A very angry unhappy bun

[Ouisie]

Hi everyone, I’m new to this forum, and really really need some advice. Below is the whole story, which I think may be important to my problem. Sorry it’s so long.

We adopted a lovely little white bun called Zelda in February. He was perfect, so friendly and clearly loved us very very much. He would lie next to us and wash us and binky constantly and do laps round the living room. We decided to get him a companion by the name of Link. Link is a little brown bun and was only a baby when we got him. They got along so very well and loved each other very much. Zelda developed a terrible abscess in June, and despite early and rigorous treatment, died in early July. We were heartbroken, as was Link. Shortly before Zelda passed away we got married, and Zelda was hospitalised so he would get round the clock care, and Link went to a fantastic little small animal boarders. When we got Link back, he was a different bun, he had clearly completed adolescence in the short time we were apart from him, and he really didn’t seem to like us anymore. Again, we were heartbroken, but we took him home and gave him as much love and attention as that little bun could take! We also got him neutered which helped a lot. Bad luck struck again at the end of July when my new (28yearold) husband had a mini stroke. We were starting to think we were cursed. During his time in hospital, I brought Link into our bedroom and really bonded with him. He became the lovely rabbit he once was. We decided it was time to get him another companion though as it wasn’t fair for him to be the only bun.

We adopted Navi shortly afterwards. She is a gorgeous elegant bun who looks a bit like a hare! Very nervous soul, but has a beautiful temperament. And absolutely adored Link from the get go. It took a lot of effort, but they were bonded, and quickly became inseparable.

Bad luck struck AGAIN 2 weeks ago, we found a lump on Navi’s neck and took her straight to the vet. He kept her in overnight and operated the next day. We took her home that night but were told to separate them as Link might pull at her stitches, and also to keep an eye on her eating and poops. She recovered beautifully and without any problems. The lump was a very rare reaction to the vaccinations she had received a month earlier, it wasn’t a problem, thank goodness. Navi had her stitches out on Thursday there, and all is getting back to normal.

However, now coming to the part where I need advice. Since they have been separated, Link has become a horrible little bun. Although we kept them apart and in separate cages, we allowed them supervised playtime so that they wouldn’t grow apart. But Link has been constantly grunting, and biting poor Navi. He goes for her nose and pulls out big tufts of her fur. And he detests us. And generally just seems to be a very angry little ball of fur. 
Link and Navi are semi free range. We have a dedicated bun room full of all their toys, but I worry about them jumping on top of their cages and getting stuck (this almost happened before) so while we are out, they are in their cages. When we are home, they are out. So they get hours and hours of playtime/exercise time. They are fed a great varied diet with plenty of hay, a variety of leafy greens, and some pellets. We spend plenty of time with them. So I find it hard to think that Link is unhappy with his environment, that bun has a great little life!

We have tried taking them into neutral territory but Link still tries to bite her and grunts like a little piggy constantly. What’s really sad is Navi just lets him then the next minute comes back and tries to groom him and cuddle him. 

Really don’t know what to do. They neutral territory thing doesn’t seem to be working, and I’m scared that he bites her really hard. Does anyone have experience of this? Why is my bunny so angry all the time? It’s so heartbreaking.

[Irina]

Hello and welcome Ouisie! I am so sorry for all the heartache you have gone through! What a nightmare! I hope you and your husband get some much deserved peace!

There are many more people on this forum with a lot more experience than I have, but i think you have a pair if buns who’s bond suffered while they were apart. I have read that this is not uncommon. In these situations, I think you have to start the bonding process all over again- housing separately, swapping blankets/litter/cages in the pre-bonding stage, and then starting anew in neutral territory. If you have done all that and there is still
Aggression, stress bonding might be a good thing to try (putting them in a laundry basket on top of the drier/ carrier in a car/NIC cube that can be shaken or carried around etc.). This is supposed to make them turn to each other for comfort. So if you have them in neutral territory, and they fight, you stress them for a bit ? 5-15 mins, then you can put them back in the neutral area and see how it goes. Make sure there is no food/hay/litterbox in the neutral area that they may fight over. Also, wearing long sleeves and gloves is a good idea if you have to break up a scuffle. I have also watched videos where spraying them with water while fighting can break them
Up, or shaking a can full of coins can do the same thing.

Move Diagonally is currently bonding her quintet- there is a thread in the bonding section that you may find helpful.

I also bonded a pair in September, and posted daily updates with feedback a from BB members which may be helpful.

I hope this helps a little. Like I said, there are a lot more members with a lot more experience out there who will probably chime in too!

Good luck!

Keep us posted!

[Irina]

One other thing- is Link happy otherwise? Is he eating/drinking/peeing/pooping? If he is generally acting differently, are you sure he is not sick? Does he still run and Binky and play?
Sorry- I didn’t get a good feel for that from your post.

[Ouisie]

Hi Irina, thanks for your quick reply
I think we will try the stress bonding tonight. And i agree, I think the entire bonding may have to begin again.

Link is a very healthy rabbit. He has a fantastic appetite, pees and poops constantly. He was at the vet during the summer as he was drinking a lot of water and the vet ran some blood tests and all was well. We had him checked over about 3 weeks ago too, and the vet was happy with him.

Think he’s just a moody little bun!

[Jessie1990]

I’ve never tried bonding my rabbits yet, but I know when i first got Moogle, if I would play with him and then go into Ashe’s room, she would “chase” and box me. She would also act like she was going to bite me OVER AND OVER. I had to change clothes to go see her. She’s fine with his smell now, but it sounds similar to what Ashe was doing. She is a very high strung rabbit. A lot of things upset her. Maybe Link is similar.

[Jessie1990]

Also, a lot of ppl give the advice that you should take BOTH rabbits to the vet if they are bonded, because the scent from the vet makes the bunny that went smell like a “new” rabbit.

[Ouisie]

Yeah, I think that it must be the smell. Obviously Navi will have smelt different having had surgery and been in the vets for 2 days. Poor Link seems very confused.
It’s strange but Link seems to dislike my husband a lot more than me. If it’s just me in the room with Link, he will SOMETIMES quite happily comes up to me and play, but if Ben comes into the room, Link will go and sit in his tube in a huff. Very strange!
Rabbits are complicated little creatures aren’t they…
We got Navi a little harness to cover her shaved neck for bonding time. We can’t protect her little nose from the Linky beast though…

[LBJ10]

Yes, I was going to suggest the Navi smelled weird and Link just didn’t know what to make of it. You’re getting good advice here.

[tanlover14]

Link may not recognize the small of Navi anymore – which is very common after a surgery or the other bun has spent time at the vet. Which may be causing his anger and confusion.

You will need to start the bonding process over. Make sure you’re not giving him too much room to chase and try and build positive experiences between the two. Favorite veggies during bonding time (but don’t interact too much with them). Let him get the chance to know her again. He may just be extra stressed after everything that has happened and I’m sure that hasn’t helped the situation. Give him time, love, and the chance to bond with Navi again.

[Author]

Messages