Summer

[SummerRayne]

Update:

I took him to the vet this afternoon, and he check out with a clean bill of health. The vet said his teeth look fine and he had just another check up to be sure. However, I did notice he passed quite a bit of hair balls on the way there and at the vet. So no sure if they where maybe stuck or it was just a coincidence. 

I hope its okay if I ask this here ( as I know it would probably be posted under a different topic) but I figured since I already had so,e people to ask I would. This morning to get him into the his carrier I had to pick him up. He usually goes into it by himself, but today he wouldn’t and I was running late. So I picked him up, and this was the first time I have ever picked him up as he would never let me before so I never forced him. But after when we got home, he first ran away and hid under one of my dressed and then  he seemed really sour towards and almost even scared of me. I have tried to hand feed him and pet him, but he now usually runs away from me. 

Will he forgive me? Or is there anything I can do to fix this little issue, or help him learn that I wont hurt him if I go to pick him up.

Thanks Again

-Summer

[Limit]

He will forgive you with food! As Binky is the only one I can pick up out of my two I can tell you that she does the exact same, giving me a thump of disapproval once she’s on the floor again.

[meridiian]

Hello. Glad to hear Binkie has no health issues. Excellent news!

He will forgive you, treats work fine as Limit said above. No need to worry. 🙂

You have to keep in mind most bunnies don’t enjoy being picked up, they are prey animals. Its in their genes, they think they are going to be a meal. Awful they feel that even when they love and trust you. It just kicks in, they cant help it… and doesn’t mean they harbor any longer-term resentment towards you.

He knows you love him, he will be cool

Take more pics sometime. He is gorgeous. Best wishes xx

[Author]

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