Big fright

[Rufus]

Rufus seems to be having a big fright. I can’t hear anything or se anything that would be bothering him but he is really on edge. He’s thumped four times and been really stiff and crazy alert for the last ten minutes or so.

I tried putting on some music to cover any noises but I don’t know what it could be, he’s extremely stirred up.

Any ideas what I can do to help relax him?

[Rufus]

Oh god, don’t ever search for “fright” in the search feature. It’s just 500 posts saying how easy it is for a bunny to be frightened to death. Any thoughts? He’s still shaking.

[Bam]

Give him a treat. Something extra good.

Bunnies are also very good at getting scared, run like they were mad and then calm down, because that’s how life is for wild bunnies. That’s sort of what they do, being prey animals. They can die of fright, but most bunnies don’t.

I hope he’s ok now.

[Bam]

Give him a treat. Something extra good.

Bunnies are also very good at getting scared, run like they were mad and then calm down, because that’s how life is for wild bunnies. That’s sort of what they do, being prey animals. They can die of fright, but most bunnies don’t.

I hope he’s ok now.

[Rufus]

Thanks bam. He’s still freaking out! I’ve never seen him like this. I gave him two craisins and he just ate them and went back to being rigid and trembling.rty

[Rufus]

Thanks bam. He’s still freaking out! I’ve never seen him like this. I gave him two craisins and he just ate them and went back to being rigid and trembling.rty

[Rufus]

He just ripped two keys off my keyboard while scrambling in fear. Oh god I don’t know what to do!

[Deleted User]

Oh gee Rufus! Did something small scare him (sorry, like a mouse?) again sorry – I am clutching at straws, cause I am trying to think why too. Can he sense your panic (for him)? Gosh, I don’t know…. can you hold/cuddle him? and sweet talk. (and yes, I would have done the same – given Henry craisins). Rufus is gonna be on my mind now.

[Stickerbunny]

Yikes, poor baby. It’s probably a predator in the area around your home, if he’s freaking out that badly. In which case, there isn’t much you can do but talk soothingly and give him treats and places to hide. Hope he settles down. Stickers does the thumping/scared thing sometimes when she hears – music, loud cars, fireworks or there are dogs/cats outside their window. Places for her to hide behind are the only thing that calms her.

[Rufus]

I’ve put him in his cage and sat with him for a while and he looks better but not normal. He just ate a piece of hay. I still can’t work out what it could be, we live in a noisy neighbourhood so he’s used to a lot of plane and car noise. He’s settled down a little. He wouldn’t be in pain would he? I thought about giving him Simthicone just in case it’s gas but I don’t want to put him under any more stress and he’s never had it before…

Thanks for your thoughts and help. I just wish he would start acting normally again. He’s thumped three times before in his whole life and this was like 30 times in 15 minutes. And he made this horrible whining sound when he was thumping. I never want to hear that again!

[Deleted User]

Yep something definitely scared him – but what? Sorry about the mouse suggestion, I was just thinking of something that you couldn’t hear and see. I had mice (why the thought popped into my head) and always wondered if I had one again how would Henry react? That’s good that Rufus has settled a little. I have no idea about a bunny being in pain, I can’t help but wonder if he was he would show other signs? Another thought I had was a green ant bite? Do you get green ants in Sydney? Maybe just keep an eye on him for another half hour, and if he hasn’t improved let us know. (Let us know either way, he he). Still thinking of you and Rufus.

[Rufus]

Thanks so much Andi! It could have been an ant, there are plenty around my room. I don’t think it was a mouse, we don’t have any evidence of a mouse problem and I’m a couple of floors up. Do mice go that high?
He just lay down for a minute or two but he’s still definitely not himself. I’d do anything to see him eat a bunch or something. I think I’ll have a heart attack before he does!

[Stickerbunny]

Pain is usually lethargy and subdued behavior. Prey animals don’t like to advertise when they are weak. Whining can be fear or stress. Stickers whined when I bonded her with Powder, it is an awful noise. Keep an eye on his poops and eating, stress can cause digestion issues. I get how weird thumping is in a non-thumper, Powder has thumped twice since I have had him. Both were to things only he could hear. Feel better Rufus!

[Bam]

Poor little Rufus, how is doing? It’s great that he’s eaten sth, if they’re really scared they won’t take a treat. Well I don’t mean that he’s not really scared, obviously he is, but taking a treat is still a great sign of health and ability to thrive, so to speak.  
  
Mice go as high up in buildings as they can, but I don’t know if a mouse would freak a bunny out? They’re not natural enemies. An ant-bite would be an explanation. My dog stepped into a nest of wasps last summer and she was like crazy, ran around and tried biting herself on the back and then her eyelid got the size of a pingpongball. If you notice swelling on Rufus maybe you should call your vet, they can give cortison by injection.

[Rufus]

He’s eating a little now. You should see how far I’m overcompensating he has three types of hay, two types of pellets as well as kale, rocket and red leaf lettuce. He peed but he hasn’t pooped yet. He keeps trying to get out but I tried letting him out to cuddle him properly, which normally he loves, but he tensed up again so he’s definitely staying in the cage for a good long while.

I thought maybe it could be the smell of a predator? I hadn’t been home long when he started freaking out, maybe I bought the smell of something with me? I’ll see how goes tomorrow morning and if he’s still tense I’ll scrub/wash everything.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared. This forum is amazing, I don’t know what I would have done without your messages of support.

I’ll let you know if he goes back to normal. If he’s not I’ll take him to the vet in the morning.

[Kbana]

I hope Rufus (and you) have been able to settle down a bit. It is so hard when we have no idea what is going on. I have no clue what scares Albert either…wish I could read his mind. He should be fine, given time to calm down. I sometimes put the TV on a little louder than usual to try and drown out anything he might be hearing. Rabbits can die of fright, but it would most likely need to be a predator situation to cause that much stress. I asked that question when Albert had one of his first freak outs and that helped put my mind at ease. Keep us posted!

[Beka27]

Wow, I really don’t know. Like the others said, could be something he heard/smelled from outside.

I assume you live in an apartment building, maybe he heard/smelled something from another apartment?

Just keep an eye on him. Let us know how he does.

[Rufus]

Thank you guys. I just woke up here (had the worst night sleep ever worrying) and he seems fine, eating/drinking/pooping/peeing as normal.

He’s begging to come out and play but I am sooo nervous. I don’t know if either of us can go through that again. I just wish I knew exactly what caused it! He’s used to dogs barking and I’ve come home often smelling like my parents great dane. He’s always been annoyed by the smell but never scared before.

I also wish I could find my keyboard keys, he scrambled so fast across my laptop last night that two keys went flying and I can’t find them anywhere.

[Bam]

So glad to hear he’s doing better! I hope it stays that way. It’s terrible when there’s sth wrong with your pets. The brain just accelerate to produce all these horrific scenarios. It’s a sickening feeling.

He must know the smell of your parent’s dog by now, it doesn’t seem likely that should be it. But bunnies do hear and smell and perceive so much that us humans aren’t capable of, us being rather inept at being animals.

Hope you find your keys.

[Kbana]

Good to hear!! Yay! (not about the keys though LOL)

[Deleted User]

That’s great Rufus! Phew! (and sorry about your missing keys too…..). Cheers!

[Beka27]

Regarding the keyboard keys… What letters are missing? Maybe he’s trying to spell out a message for you?! Lol…

[Deleted User]

I just went outside to get the clothes off the line, and can you believe it…. I just got bitten by a bloody green ant! I thought you may find that funny? I will – as soon as the intense pain leaves my foot!

[Author]

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