Confused by Wilbert’s behaviour???

[FunnyBunny Mama]

Hello Bunny Lovers,

I’ve had my Wilbert for 7 years, he was neutered as soon as he was ready, probably between 6-8 months old.  He has always been free roaming and always used his litter box without any accidents…until we moved 3 years ago…he started to pee outside his box/cage. At first I figured behavioural as he wasn’t happy about moving…this is also when I noticed his eyesight deteriorating.

A month ago I had to take him to a new Vet on emergency  as he quit drinking water altogether, and wasn’t himself at all.  The new Vet was very knowledgeable and after half a day at the clinic and some X-rays later, we could see his bladder was extended and thick with sludge.

She sent tests away for urinary tract infections, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi (I’d never even heard of this before) as it turns out Wilbert has tested positive for E. Cuniculi.  We left the clinic with several medications, subcutaneous fluids, and syringe feedings.  My took care of Wilbert’s medications for me, I’m such a wimp with that stuff 🙂. Wilbert always loved him as he spoiled him with treats and love.

Where I’m confused is with Wilbert’s behaviour towards my partner…I can’t tell if he’s just expressing his dislike for force feeding and medications? Or is he’s claiming him? Or is he dominating him?  (He hasn’t shown dominance behaviour since before he was neutered)

Wilbert Nips my partner all the time. When he’s giving him meds, but also when there snuggling he’ll just randomly nip him, not hard he also digs on him.  The strange thing is I recognize this behaviour as Wilbert indicating he’s finished with cuddles and wants to leave…but when he does this with my partner he does leave he stays and digs around on his blanket??? Then last night he actually peed on him 😳…this was no accident…it was intentional. He dug around the blanket then backed his little fuzzy bum into his shoulder and that’s when I saw his tail go up and it was too late…now he wasn’t angry or distressed he just peed on him and acted as though nothing happened…he didn’t even try to leave or run away…I’m very confused 🤔 anyone have any thoughts I’d be so happy to hear it…

[Bam]

Id say Wilbert likes your partner. Rabbits often communicate by nipping. Nipping can mean “stop petting me”, or “get out of my way”  but it often means “Hey! I dont remember telling you it was ok to stop petting me”. Digging on a person often also means some kind of effort at affectionate interaction. And when a bun pees on a person, its a compliment, unless the rabbit is actually panic-stricken. Peeing on a potential partner is a quite normal part of rabbit courtship, and neutered rabbits can display those types of behaviors too, although thankfully not as obsessively as intact rabbits tend to do.

It might also be that Wilbert relaxes deeply when he’s cuddling with your partner. I had a bun who sometimes peep in my mum’s lap. He loved her and jumped up on her lap for cuddles and could lie there for the longest time and be pet and relax completely.

With my buns I have found that when I’ve had to give them meds, it has made them seem to like me more after, not less. This is not always the case, some rabbits do develop a fear of the person that gives them meds, but it seems its rather more common that giving meds to a bun creates some sort of attachment. I dont know why, maybe the bun connects the person that gave them meds with feeling better – although that doesn’t make complete sense since there’s a delay of more than several minutes, often a lot longer, between getting meds and feeling better.

You seem to have a great vet! The bladder issue could very well have to do with EC since it can affect the kidneys.

 

[FunnyBunny Mama]

Thanks so much! You confirmed what I was thinking…now I’ve just got to make sure it doesn’t become a habit 🙂

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