Enrichment ideas!

[Airaether]

Hi guys,
Recently I noticed that my Avery (holland lop) has bald spots at her inner ankles. Went to the vet and it’s not an infection/ mites. Vet suspects over grooming due to boredom, as bald spots have good skin, it just has no fur. They wanted me to try engaging her more often, or she may need an ecollar.

Avery’s my only bunny, very loving and active around me. Not spayed, she used to live with other show bunnies until they retired her months ago and I adopted her. I’ve added more enrichment toys now (chew toys from stores, toilet paper roll with hay stuffed) she has a hay rack and timothy ball (also stuffed with hay which she eats from). But she doesn’t touch the toilet paper roll much, or the chew toy (very little or almost no teeth marks). I let her out in my room to hang out when I get back from work, and she hops around exploring (yay!) but I’ll spot her once in a while still licking & tugging at her ankles.

Running out of ideas! Help!

[tobyluv]

Here are links to articles on toys and enrichment that I recently saw posted:

http://myhouserabbit.com/rabbit-behavior/logic-toys-rabbits/

http://www.therabbithouse.com/blog/category/rabbit-toys-enrichment/

It could be that spaying would calm her down and she might not over groom as much. Spaying is very important for health reasons too.

[Airaether]

Hi!

thanks for the advises, I think i might need to look into the logic toy ideas!

I dont think we will spay her, as she is tame, good with bunnies and people, and really adapting well. its just this little behavioural problem of boredom. :p

[Theodorusrex]

You should know that if you decide not to spay her she will have a much, much increased chance of developing uterine cancer than if you went ahead and spayed her.

[Author]

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