Does my rabbit have separation anxiety?

[aelish]

Hello!

My rabbit is one and a half years old, free roam, vaccinated, neutered and has had a history of aggression. He cannot be with other rabbits, we have tried and failed to introduce him to a buddy but he is not willing to give it a try. The vet said to let it go.

However he isn’t aggressive towards people. He’s very loving and requires a lot of attention. But in the past year or so, when I leave him with someone for the few days I am gone, he starts attacking them after his first night spent alone. During the first day he is fine, but if he spends the night alone he starts charging at people and he “growls” doing so. He has bit my mother until she bled.

He always knows the caregivers (usually my parents but if it’s someone else i always make sure they meet and he likes them), i never leave for very long and the behaviour stops as soon as i am back. He has never charged at me and he never charges at someone if he knows or believes i am present. By that I mean he starts once I have left for a full night and stops as soon as I am back.

Please help me deal with this behaviour, I fear when I leave him for a few days (it’s very rare) because I know he gets sad and angry but no one wants to spend time with him and occupy him while i’m gone because he attacks everyone. Thank you

[DanaNM]

Hmmmmm, does this happen at your own home, or does he go over to spend the night with the pet sitter?

Rabbits are very scent oriented. I’m wondering if the care-giver might smell like a dog, or they may just smell very different. It sounds fear based to me, since it happens when he is alone. Also, is your home very quiet when you are gone? Maybe the abrupt change of being alone and then someone coming over is startling to him?

You mention he is free-roam? Does he have an area that is “his”, such as a pen or crate that is kind of his home turf? How do the pet sitters interact with him when they arrive? Do they try to clean his litter box etc. while he’s near it? Do they give him treats etc?

Sorry for all the questions! Just trying to wrap my head around what the triggers and solutions might be!

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[aelish]

Hi thanks for your answer!

It happens both at my house or at my parents. We do not own any other animals. I usually spend at least a few days with him at my parents house in the hopes to get him to be as little stressed as possible. It only started when I moved out of my parent’s house with him.

I usually leave him with my parents and the house isn’t very quiet and his room is near a corridor so there is passage.

I usually only bring a towel and his litter box, maybe some toys if I didn’t leave any last time. Now that you mention it whenever I leave him my blankie he does hang onto it until I come back so I might try to get him his own that would smell more familiar. He doesn’t really enjoy pens or crates, he likes blanket forts for some reason.

They usually don’t clean his litter box as I don’t leave long enough for there to be a need and I like it to feel like his own space. My mother gives him loads of treats but she has to wear gloves now as he tends to attack. She has tried to sleep in the same room, to sit with him during the day, to talk to him, but he always ends up charging at her.

Thank you! 🙂

 

[DanaNM]

You might try setting up a pen or a crate at home, that you always leave open, but that has his water bowl, blanket, litter box, etc. Anything that he considers his “home stuff”. Then when you leave or take him somewhere, enclose him in the pen. I’m thinking that if he feels less like “HIS” turf is being invaded (or has his own safe space), he might be less aggressive. I also think the blankets that smell like you/home are a good idea.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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