Bad fight, is it worth trying again?

[moon_unit_fawn]

Just got an 8-week old female Holland Lop and we not so wisely tried introducing her to our 1-year old female Lop/Lionhead. The poor baby bun was attacked viciously, thankfully no major injuries but is a little traumatized at this point. Now both buns seem very uncomfortable at even the scent of the other one (eyes wide, tail up, thumping etc.) I would think that once the baby is spayed, this could help the older bun be more accepting but what I’m worried about is the baby growing up and being scarred from this negative experience for life. Is the chance of bonding this pair ruined? Would trying to let them get used to one another by having their cages side-by-side with no chance of contact be a beneficial step or would it be best to just keep them completely isolated from one another until after the spay?

[Mikey]

In your other thread, you mentioned fur being ripped off of the small one. That is a bad fight with injuries. Rabbits have very thin and delicate skin. You will need to watch the bald patch to make sure there is no scabbing or flaking. If there is, the baby needs to see a vet to check over the wounded area

Wait a few months (at the very least of two, given their previous fight) after they are both spayed. It will give time for them both to calm down, be healed up, and for their hormones to disappear. It is possible for the baby to never want to bond with your other bunny. But its also possible for both bunnies to drop the grudge and restart. Try to keep them as far from eachother as possible for these next few months. Hope they forget about one another, or atleast forget about the fight. When you rebond them, start extremely slowly. Im talking, a first “meet” being both bunnies in their own cages in the same room for a few days > “meeting” in the bath tub with a baby gate between then for a few minutes a day > “meeting” the same way for a few hours > meeting for a few minutes without the gate > few hours without the gate > ect

[moon_unit_fawn]

The baby seems to be feeling much better over the past days. Eating lots and binkying around. Her injury looks like it’s doing well, no scabbing or flaking like you’ve mentioned and she’s not sensitive at all around the area. Mija is still very stressed though which is worrisome for us.

[Mikey]

I would still give it time. My oldest and youngest boys had a fur pulling fight the first day we brought the little one home, that led to the youngest having a bald patch for a while. Likes yours, my two boys were very stressed around eachother for a while. We had their cages next to one another, and would often open the tops of the cages and pet both at the same time. We made sure they both knew they were loved and being well taken care of. Blue, the oldest, always had a problem with sharing attention, so i think that was his biggest trigger. Knowing that, i spoiled him with attention, care, and love as often as i possibly could, until it began to annoy him. It wasnt too long after that Blue was willing to bond with the youngest (Badger), and Badger didnt hold a grudge so bonding went very easily afterwards

Now im not saying your situation is exactly the same, but i think waiting a while to try to bond them again will help them both out. And in the meantime, just shower them both with love, treats, and pets to help them destress

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