Spraying after getting 2nd rabbit! Please help!

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This topic has 5sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 11 months ago by Mikey.

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- 12/21/2017 at 3:56 PM
  Lyinness
  Participant
  5 posts
  Hello, so I have had a buck (mini lop about 2 years old who was fixed at 4 months old). When I got him fixed, he had JUST started to hump but had never sprayed before. After having him fixed, he still continued to hump (and he humps his studies A LOT) and has sprayed once or twice before. I just adopted the new female rabbit 2 weeks ago and they never fight, but he humps her A LOT and goes wild when I let them mingle. He also started SPRAYING EVERTIME THEY FIRST TOUCH AS IF HE CANNOT CONTAIN HIMSELF. It’s getting to the point where I’m cleaning up the pee 5 times a day. I feel like I’ve tried everything. Neutral space – he still sprays. I tried no contact (only thru the wire enclosures) – still sprays when he comes into contact once the enclosures are opened. I’ve tried prolonged exposure and he still sprays!! I don’t know what to do to get him to stop. I’ve been cleaning up the pee with napkins and vinegar btw. But that doesn’t seem to help. They are both pretty well potty trained (him more than her but she’s good for a beginner). Please someone help me, I have read so many besides and forums and everything is just saying “neuter him and it will stop” BUT HES BEEN NEUTERED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND ITS A PROBLEM (since the bonding started)
  
  That is the only problem I am having right now, that and the constant droppingsnhe is producing because of the need to mark territory (but even that is not THAT excessive for it being a fairly new bonding).
- 12/21/2017 at 8:35 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Two weeks is too early. You need to prebond them first and prebonding should last one to two full months. Prebonding is when you keep their cages/pens close and swap their items (litter boxes, food and water bowls, toys, etc).
  
  Is your girl spayed? If she is not spayed, you need to wait until two months after she is spayed. A hormonal rabbit will cause fixed rabbits to act out hormonally.
  
  You should also consider having a hormone test done on your male. If hes been acting rather hormonally even after being neutered for so long, it sounds like he has a hormone imbalance. If he does, this will greatly effect whether or not he can actually bond with another rabbit.
- 12/21/2017 at 8:40 PM
  Lyinness
  Participant
  5 posts
  Thank you for the reply. I will try the swapping items. I am currently doing the prebonding, they live in separate enclosures and have supervised short contact as of now. she is fixed and I also had him checked at the vet and the vet told me he is fine and that it is normal for his type of rabbit and age despite being fixed.
- 12/22/2017 at 12:56 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  You’ve only had her two weeks? You need to let her settle in first and foremost. Then (assuming she’s already spayed) pre bond and THEN start actual bonding sessions. You’ve skipped a lot so it’s not surprising that your male is acting out.
  
  When you do bonding sessions btw, they have to be on neutral territory or you’re just asking for trouble. That means you can’t just let them out of their enclosures simultaneously and let them have at it. Do you have a room in your home that you can use for bonding? (When the time comes?)
- 12/22/2017 at 8:59 AM
  Lyinness
  Participant
  5 posts
  The shelter I got her at did prebonding sessions with both of them already on neutral territory and he already started acting out there. I don’t just let them run out, but I did as the shelter suggested and let them out of the enclosures and spend time with them and pet them side by side.
- 12/22/2017 at 6:08 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Im sorry but the shelter gave you bad advice. You need to let her settle in, you need to do atleast a months of prebonding before putting them together (prebonding is swapping items; not letting them meet), and when you do get to bonding sessions, you need to do it in a neutral space. Youll only teach him to attack and teach her to be afraid the way you are doing it now. A rabbit who is afraid will never bond to the rabbit that scares them.
  
  His excessive hormonal reactions, even when he is alone, are not normal or common for a neutered male. You really should consider a hormone test to make sure his body isnt over producing testosterone. It could harm him in the future if not taken care of now.
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