Sudden Ear and Mood Change

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 16sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 10 months ago by sarahthegemini.

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- 05/22/2017 at 6:19 PM
  bartandmilhouse
  Participant
  48 posts
  Hi guys, yesterday evening Milhouse’s mood shifted. Everything was normal during the morning and day. But then she and Bart were laying under the couch for quite some time in and were not coming out when I tried to get them. Bart moved a little bit and sat up, ears up, and thumped a bit. I took that as “leave us alone human”. But what concerns me is Milhouse. Normally Milhouse has one ear up and one ear down. Once she came out from under the couch she has both ears down and its been 24hr and she still has both down. I have touched her ears and she isn’t bothered, and I have lifted the normally standing ear and it will stay in place but she then puts it down. She is also my social butterfly and is now being standoffish.
  
  Should I be concerned in a sudden change in her ears and her mood change? Eating and drinking are normal.
  
  I will say that Bart and Milhouse are not altered yet. Per the vet they must wait until next month. They live in separate condos but since they are litter mates, the vet said they should still play together under supervision of course. I have had to intercept mounting and in the back of my mind am wondering if I failed once and maybe her change is pregnancy? I think that is a long shot though…
  
  Just mood swings maybe?? Bunny puberty? lol
- 05/22/2017 at 7:06 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  If theres risk of pregnancy they should not be near one another unless you are ready to care for the kits and can afford all of their needed vetting, including spays and neuters in a few months
- 05/22/2017 at 7:14 PM
  bartandmilhouse
  Participant
  48 posts
  Yes, I know and am. But I am asking about specific ear/mood change right now…
- 05/23/2017 at 3:12 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Bunnies cannot have play dates – supervised or not. That’s incredibly irresponsible. They can mate in literally seconds. What are you going to do if your doe gets pregnant at such a young age? I’m shocked at your vet’s suggestion…It’s really not a long shot to think she could be pregnant.
- 05/23/2017 at 7:05 AM
  ThorBunny
  Participant
  824 posts
  Yes I am a bit suspicious of your vet’s suggestion, are you sure they are rabbit savvy? It is really not good practice to allow any unaltered male and female together, even supervised, even if they are litter mates.
  
  Per your specific questions: Any sudden mood change can be cause for concern, I think you are right that she could very well be pregnant. If she is, she may display other behaviors such as nest building and digging. And perhaps take her to your vet (or some other more rabbit savvy vet) to check for sure. Rabbit gestation is about 30 days.
  
  That being said, some rabbits have on and off days. Something in the environment could have set her off. Is she still behaving strangely today?
  
  As to the ears, sudden ear drop can happen normally especially with young rabbits. But it can also be a sign of an ear infection. Keep an eye on her to make sure she isn’t scratching them more than usual, or otherwise acting in pain.
- 05/23/2017 at 7:49 AM
  bartandmilhouse
  Participant
  48 posts
  Okay, thanks for the criticism everyone…you’ve been so helpful in answering my actual concerns…
- 05/23/2017 at 8:34 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Posted By bartandmilhouse on 5/23/2017 7:49 AM
  
  Okay, thanks for the criticism everyone…you’ve been so helpful in answering my actual concerns…
  
  People have answered saying pregnancy could be the cause for mood change. You’re just choosing not to listen.
- 05/23/2017 at 8:39 AM
  ThorBunny
  Participant
  824 posts
  I really am sorry if you got the wrong impression from my message, I know you’re just concerned about your rabbit!
  
  How is she behaving today? Still strange? Any head shaking or ear scratching? It could be bunny puberty, I’ve heard that females especially can get a bit stand-offish when they get hormones kicking in. Good that they are being fixed soon
  
  In general, I think we are all just concerned that you may be right about Millhouse’s possible pregnancy. If you’re worried that she could be impregnated it may be best to keep them separate until altered. Chances of an oops litter are not worth the risk, as having babies can be hard on such a young bunny!
- 05/23/2017 at 8:59 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17030 posts
  My up-eared bunny once got one down ear after a scuffle with my other rabbit. No sores, no pain response on palpating. The ear went up again about 5 days later and stayed up.
  
  Bunnies can become moody when puberty strikes. Especially in girls the behavioral change can happen literally over night. It’s not abnormal but the buns should be separated now, not just because of risk of pregnancy but also because buns in puberty can get into bad fights, and that will make it harder to rebond them after their spay/neuter.
- 05/23/2017 at 10:48 AM
  bartandmilhouse
  Participant
  48 posts
  Posted By ThorBunny on 5/23/2017 8:39 AM
  
  I really am sorry if you got the wrong impression from my message, I know you’re just concerned about your rabbit!
  
  How is she behaving today? Still strange? Any head shaking or ear scratching? It could be bunny puberty, I’ve heard that females especially can get a bit stand-offish when they get hormones kicking in. Good that they are being fixed soon
  
  In general, I think we are all just concerned that you may be right about Millhouse’s possible pregnancy. If you’re worried that she could be impregnated it may be best to keep them separate until altered. Chances of an oops litter are not worth the risk, as having babies can be hard on such a young bunny!
  
  Your message was very helpful, and I appreciate it. It was the most helpful reply. I am honestly thinking it is puberty, but am prepared and knowledgeable if it is pregnancy even though it is not ideal. It is not my intention either. As far as how she is today, she is still shy and floppy eared but her ear does still go up. No head shaking or scratching so that is good.
- 05/23/2017 at 10:50 AM
  bartandmilhouse
  Participant
  48 posts
  Posted By bam on 5/23/2017 8:59 AM
  
  My up-eared bunny once got one down ear after a scuffle with my other rabbit. No sores, no pain response on palpating. The ear went up again about 5 days later and stayed up.
  
  Bunnies can become moody when puberty strikes. Especially in girls the behavioral change can happen literally over night. It’s not abnormal but the buns should be separated now, not just because of risk of pregnancy but also because buns in puberty can get into bad fights, and that will make it harder to rebond them after their spay/neuter.
  
  Thanks, Bam. That is helpful! I am strictly separating them now until a month after their fix. I have palpated her and touched her ears and nothing. I will keep checking; I am leaning towards puberty. And I will alert my vet if anything changes.
- 05/23/2017 at 11:11 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  I don’t understand why you are so convinced it isn’t pregnancy :-/ It’s a very possible explanation whether you want to hear it or not.
- 05/23/2017 at 11:13 AM
  bartandmilhouse
  Participant
  48 posts
  Posted By sarahthegemini on 5/23/2017 11:11 AM
  
  I don’t understand why you are so convinced it isn’t pregnancy :-/ It’s a very possible explanation whether you want to hear it or not.
  
  I know it is and I am keeping that in mind and checking her continuously like I have mentioned that I’d done. Respectfully, I never said I didn’t want to hear it…I am the one who brought it up in my original post…what I didn’t want to hear was that I’m irresponsible when I was reaching out for input about her ear and mood.
- 05/23/2017 at 11:31 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17030 posts
  It’s never irresponsible to seek info and ask questions. Rabbits are complicated animals.
- 05/23/2017 at 11:33 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Posted By bartandmilhouse on 5/23/2017 11:13 AM
  
  Posted By sarahthegemini on 5/23/2017 11:11 AM
  
  I don’t understand why you are so convinced it isn’t pregnancy :-/ It’s a very possible explanation whether you want to hear it or not.
  
  I know it is and I am keeping that in mind and checking her continuously like I have mentioned that I’d done. Respectfully, I never said I didn’t want to hear it…I am the one who brought it up in my original post…what I didn’t want to hear was that I’m irresponsible when I was reaching out for input about her ear and mood.
  
  I was actually commenting about how irresponsible your vet was to suggest keeping them together. Not you
- 05/23/2017 at 11:43 AM
  bartandmilhouse
  Participant
  48 posts
  Posted By sarahthegemini on 5/23/2017 11:33 AM
  
  Posted By bartandmilhouse on 5/23/2017 11:13 AM
  
  Posted By sarahthegemini on 5/23/2017 11:11 AM
  
  I don’t understand why you are so convinced it isn’t pregnancy :-/ It’s a very possible explanation whether you want to hear it or not.
  
  I know it is and I am keeping that in mind and checking her continuously like I have mentioned that I’d done. Respectfully, I never said I didn’t want to hear it…I am the one who brought it up in my original post…what I didn’t want to hear was that I’m irresponsible when I was reaching out for input about her ear and mood.
  
  I was actually commenting about how irresponsible your vet was to suggest keeping them together. Not you
  
  I apologize I definitely took it differently. I think because I was already feeling uncertain What is weird though is that my vet is THE rabbit specialist around here and I mentioned to him about keeping them separated and he made the suggestion that since they were already bonded, if I were supervising it would be good for their bond. BUT I have them separated and will keep it that way until they are altered and healed.
- 05/23/2017 at 11:55 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Posted By bartandmilhouse on 5/23/2017 11:43 AM
  
  Posted By sarahthegemini on 5/23/2017 11:33 AM
  
  Posted By bartandmilhouse on 5/23/2017 11:13 AM
  
  Posted By sarahthegemini on 5/23/2017 11:11 AM
  
  I don’t understand why you are so convinced it isn’t pregnancy :-/ It’s a very possible explanation whether you want to hear it or not.
  
  I know it is and I am keeping that in mind and checking her continuously like I have mentioned that I’d done. Respectfully, I never said I didn’t want to hear it…I am the one who brought it up in my original post…what I didn’t want to hear was that I’m irresponsible when I was reaching out for input about her ear and mood.
  
  I was actually commenting about how irresponsible your vet was to suggest keeping them together. Not you
  
  I apologize I definitely took it differently. I think because I was already feeling uncertain What is weird though is that my vet is THE rabbit specialist around here and I mentioned to him about keeping them separated and he made the suggestion that since they were already bonded, if I were supervising it would be good for their bond. BUT I have them separated and will keep it that way until they are altered and healed.
  
  I accept your apology and I’m sorry for not being clear I think you’re right to keep them separate now, I know sometimes even if we know what’s best, if a vet suggest something different it can throw us out a bit!
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