My bunny wants nothing to do with me

[Caro]

I got an english lop/flemish giant mix at 5 weeks old with terrible bilateral eye infections that was going to be culled that day. I fixed its eyes and brought it to school with me where she loved to be held and petted and wanted to snuggle. She has been snuggly and attention seeking and wanting to be petted since I’ve had her, but I went out of town for 4-5 weeks this summer and now she wants nothing to do with me. My husband fed her while I was gone but he works a lot so he didnt take her out to play while I was away.

Bunny doesnt even want to be petted anymore, she goes into her house and doesnt bother to come out. The only time I can touch her is when I put pellets in the cage. I let her out in the evenings to hop around and she would rather go to the opposite corner of where I am  and sleep near the dogs than have anything to do with me. Physically, she is healthy, she jsut stopped being friendly. Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do to fix it?

Thanks

[CheriB603]

You’ve “unbonded”. Plus, she’s older and doesn’t “need” you as much. Just work on rebuilding that trust like you did at the beginning. Face it – you left and her world literally changed – no Mommy, no play time!

[Beka27]

You might be seeing this behavior regardless of going out of town for an extended length of time. She’s older now and rabbits start to want to do their own thing around this time. Give her time and keep doing what you’re doing.

[RabbitPam]

While bunnies are moody, I am not so sure she is completely healthy. When a bunny huddles under cover, it can definitely be a sign of illness. An infection can return but not be obvious, and a bunny will hide any symptoms if they can. I would recommend a check up at the vet, explaining her behavior. Rule out medical causes first.
If she’s OK, then get an appointment to get her spayed if it hasn’t been done yet. Make the appt. now, even if it’s not for a few months more. Do that asap – when your vet is comfortable with doing it. She may be beginning to get her hormones.

5 weeks old is really too early to be weaned off of her mother, so she may have developed her attachments in a different way. Usually it is not recommended to be separated before 8-9 weeks old. So if she was ill that early, and not with her mother, she may have had some impact from that as well. If she bonded with you instead, the separation may have made an impact on her because of it. Not to worry – she will bond with you again.

Spend time with her by lounging on the floor while she is out playing. Be careful around the dogs – she may have been scared while you were gone and you didn’t know, so don’t let her be unsupervised with them while loose, even if you believe they get along.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I agree with Pam. A change in behavior like that could be sign of an illness. A bunny in pain or ill are usually withdrawn. Best to rule out anything with a vet check.

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