Bunny licks like crazy!

[Rigby]

Hi everyone,

     So I noticed my bun bun Mimi licks my hand a lot whenever I try to pick her up. She doesn’t like being picked up but I’m trying to show her that I’m not out to hurt her and trying to gain her trust. I try to pick her up at least 2-3 times a day, usually when I let her out of her cage to run, jump and hop around like the happy little bunny she is. 

     I especially notice that she does this when she has nowhere else to run, because I often times have to put my hands around her sides to try and get under her and her feet. She’ll put her head down and try to hide underneath my palm then she’ll start licking my hand like crazy! 

     Does this mean she’s scared? I’m trying to figure out what she’s trying to tell me. I want her to get used to being picked up a few times a day because sometimes I need to put her somewhere else while I clean her cage, but she always runs away once she’s figured out I’m trying to pick her up.

      Also, if it’s of any importance, just recently she stopped taking her enrofloxacin dosages. Twice a day for 10 days I had to pick her up and get her to take her dosage orally and she was fighting me each and every time! I’m guessing that she thinks I’m going to try and give her her medication every time i try to pick her up? Bad memories of those 10 days? : /  But she never liked being picked up prior to those 10 days.

Well if anyone knows why Mimi keeps licking my hand when i’m trying to pick her up, that would be much appreciated! Thanks all.      

[BunnyLoverMaddie]

My rabbit licks my hand too. It’s because they are trying to lick salt off of your hand. She probably is a teeny bit scared since she runs away as you said but most rabbits do that. All you have to do is carry on being gentle with her and talking to her softly. I find that lying down on my bed with my rabbit and letting her climb on me is good for bonding as long as you let THEM make the first moves. Gradually start petting her more and holding her after you feel she has your trust. Also, try hand feeding her. My rabbit HATES treats and I thought we were going to be hopeless then one day I tried her with a piece of Romaine lettuce and she loves it! Try to find (if you haven’t already) your rabbit’s favorite treat and hand feed her it everyday if its healthy, like mine.
As for the licking, just buy her a mineral stone. You can either get unflavored ones or flavored ones however the ones that are flavored usually have a bit of added sugars so be careful for that otherwise it might upset your rabbits tummy. My bunny doesn’t like the unflavored ones since they just taste and feel like chalk so I bought her one of the strawberry ones but it didn’t have a lot of sugar so she was good with it.

[JackRabbit]

Bunnies don’t need salt blocks. They get vitamins and minerals from their pellets, greens, and hay. They also don’t like to be picked up — its instinct. They are prey animals so, by instinct, they are afraid that whatever picks them up is going to eat them. A rare bunny doesn’t mind being picked up, but the vast majority would much rather hop where they need to go on their own.

As for the licking, your bunny is grooming you! She’s telling you that she loves you.

[Rigby]

Thanks guys. Yeah I know they’re prey animals but I can’t image a poor little bun bun licking the paws of it’s predator : / So her licking when attempting to pick her up really confused me.
She already lets me groom her a couple times a day so i hope we’re on the right track as far as trust is concerned

[JackRabbit]

If she’s licking you then she’s accepted you. She’d never accept a predator. One of my bunnies, Kieko (our single bun), is like that. When we pet her, she has to groom us back. She also grooms her stuffed bunny JackJack (she preferred to bond with him over our lops — refused to groom them, but we’re going to try again).

BTW, all three of mine will take meds from a syringe if we just hold the syringe down to them — they fight the meds like crazy if we pick them up to give meds. Worth a try if you ever have to give meds again.

[Rigby]

Thanks Jack! I will try that next time if I need to give her more enrofloxacin down the line.

But doesn’t your bunny Kieko feel rejected when the stuffed one doesn’t groom her back? Or do you pretend to have JackJack groom her? : )

[JackRabbit]

She seems fine with it. Take a look at the July picture thread. I posted pics of her with JackJack. Maybe since he doesn’t groom her back she thinks he’s top bunny!

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