Doe attacking us viciously

[Chiazoo]

Hi all,

I hope you remember me

I wrote a few moths ago as I was trying to introduce my baby doe to my three adult bunnies (2 boys and 1 girl – all neutered). 

Turned out we decided to wait before working any more on having the baby accepted by the others as one of the boy was attacking her and chasing her, so we thought we could keep her free roaming in the house until she was old enough to be spayed (then we would introduce her to them again).

We got her when she was 2 months old and for the following 3 months she lived with us inside, she was adorable, at times chewing and digging things but this did not bother us, she was so affectionate and we could pet her for ages while sitting with her on the floor. 

The over a week ago I took her to the vet for spaying. For the following 4 days I kept her in a playpen because I wanted to limit the amount of jumping around while she was healing. The thing is: from the following day after spaying she started being very aggressive, biting, growling and launching to scratch with her front paws. She only does this in the playpen, so obviously territorial behaviour. She does it with me only, I am the main carer, while she is more sweet to my fiance’.

I don’t understand why…She was sweet BEFORE the spaying. Isn’t spaying meant to REDUCE aggression? In our case it seems to have triggered it..

The way I deal with it is by tapping her head lightly and pushing her head down, after which she lays down and let me pet her.Am I down wrong?

Today I checked her wound and until a few days ago it looked nice and flat but today is all swollen and sore. I have booked an appointment with the vet for tonight as I worry I may have let her out of the playpen too soon and she may have got an inflammation for jumping around, it’s all my fault! I feel so sorry. I could no longer see her trying to escape the pen to return to freedom…

I am sure the vet will give me medicines for her which already worries me as she is a bit of a nightmare to give medicines to…I worry this will make her dislike me even more…

I am sad. Any help or information or suggestions on the above things I mentioned will help

[tobyluv]

It’s apparently more common with male rabbits, but it seems that some rabbits go into a post neuter/spay craze, due to fluctuating hormone levels. It’s only been a little over a week since your rabbit was spayed,  so hopefully she will calm down again after a couple of more weeks have passed.

Rabbits will sometimes get mad or hold a grudge when they are having to be restrained and having to take medicine, but they seem to get over those grudges pretty quickly. Do you know how to wrap her burrito style in a towel or blanket when giving medicines? There are videos on You Tube showing how to do so.

[Chiazoo]

Hi Tobyluv, thanks for your reply. I know how to burrito wrap but never tried, great idea! I will try.

As for the disciplining, what do you think: is tapping her head and pushing it down a good way to go across? I would not want her to think she is being in charge because I back off, but altogether I would not want to upset her even more.

Thanks 

[Azerane]

I agree, there is often a surge of hormones after spay or neuter surgeries which can seem to result in more hormone crazed behaviours for a little bit of time after the surgery. In terms of the discipline, it is one of the accepted ways to correct a rabbit, I probably wouldn’t be too forceful with it right now though given she’s not really herself, but that’s just me.

[Author]

Messages