Bonding Bella and Briar = trip to the vet?!

[Deleted User]

I tried to introduce my two buns recently. They have both been altered. Bella is a female and Briar is a male. They got along alright until Briar took to humping Bella and then of course the fur went flying. After a few episodes of this and seperating them each time. I let the session end. I noticed that Briar’s male area was out and assumed it was just excitement and it would go down soon. Five hours later, no change except it was drying out. I rushed him to the vet with viagra commercials on my mind ( if your erection lasts longer than 5 hours seek immediate medical attention!) After some ice water on the area, e-collar, and some neopsporin, it did return to normal but I am afraid to put them back together again. What should I do? Not to mention the fact that he likes to pee and poop anywhere she has been in the house when I let him out to play around the house! She is a free roaming bun and he has a large cage and x-pen. Should they just live seperately forever?

[Monkeybun]

Let them have a break for each other, then try again in a couple weeks.

Briar pees and poops where Bella has been because he is marking his territory against this other bunny. After they bond, this should settle down.

[Elrohwen]

Your post made me laugh! Poor little bun.

I would agree to give them a break and try again in a bit. Have they been neutered for a while? He might still have the hormones raging that make him want to mate.

Also, the marking is normal and will go away when they bond (just more motivation to get them bonded!)

[Deleted User]

She was my first bun, she was fixed in February and Briar was done in March.  

[RabbitPam]

I would wait a few weeks and then follow the suggestions in the Bonding section in the green banner above under INfo and begin a very gradual new bonding attempt in a neutral place, like a bathroom or hallway. Humping is OK as long as it’s not on either one’s face. It is their way of trying to establish who is dominant, but be prepared to not let it go on long – water bottle to spray, and a net strainer if you have to break them up (gloves too.) I agree that the hormones may have been active still, but it’s been a couple of months now.

This may sound odd, but did you own them and have them altered yourself, or did you acquire him as an already neutered bunny? If you didn’t take him, it’s possible that he wasn’t done properly, or the previous owner misinformed you. (People have been known to do that to unload an animal, I’m sorry to say.) It would make more sense if he turned out not to be neutered properly. Just a thought.

[Deleted User]

I had them both altered myself. I got Bella from a family that got her as an Easter bunny for a 1 year old and then decided they did not want her anymore after she scratched the child when she picked her up. I found Briar listed free on petfinder from a lady that bought him from a pet store and then found out she was pregnant and didn’t think she could take care of a baby and a bunny. Both people just wanted to get rid of them and did not care what happened to them or who took them! I fell in love with them both and have had them ever since. I had them both fixed at the local spay and nueter clinic. I am just afraid that he will get “excited” again and have the same problem. Has anyone else ever had this happen to their boy bun? Is it common? I would like them to be friends but am willing to let them live seperately if necessary.

[RabbitPam]

I just want to add a thank you for rescuing them. That was great, and maybe he needs to be checked out by your own vet. Sometimes a testicle won’t have descended and got missed or something. I’m sure you’ll get them bonded. Hang in there!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

THis is gross that I know this, but for penile prolapse in dogs you can put preperation H on it. You can put prep H on sore hocks so it is rabbit safe…so umn…check with the vet but perhaps you could have some on hand in case of …further excitement?

Ditto the others -wait on bonding for a few weeks Keep us posted!

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