crashy bunny

[Roro]

So 2x in the past week lola has freaked out!! normally she likes to zip around the living room. But the other day when I went to check on her during playtime, upon seeing me she ran super fast around running into things and the wall very hard making a thud. Both times she had a clear view of me and the lights were on!! I know shes still adjusting but normally she will let me come up to her and pet her without problems!! After running into a lot of things very hard she zipped into her hidey box and gave a loud foot stomp every minute for about 5minutes. Once she stopped I gave her a treat a took her out to make sure she didnt break anything! I let her out and her hop seemed fine and she was totally calm. Then today she did it again!! Her normally crazy zipping around doesn’t worry me, it’s when she looses control and starts slamming into walls that’s worrying me that she might break her leg!

 

Now I’ve had rabbits before but I’ve never seen behaviour like this before!! Any suggestions?  I try to make a clicking noice when I’m doing something pleasant with her like petting or treat so when I approach her during playtime making clicking sounds she knows its a good thing. I don’t know what else I can do.

[Jonathan]

Does she look like she is losing her balance, Diesel started crashing into things and falling over

[RabbitPam]

What’s the traction like on your floor? Is it carpeted? Are her nails trimmed? Sometimes long nails can catch or slide on smooth surfaces. Maybe cut carpet remnants in the areas next to the walls will help. Or put a large towel against the wall that she tends to hit. She will get a softer landing and maybe dig/bunch it as a play toy.
I hope it isn’t her health or eyesight.

[Beka27]

hmmm. strange. does it start off as a normal “Bunny 500” racing and then she loses control? has she been to the vet for check-up yet?

[Roro]

The hallway from my frontdoor to the living room isn’t carpeted but she slams into walls in the living room just as much as in the hallway. The thing about her nails is when I got her they were TERRIBLY long, of course I clipped them immediately, but when they go so long without clipping the quick grows longer as well. So her nails are longer than I’d like but they are trimmed properly.

She doesn’t start with the bunny 500. She’s usually hanging out and then goes balistic.  She doesn’t seem to be lossing balance, it’s more she’s running so fast she’s loosing her grip on the carpet (maybe thats the same thing?)

 

The weird thing about her is that if I left it up to her there would be no playtime!! I could leave her cage open for days and she would hide in her box the whole time and only come out to eat and drink. I feel bad prying her out of her safe place, but she’s just going to eat and sleep and keep getting fatter!! Once I get her out she protests  some but then starts binkying and exploring.  Maybe she see’s me as threatening since I’m disrupting her in her safe place?? I wouldn’t if she would just come out and get some exercise! 

She is completely the opposite with my fiance, if he’s napping she’ll jump up on the bed/couch and cuddle with him, and in the mornings she’ll follow him around when he’s getting ready. But with me she’s goes nuts and runs into things -_- 

[jerseygirl]

Perhaps she suspect you are coming to put her back in the cage runs to hide. Mine sometimes gets startles easily and scampers off ungracefully. Perhaps a click or whistle to pre warn her you’re coming would help.

[Roro]

I never put her away, she LOVES hiding in her cage so eventually she goes back on her own. She seems more annoyed being made to come out then going back in.

[Beka27]

she’s a new bunny for you right? has she been to a vet for a check-up yet? i wonder if she might be having some kind of vision problems where she is getting startled more easily. if your fiance is stationary on the couch that might be less threatening than if you are walking into a room and she’s not sure what she is seeing. what do you know about her previous life? oftentimes with bunnies who’ve had bad experiences in the past you need to go slowly with trust training.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Rupert does this too (even though we’ve had him since February) he’s just a very jumpy bunny. If you startle him (even walking down the hallway) he jumps up and runs and isn’t too coordinated about it. We’re getting into the habit of just saying ‘rupert…rupert’ while we’re walking around and it’s helping alot! He just seems like he startles very easily! That could be what’s going on with your bun.

[Cassi&Charlie]

Charlie will do this if I come out of the bedroom holding something or when I get back from the outside world. I don’t know what it is either but I read somewhere that bunnies don’t have great eye sigh and can easily be startled.
I do what K&K does, I say ‘Charlie’ gently so he knows its me (sometimes even this doesn’t work) – but his eyesight is fine, just seems to be a bunny thing.

[BinkyBunny]

I was thinking along the same lines as Beka but thinking it could be a hearing, and since rabbit vision isn’t that great to begin with, maybe her not hearing you come and then seeing you startles her.

Also, my bunnies recognize your scent and shape, and so sometimes if I am carrying something or if I wear my husbands big old sweatshirt, I can startle them. If I try a “new” soap or lotion, this can also have the same affect. I can usually settle them down with my voice, but no always.

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