Behavior slightly different after neuter?

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This topic has 4sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 11 months ago by Katscarpena.

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- 05/07/2014 at 7:36 AM
  Katscarpena
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  153 posts
  Is it normal for behavior to vary a bit after neutering? Licorice was neutered in March. He is 1-2 years old, not sure since we found him as a stray.
  
  Changes following neuter:
  
  Less active overall, lots more sleeping/flopping. Still has active periods in am and pm – spends most of the day sacked out in a complete flop on the couch or in the sun in the dining room on the area rug.
  
  Going next to the litter pan – not in it. He sleeps in there now. Tried moving it – he gets mad, puts it back. Put his droppings in it – he clears them out by dumping it. He only goes in the cage though so I am not really going to complain on that front. Just a noted change.
  
  Eating a TON – TONS of hay, wanting more pellets (we do not indulge). Wants treats, eats ANYTHING food-wise he can find on the floor thanks to the kids. (Example – ate a lemon tootsie roll. Um, really?) He has gained some weight too.
  
  Thing that did NOT change – still aggressive towards Chipper. UGH! So much for bonding.
  
  Is all that normal?Maybe due to the drop in hormones?
- 05/07/2014 at 11:01 AM
  NuggetBuns
  Participant
  348 posts
  Yes, Licorice sounds pretty normal to me. Some rabbits’ personalities do change after being neutered or spayed. Usually it’s for the better, but some do forget their litter habits and need to be retrained. They say it’s easier to train a fixed rabbit to use the litter box, maybe try a different litter?
  
  We noticed Nugget became more easygoing and started to lay around more too after he was neutered. We would chase him sometimes just to get him to exercise and not become fat. So I think as long as Licorice has room to run around at dawn and dusk, he should be just fine. Yay for eating more hay!
  
  As for bonding, maybe wait a couple more weeks for all the hormones to dissipate, then try again. If he and Chipper see each other every day and get used to each other’s scents, it can help when you start doing bonding sessions.
- 05/07/2014 at 11:35 AM
  Sindri
  Participant
  1515 posts
  It does take time for the hormones to settle down. My rabbit went into a crazy mode for a few weeks. Then after about 6 weeks he was pretty normal and more settled down. Si I agree with NuggetBuns I would wait a couple of weeks before trying to bond again. Good luck with your future bonding!
- 05/07/2014 at 8:55 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17237 posts
  The laying around more sounds to me like his hormones were making him hyperactive. Eligible bachelor buns can sometimes be go go go, always on the move. So I would say his lounging is pretty typical rabbit behavior. Most BBers will tell you that their bunnies sleep a lot during the day.
- 05/11/2014 at 8:34 AM
  Katscarpena
  Participant
  153 posts
  Thanks all! He is doing well overall. His health seems good. He’s just a little different overall. I’m actually not overly concerned about the litter issue because he is still only going in his cage. He just sort of swapped preference. Sleeps in the pan – goes potty right next to it. Win some, lose some. lol
  
  Can I also add here the lounging is positively adorable?! Just adorable! Lots of completely sacked out sleeping during the day – very active early morning and evening. I think that is likely pretty normal. Chipper (our other bun) seems to have that rhythm as well. It was just new to Licorice.
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