Bunny seems sad

[Iga]

Hi all,
I have my male rabbit with me for 7 months now. He is a year old. 2 weeks ago he has been neutered and is acting quide shy and sad ever since. Basically he just sits under the bed (he’s a free roam bunny). He comes out very rarely when I sit on the floor but is very active when I’m not around or at night time. I am not sure what to do this is my first rabbit, should I crawl under the bed with him or just leave hime alone? I’m afraid that if I don’t do anything he will just stay like that always hiding with no intention of getting to know me. Before his surgery he was coming to me all te time, I could never touch him but he kept circling my legs and making honking noises so I decided to neuter him. Is that how he’s going to be from now on or can I do anything to bond with him? It is really depressing seeing all those rabbits on other groups that can be pet or come to their owners I would like to bond with mine but it only got worse since his surgery. Please help!

[daisy406]

Its a good thing you got him neutered. Rabbits can develop cancer and tumors by age 2 if they aren’t neutered/spayed. His hormones probably made him quite crazy before. Rabbits usually sleep during more of the day so that could be why he’s under the bed. I suggest you block off under your bed to adjust him to being out more. Create a corner in the room with food and water and maybe a bed. Have you tried buying him a maze? A maze with some treats put in a few areas could get him excited!

[Iga]

He’s got his corner with litterbox, a little house that he never goes into, food and water. I got him long tunnel as well to play in but no interest really. My room is not big enough to block under the bed for him and I’m only tenting a room for now so not much I can do about space. I let him out to run in the corridor when I’m around but since his surgery he’s not really interested in anything. Only early in the morning he hops around and plays for a bit.

[Sirius&Luna]

Hi Iga,

Is he eating and pooping normally? If he’s eating and pooping less then it’s possible he’s in pain. If it’s normal, then maybe you need to just bond with him more

The circling and honking is a mating behaviour, so it’s sensible that you neutered him. If you couldn’t touch him before either, it seems like you need to work on your relationship with him a bit He would follow you before because of the urge to mate, but now that’s gone, he’s doing his own thing.

Also, note that some bunnies have a post neuter hormone surge, where they act out for the first month after the neuter as they deal with the changes.

To bond with your bunny, spend more time sat on the floor with him on his level, and hand feed him treats and food. Don’t try and pet him, just sit with him and let him come to you and realise you’re not scary. Gradually, you can start petting him and find out what he likes.

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