My bunny is pulling out my other bunny's fur

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 4sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 1 month ago by Fluffy_Bottoms.

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- 02/02/2016 at 12:30 AM
  Fluffy_Bottoms
  Participant
  3 posts
  Hello,
  
  I have 2 bunnies (1 female unspayed, 1 male neutered). They have been bonded for 6 months now and really enjoy each others company. Sometime the female likes to reassure her dominance by humping, which my male bunny does not mind. Lately I have noticed that my male bunny is beginning to have less fur on the back of his neck. Upon further investigation, I noticed some scabs and tears on his skin, on the back of his neck, where the fur was missing as well as some bald spots.
  
  After doing some ‘research’ it seems to me that this is from my female bunny pulling fur off the back of his neck to assert her dominance over him. It doesn’t seem to bother him (but bunnies are so good at hiding pain) and he still loves to cuddle and hang out with her.
  
  So my questions are:
  
  1) Will my female ever stop pulling his fur out?
  
  2) Should I be separating them, or is this normal and for the most part ‘harmless’?
  
  3) Will my male bunny’s fur grow back?
  
  Thank you!
- 02/02/2016 at 1:41 AM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  When is she due for a spay? She’s pulling the fur out from humping, so spaying will definitely curb that. He’s a saint for putting up with it-they really could erupt into a fight easily as she is hurting him.
- 02/04/2016 at 5:09 PM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  Just to reiterate what K&K said, it really sounds like it is time for her to be spayed. It is likely that the procedure would reduce her need to assert dominance over him, so there won’t be as much humping. That would allow time for his fur to grow back in. All of this aside, it is very, very important that she is spayed. There is such a high risk of reproductive cancer in unspayed female rabbits. I hope you see these responses and can get her spayed soon. Let us know how everything goes!
- 02/06/2016 at 12:03 AM
  Fluffy_Bottoms
  Participant
  3 posts
  Thanks for the reply!
  
  Yes he really is the sweetest boy, and he loves her company so much. He bit her before, and we had separated them for a bit during the bonding initial process, but since then he has not shown a single sign of aggression towards her, even though she still humps and pulls his fur.
  
  My female bunny is 9 years old, and at this point in her life we have decided not to risk the surgery. The vet has not expressed any concerns about her health, or that we should get her spayed, especially since our other bunny is neutered (he is only 1). We take her to the vet at least once a year (more whenever she needs care), and we are always told she is healthy from the vet.
  
  Thank you for your input and concern!
- 02/06/2016 at 12:06 AM
  Fluffy_Bottoms
  Participant
  3 posts
  Thank you for your reply!
  
  I will be keeping a close eye on my male bunny’s fur, and my female’s behaviour. I will stop the humping as soon as I can.
  
  My female bunny is 9 years old right now, and at this point in her life we are worried the procedure may be too much for her. The vet has not expressed any concern about her health or the need to spay her, so we are very fortunate for that.
  
  Thank you for your concern and your reply!
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