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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum BEHAVIOR phantom pregnancy or just mad with us ?

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    • RosieBunny
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      12 posts Send Private Message

        Hi BunFriends,

        I need some advice / opinions please!

        I fostered a gorgeous little 1yo lop eared “intact” tortie bunny at the end of January called Bowie. She had been a little neglected and left in a cage (at least it was inside) for long periods without a lot of love. 

        She also arrived with an eye in a terrible state that will most likely be removed at the end of this month. I spent Feb and the first 2 weeks of March taking her to pretty much all the top bunny within 90mins of NY to see if there was a way to save her eye. Together with the foster organisation we decided it would be better to have the eye operation performed before her neuter as the eye is very sensitive and can tip her into pain easily. The last two weeks of March I went to Australia to see family with my daughter…. (we had to delay our Xmas trip as our darling Rosie bunny died suddenly).

        Despite all this, Bowie was the MOST LOVING and affectionate little bunny. always hopping on our bed and nudging for love and cuddles…. she was a MAJOR cuddler! So relaxed and happy. She was a little humpy as she does need to get neutered, but we managed to get her to focus most of that “amorous activity” on a stuffed bunny toy 🙂

        Whilst we were gone a vet tech from my local vets (not bunny specialists) stay at my house full-time to look after Bowie and our old kitty.  When we returned, bunnies eye looked amazing… clear, uninfected (sadly the lens etc is blown inside so it does still need to be removed) and the best its looked since January. She was so excited to see us and we spent a joyous 36 hours reconnecting with our special little creature. But then suddenly, out of the blue, on our second morning back, bunny stopped pooping and would only eat a little fresh greens… and became very scared and antisocial and ran and hid under the bed and wouldn’t come out. 

        We took her to our very good bunny vets where they kept her for a further two nights, till she was eating and pooping a reasonable amount again. We were so excited to get her back. But she was still very scared and anti-social and hiding most of the time…. That little “bunny alarm” that would jump on the bed in the morning to wake my daughter for school has disappeared! We are heart broken! Other behaviours the include digging here and there (litter and hay and her bed linens). 

        The vets couldn’t tell us why her behaviour was so different, our vet tech sitter said she started displaying the digging a few days before we returned. I have read up a little about phantom pregnancies. And wonder perhaps if that is what it going on ? Or did she get upset that we were so bonded and then suddenly went to Australia for 2 weeks? Obviously she wasnt getting the emotional devotion and adoration from the sitter, that we shower her with, but medically she was really well taken care of. I did grill the sitter to make sure there had been no “incidents” that could have scared bunny.

        Also I would be interested to hear, what others would recommend if they do feel that this is hormonal (she is now 14 months old so surely past being a teenager?) Do you think we should get her neutered before having her eye removed (which is a far bigger and more complicated surgery).

        Any input or ideas would be greatly appreciated. We really love this little buns and just want her feeling secure and happy again.

        Thanks so much for reading this LONG email !


      • Azerane
        Moderator
        4688 posts Send Private Message

          I’m not sure what the explanation is for the behaviour, it’s possible that it’s to do with your return, that’s she’s just having a bit of a temper tantrum about you leaving her. Otherwise sometimes this time of year can cause a change in behaviour as hormone levels fluctuate leading into spring, it can last a few weeks and then settles down again. It doesn’t sound like a false pregnancy to me, with that you will see the collection of hay and fur pulling from her belly to make a nest.


        • RosieBunny
          Participant
          12 posts Send Private Message

            Hi Azerene! Thanks for yr quick response!

            The reason why I think it could be a phantom pregnancy is that her whole behaviour started shifting a few days before our return, to this frantic digging mentality. (She is doing it in another spot behind the couch as I type right now lol) She is definitely gathering stuff and digging up a couple of “caves” with her bedding etc And lunging at us with nips of we get too near. She keeps moving the cardboard box full of her hay to the same position. I read online that you should leave the nests that they are making alone and she definitely seems much happier since I have done so.

            She hasn’t been pulling out fur… yet… I have been reading that happens in the last 3 days before they think the babies are coming. I figure we are about 14 days in now so this may go on for another 7-10 days.

            But then again, I am wondering if anyone else’s buns have given them a hard time when they come back from being away? I know cats do, but that only lasts a few days and doesn’t alter their personalities as much as Bowie’s is right now.

            We love her regardless, but just concerned for her as we know how relaxed and happy she can be and she is not that right now.

            IMG_9738.JPG


          • LBJ10
            Moderator
            16869 posts Send Private Message

              Try giving her a nesting box (cardboard box with a hole cut in the side). It might help calm her down if she thinks she has a secure place to build the nest. That is, of course, if this is indeed a false pregnancy. If she is trying to build a nest, then it probably is. You might notice her running around, gathering hay or other “bedding”, and carrying it in her mouth.

              As for you being gone, bunnies can and will hold grudges if their humans are gone for an extended period of time. They tend to give you the butt for a few days after you return, but they tend to come around after awhile (especially when peace offerings in the form of treats are provided).


            • jerseygirl
              Moderator
              22338 posts Send Private Message

                The reason why I think it could be a phantom pregnancy is that her whole behaviour started shifting a few days before our return, to this frantic digging mentality. (She is doing it in another spot behind the couch as I type right now lol) She is definitely gathering stuff and digging up a couple of “caves” with her bedding etc And lunging at us with nips of we get too near. She keeps moving the cardboard box full of her hay to the same position. I read online that you should leave the nests that they are making alone and she definitely seems much happier since I have done so.

                In that case, I would agree that you’re seeing a phantom pregnancy. The good thing is, she should return to her normal self afterward.

                Do you think we should get her neutered before having her eye removed (which is a far bigger and more complicated surgery).

                If she were my rabbit, I think I would opt to have the eye surgery done first if it is inevitable. It sounds as if you’re good with dealing with her hormonal behaviours for the time being. If you do see more nesting behaviour and are 100% certain she is experiencing false pregnancy, this is another good reason to wait on the neuter. I had read that their body actually undergoes physical changes during false pregnancy. There is an increase of blood supply to the uterus during this time. So it’s actually better to wait a few week after it has ended so there is less risk when the spay is performed.

                *Would love to see pic of her. Try adding that image file via the attachment bar.


              • RosieBunny
                Participant
                12 posts Send Private Message

                  Thank you everyone for your invaluable feedback!

                  It does infact appear that buns is at the end of what was definitely a false pregnancy… I just wish the vet had picked this up weeks ago! It would hv alleviated a lot of unnecessary worry & midnite internet research! In the last 3 days she has been returning to her crazy affectionate, cuddly self (I realise a little of this will disappear after fixing 😉 Yesterday and today she has also been doing the telltale pulling her fur out.  She’s a free roaming house bunny with many special bunny hide places (set up just for her) so I think she was trying to build nests everywhere instead of just one place…. so that made it a little less obvious.

                  Good to know about the uterine blood flow diversion Jersey Girl… it may actually work to her eye op advantage, as the biggest risk with this daunting op is a bleed out, hence blood pressure drop leading to heart failure….

                  I’ll do another post now about the eye removal and see if anyone has any specific input !

                  Thanks all!

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              Forum BEHAVIOR phantom pregnancy or just mad with us ?