Holding new rabbit/getting spayed

[hjp333]

this is my first time posting here I hope I’m doing this right 

I have a 5 month old mini lop, I have owned her for almost 4 months now and she is much better with getting pets and comes over to me, she wont sit on my lap and she still won’t let me pick her, everywhere I have read has said to just be patient and she’ll get better. Every time I try she runs away and I’ve read so much about doing it wrong where you can hurt her that it makes me anxious. 

I know around 6 months i’m supposed to take her to get spayed but how am I supposed to check on her stitches and such if she wont even let me hold her? should I just practice holding her more even if it’s against her will because I want to feel more comfortable with the process before she has stitches in her

[Mikey]

Not all rabbits like to be picked up or given too much attention. My Bombur only likes attention on his time, and will box you if you pick him up when he doesnt want to be picked up. Some rabbits just dont like it, but there are ways around it. To take him to the vets, we put treats or greens into the crate and he will go in there himself, and we close the crate with him inside. Getting him out of the crate is the same, but with treats outside of the crate. Basically, anywhere we need him to go, we bribe him with treats

To check her spay wound, you might be able to catch glimpses of it while shes laying down. You can also try to get her to stand on her hind legs by holding a treat above her head, but be careful she doesnt try to jump to get it, or stretch too far and hurt herself

[Dface]

As a rule if an animal has stitches, you don’t wanna pick it up at all. You risk applying pressure and rupturing it or just causing immense pain(i dont think I’d appreciate being lifted up after abdominal surgery)

Rabbits dont like to be picked up. They like their paws to be firmly on the ground so they know they can make a quick get away if danger appears…it’s just instinct!

My male rabbit is handled almost constantly for medication and he rarely fights me over it, but he still hates it. I know that it damages our trust, and that he’d probably be a nicer bunny if we didnt have to do it, so I’d really advise not to press the issue of lifting up.

Like mikey has said, checking stitches is actually pretty easy-and it’s very easy to see when something has gone wrong!

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Mikey on 11/30/2016 5:58 PM

Not all rabbits like to be picked up or given too much attention. My Bombur only likes attention on his time, and will box you if you pick him up when he doesnt want to be picked up. Some rabbits just dont like it, but there are ways around it. To take him to the vets, we put treats or greens into the crate and he will go in there himself, and we close the crate with him inside. Getting him out of the crate is the same, but with treats outside of the crate. Basically, anywhere we need him to go, we bribe him with treats

To check her spay wound, you might be able to catch glimpses of it while shes laying down. You can also try to get her to stand on her hind legs by holding a treat above her head, but be careful she doesnt try to jump to get it, or stretch too far and hurt herself

That’s what we have to do too 

I think if ever there is a time to pick up a rabbit, doing so after surgery is NOT the time. Mikey’s idea of holding a treat up so that she stands on her hind legs is a great idea and it’s what I’ll be trying.

Try not to focus too much on being able to pick her up. I mean, I’m sure we’d all love to be able to pick our bunnies up but they just don’t like it. I wanted to be able to pick up mine but I soon got over that when I realised why they dislike it – It’s because they don’t feel safe. And I’d rather not put them through that. You can always sit on the floor and see if she hops in your lap

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