A spay would probably help Oreo keep her teeth to herself.  How old is she? Do it soon so she doesn’t make a habit of biting her human family. Another thing when she bites you pen her down with your hand til she gives in.  She should stop but the territorial cage behavior will continue unless she is spayed.  Also I would hate for her to go for your son again with her teeth.  So Spay ASAP

Has anything changed in the house new pets new schedule?

OH I see she hasnt’ been cage territorial as a habit.  Could be she is hormonal?  If he was petting her and she felt she couldn’t get away she could have gotten upset and bit. The digging could have meant she wanted to get away but was prevented for some reason.   Mine comes to dig on me too…  When he is mad or having fun.   It helps if we know how to read it.

i agree if she isn’t spayed, chances are its hormones. our bunny took a chunk out of my bf’s arm while hormonal. this behavior will come and go until she is altered.

if she is already altered, well then i dunno! but maybe someone else does!

I’m thinking that because you didn’t let Oreo choose to be out and you placed him on your sons lap (it wasn’t on Oreo’s terms) he was very displeased with that and so the biting happened. Some bunnies really let you know they don’t like what you did and I think this is what happened here. Does Oreo have a safe place away from humans? Perhaps next time have your son sit on the floor and let Oreo come up to him or have your son offer a treat to Oreo.

I think your boyfriend is having a knee-jerk reaction to what happened. It really isn’t anyones fault and no one should be punished for it, including the animal. This should be a moment to step back and say “O.K. why did this happen and how can we prevent it?” I totally understand being upset but the moment something “misbehaves” you don’t and shouldn’t throw it out. Ask your boyfriend for time to work on this behavior with Oreo, your son and you have really bonded with him aready and it would be like tearing away a piece of your hearts. It’s only fair.

Scarlet Rose, once again, has spot on advice.  I totally agree with everything she has advised.  I am sorry Oreo bit your son but there is always a reason for the behavior.  Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I agree that it sounds like a spay is in order ASAP. Do you use an X-pen? I wonder if limiting his area, putting it between him and your son for a while, would make your boyfriend feel there is a safe place for Oreo to be until he has had the procedure and calmed down. Your son could pet Oreo while you hold your bunny, so that Oreo is being controlled by you at all times. For now at least.

Make sure the vet checks his teeth in case the biting has a problem behind it. Maybe have a chew toy with you whenever he’s out, so when the biting starts, press his head down firmly to show your dominance, say no, then give him the chew toy as a substitute.

an unspayed rabbit and a small child is really a recipe for disaster. there’s a chance that she might be experiencing a false pregnancy due to the hormones making her go out of whack. but that being said, spaying may not completely alleviate that problem. my female bunny has bitten my son badly, even months after her spay. for no reason that i can tell, she will lunge at him (he’s 5.) i’ve had to teach him that he needs to leave Meadow alone. she must have her space, and he’s only allowed to pet her if i am petting her head and he is sitting facing her backside (so he strokes her back). it really is important that you supervise all interactions betw/ them and never have your son in the biting/lunging path.

i would absolutely not get rid of Oreo. that does not teach your son anything and might actually have an adverse effect on him. this is the time when you need to instruct him how to interact with animals the right way (as you’ve been doing) and tell him just b/c a pet bites, does not mean they are a bad pet. biting is a natural behavior in rabbits and i don’t feel that dumping in this case will be beneficial to anyone. let us know how this proceeds.

i totally understand the money issue!!!

good luck and bunnytowne had a good point, kind of hold oreo’s head down when he/she bites, let him know you are top bunny and you will not allow biting!

keep us posted, i think you should go get her sexed and spayed/neutered asap

aww! that’s so cute!

BUnMumTiff, I am glad to hear it sounds like things are going to be O.K., you put your foot down and you did some investigative thinking which sounds absolutely correct.

Thanks KnowItTons, you’re very sweet!

GOOD for you!!!

Glad the little guy isn’t scared of the bunny! What a sweetie

What a brave little guy and thats great that he’s not scared of the bunny. I’m glad you put your foot down, otherwise it might send the wrong message about pets being ‘disposable’ .