depressed bunny??

[Jules]

I am a new bunny owner! I have 2 bunnies  (8wks old) which I have only had for 5 days. One is very lively and jumps about and eats constantly but im concerned about the other. He just sits and hardly moves! He doesnt run away when my 2 kids pick him up like the other does, he looks depressed!! Is this normal?? Is it  just a difference in personality??? Please help as I feel sorry for the little chap!!

[RabbitPam]

Hi,
I would suggest making an appointment with a bunny vet to have them both examined. Do you have a vet? Let us know if you need help finding one.
Neither may be sick at all, so I don’t mean to worry you, but if there is a problem with the quiet one it should be discovered soon before it becomes anything serious.
The reason to bring in both is to establish them with a vet, getting a baseline exam with the vet so that if/when something is wrong down the road they will know what is “normal” for each one. You can get teeth checked and nails trimmed too.

If the quiet little one has something, it might be contageous to the other one so bringing in your bouncy bunny wouldn’t hurt.

[Beka27]

Yes, it’s a good idea to take them into the vet for an intital exam. There may be nothing wrong with either, but it’s important to do that for peace of mind. ALSO, the vet will double check the sex of each, sex mix-ups happen all the time. This is vital information so you can prepare to separate them if needed.

The quiet one may just be… quiet. He’s in a new environment. There are new sounds, sights, smells, etc.

He may be frightened of the kids and his instinct tells him to freeze. Are your kids handling them a lot? Generally bunnies don’t like to be held b/c it makes them feel very insecure. Can you encourage them to not pick up, but rather sit quietly on the floor and have bunnies come up to them?

[Jules]

Thank you for your advise on my quiet bunny!  I did take it to my local vet to get their vaccinations yesterday and they looked in their eyes and ears and listened to their heart and all seemed ok? I will try and see if the kids can resist picking them up to see if that helps.  When the kids are at school I watch them out of our window and the quiet bunny doesnt move much all day and dont see him eating either, he seems to be the total opposite to its brother! Hopefully in time he will be a happy bunny!!

[Elrohwen]

My bunny was very quiet for the first few days he was at home. He didn’t seem afraid of us, but he didn’t seem very outgoing either. Even now he’s still pretty quiet, and doesn’t spend as much time running around as I would’ve expected. I think it could easily just be a personality difference; he might just take a bit longer ot get used to new situations and come out of his shell. I’ve found that hand feeding pellets to my guy has helped get him excited about me coming over to visit him instead of just ignoring me. Now after 2 1/2 weeks he’s really started to come out of his shell and it’s great to see  Give your little guy some more time and see how it goes. Maybe when his brother is going through the terrible teens, the quiet one will be polite and quiet still

[KatnipCrzy]

Did you mention to the vet that this rabbit seemed quieter than the other and that you rarely see it eat or move?  Did this start before or after the vaccines?  Are they kept outside?  (you mentioned you watch them out the window).

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Hmmmm he very well could be depressed. How does the other bunny get on with him? I wonder if he’s missing mom. Try enticing him with something nice to eat like a small peice of banana or apple. (Don’t go overboard though-you dont’ want tummy troubles). If he’s not eating that’s a big deal though and he should go back to the vet.

(Katnip-she mentioned vaccines, so likely a UK member? They usually keep their bunnies outdoors in the garden)

[Jules]

Hi there,

I did mention to the vet that he was quiet and she said it was perhaps just a difference in personality although you just have to see him  he doesnt look happy He has been like this since I would say they second day with us, as they both just ate and ate on their first day. They got their mixi jabs on the 4th day (as they do live outside in a hutch in the garden)

This morning I noticed a spot of blood on the out side of his ear im now wondering if they are fighting? When they are out in their run they just pretty much ignore eachother, but perhaps they are fighting over food in the evening? I dont want to split them up but maybe some extra food bowls? I dont want to over feed especially if the other may eat both!! When I offer food to the quiet one he doesnt take it.

I feel myself looking out of the window all day checking on him!!

Jules (Scotland)

[PEPPA GEORGIE]

Oh dear, i dont want to make it any worse but does he lie down at all as my bunny bumble had an abcess that had spread internally and the external bit was clean and fine but she was depressed and just sat there and i knew something was wrong but vet said she prob fine and then eventually i kept feeling around untill i found where it had spread under her tummy. She had to be put to sleep as it had gone so bad. I dont want to panic you as i am sure it is not the same thing for you, but maybe have a good feel about for any unusual lumps as if found early they can be treated well. Hope this hasnt made you feel any worse but dont want you to look back and think you wish you had done this or that etc. Did they look at the teeth, i supose they must have done but just wondering. xx Good luck

[Jules]

Hi,

Thank you all for all your replies to my worries about my depressed bunny, unfortunatley it passed away last night.   We were very concerned about him as we didnt think he was eating. I separated them last night to tell if he was and also made an appointment with the vet for this morning. unfortunatly he didnt make it though the night. Although we only had him for 6 days we all got very attatched so we are all very sad today. We now have the problem of whether or not to get another to keep his brother company, will he be happy on his own? will he fight with another rabbit? I just dont know what will be the best for him. It feels too soon to replace him but if we are going to get another it is probably better we do it sooner rather than later while he is still young?

Thank you again for all the replies, I’m glad I found this website for all the support I have received.x

[Sarita]

Oh, I’m so sorry. That is so sad. It’s too bad the vet did not discover anything that could have helped you save the poor little thing.

[wendyzski]

I’m so sorry! 

Your other bunny will let you know if he wants another friend.  UNtil then, I hope you can comfort each other.

[PEPPA GEORGIE]

Oh bless you poor thing how sad. So sorry feel a bit like a profted bad news on you. If it was me i would prob look for a friend for him to help him and you heal, but that is just me. I find the distraction helps. However everyone has different experiences with these things and you would have to go through the bonding process. I did read that rabbits can be prone to getting depressed and missing their rabbit friends. Good luck either way i know it is really hard xx

[LilynJestersMama]

So sorry to read about your bunny.

I think the distraction of a new bunny might be good for you and your other bunny, but it will take some time and effort to successfully bond the two most likely. Not sure if you are feeling up to that right now.

Hugs to you all!

[RabbitPam]

I’m so sorry about your little guy.
I actually feel that his brother will be fine alone for a while. He will be mourning, so I would suggest that you spend more time with him. Is he only an outdoor bunny? It can be very comforting and happy for a bunny to live indoors with you. They get more attention and feel safe. You may find that your bunny just needs some time to get used to you, your home, and all these changes. If he bit his brother, he may not be all that interested in another bunny, meaning another change and adjustment, in his life right now. If he starts to seem depressed or lonely, you can give him a little stuffed toy to snuggle. Make sure he doesn’t chew it though.

You might want to watch his food and poops to be sure he is eating well and didn’t get an illness from his brother that went undetected.
{{{{Hugs to you and your bunny.}}}}}}}}

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