Spayed Bunny Doing the Fur-Pulling Thing

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This topic has 6sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 2 months ago by MoldyLoaf.

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- 02/11/2014 at 4:00 PM
  MoldyLoaf
  Participant
  4 posts
  Okay, I know there’s an answer somewhere out there, but I can’t seem to find it: my 1 1/2 year old Netherland Dwarf who’s been spayed for about a year acquired a perfectly square bald patch on her chest overnight. It’s been about a week and she nips at her shoulders every now and then. I inspected the skin and it seems to be a little dry/chaffed, but seemingly healthy otherwise. I also noticed her nipples are rather dry and/or crusty. I’m not sure if that’s normal?
  
  She is one of those hands-off bunnies, so my boyfriend and I give her attention in the sense that sitting with her and bribing her to come near us with cranberries is the height of entertainment for her. At least one of us is around 24/7 and she has free reign over the apartment (although she chooses the 8 feet surrounding her cage and visits the living room sparingly). I feel like she wants attention, but is stubborn about it… like a teenager. I’m not sure if I’m not giving her the right kind of attention, or enough of it. So if she is bored I couldn’t tell. She isn’t gathering the fur, either, as far as I can tell. I think she is eating all of it!
  
  So what do I do? I have been at my wit’s end with this little girl before, but learned to accept that she’s a bit spunky. I have also wanted to try bonding her with a new rabbit, because I feel like she is lonely but human contact just doesn’t cut it. What do you think?
- 02/11/2014 at 4:29 PM
  Zombie-Sue
  Participant
  875 posts
  I feel like you feel like your rabbit has human emotions. She doesn’t. They don’t like, play mind games or want and not want things at the same time, lol. They’re not that complicated.
  
  Sit down, wait for the rabbit to come to you. Start petting her. If she doesn’t run away, she wanted your attention. If she hops away, she didn’t want you to bother her right now. If you have to corner her to pick her up, she didn’t want your attention. That’s not really a horrible thing, I am often giving my rabbits attention when they don’t want it. It’s hard not too, they’re so darn cute. Bribery often works (give her her favorite treat every time you pet her)
  
  Usually, false pregnancy is the cause of fur-pulling. It’s not completely unheard of in spayed female rabbits, but only a vet can rule out a skin condition.
  
  I wouldn’t get another rabbit if, for any reason, you suspect the current rabbit is unhealthy. Bonding isn’t a light process. The world isn’t going to end, either, but if you have trouble reading your rabbit, it will take you a little longer and it’s definitely something you cannot do half-way. It’s a firm commitment that can cause you and the rabbits a fair amount of stress so think hard. I don’t see any other reasons not to, though. I think that some types of rabbits become a lot more fun when they have a friend.
- 02/11/2014 at 4:42 PM
  MoldyLoaf
  Participant
  4 posts
  Okay, but are you absolutely SURE the world isn’t going to end?
- 02/11/2014 at 4:49 PM
  Zombie-Sue
  Participant
  875 posts
  Sometimes it might seem like it lol. When I first started I was like “IM TOUGH I CAN DO ANYTHING” and then I saw my PRECIOUS BABIES trying to hurt eachother. It’s really something that can make you feel things you didn’t know about LOL.
- 02/11/2014 at 6:12 PM
  MoldyLoaf
  Participant
  4 posts
  She is my first rabbit, so it has been frustrating! I just don’t know if her fur-pulling is because I’m doing something “wrong” and it is stressing her out or if it is genuinely a health issue. I suppose I’ll give it more time and then schedule an appointment for the vet if she doesn’t stop. Thank you. TT-TT
- 02/12/2014 at 9:18 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  Haha, I just noticed your avatar! That’s cute!
- 02/12/2014 at 11:19 AM
  MoldyLoaf
  Participant
  4 posts
  Thanks! I thought it fit London’s personality best. Yours is wonderful.
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