Bunny is Horrified

[Jovanna]

We have a 7 year old holland lop who was given to us a few weeks ago. He’s adjusted quite nicely. He is able to come and go from his cage most days. He likes exploring the house and hopping after me. Tonight when I went to put him back in his cage he struggled so hard he flew out of my arms, hit the top of his cage and then ran into a corner. When I went to check on him, I saw his paw was bleeding. He’d snapped a nail. I trimmed it down and stopped the bleeding before rinsing his paw. As soon as he got back to the floor he ran from me and I unfortunately had to chase him to catch him. He screamed when I got him and shed profusely as I gently put him back in. He now has two bald patches! The worst part is, he’s horrified of me now! We had bonded so nicely and I’m afraid it’s ruined. If I come near his cage he immediately hops into his house to hide. What can I do to fix this awful night? Or will he always distrust me from now on?

[Bam]

You scared him, but you didn’t mean to, and sometimes these things happen. When I found my second rabbit Yohio, he screamed sth so awful when I caught him. We still became best friends =)
Stress-shedding is a reaction to being chased and it’s normal. A predator grabs a rabbit and might only get its mouth full of hair while the bun gets away. The hair grows back. He may look a bit mangy now, but bunnies can shed so they get bald spots, that’s typical of the species.

He’s scared now, but you can regain his trust. You do that by offering nice treats, speaking in a soft voice, not forcing him to come out etc. It can take a while but that’s normal, so be patient.

The most important thing now is to see to that he eats and drinks. Sometimes if a bun gets very scared, it stops eating, and that’s very dangerous. So provide him with nice appetizing food (his favorite vegs f ex) and keep an eye. Clean out his litter-box so you can monitor his pooping and peeing.

[Jovanna]

I’ve checked his cage. He has peed and pooped. Not only in his litter box, but also in his house. He’s never soiled in his house before. Is that bad?

I gave him fresh dandelion leaves and some pellets. He ate. Unfortunately, if I come near, he immediately hides in his house : (

Should I give him a “cooling off” period. Perhaps only disturb him to clean the litter box and replenish food and water for a few days?

[Vienna Blue in France]

Oops – I see an identical post….
I’ve answered in the other one..

[Bam]

I think a cooling off period would be good. That he’s gone potty in his house most likely is because he’s been scared. It’s not like really bad. Really bad would be no poop. As long as a bunny ears and poops, the bunny is more or less ok. Dandelion is great and buns do realize who is the provider of all things yummy, just let his stress levels come down. Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are not broken down immediately in humans either, it takes a little while.
Since there are two more or less identical threads, I’m locking this one, please continue the discussion in the other one!

[Author]

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