Mini lop rabbit (5 months and 3 weeks old) suddenly thumping back legs

[Rabbitslover]

So we are waiting for baby Peppy (male) to mature and his testicles to descend. Last night I picked him up to check his private parts. He hates being picked up but he will usually just flick his legs at me while hopping away and flop somewhere. Last night Peppy did the same after I picked him up but after two minutes started to thump his back legs every 10 seconds for about 5 minutes. I thought he was hurt but he was fine. Later on I picked him up again to show my partner that his testicles are starting to form, and put him down again, he thumped again. Usually hold him with one hand beneath his front legs and one on his bum. I was thinking if the way I hold his rear might be too tight since his balls are coming out, I might have hurt him? I tried the third time but with a looser grip on hi rear, and he was still. I have never read anywhere that we have to hold a rabbit with a looser grip when it matures? I have always hold him like that and he never thumped. What are your opinions on this?

[Dee]

Bunnies often thump to express anger and disapproval. My lop often thumped after I picked her up. Matter of fact, she thumped at me quite a lot- she didn’t have much patience with me lol! If I even spoke too loudly for her preference, she would start thumping away ?.

As long as your bunny is eating, pooping and hopping normally, he is probably fine. However, if he is not acting right in other ways, a trip to the vet would be in order ☺.

[Deleted User]

Most rabbits don’t like being picked up. And that’s probably why he is thumping. He’s telling you to stop picking him. You can see if his testicles have descended in other ways. Eventually he might feel like you’re going to constantly pick him up, and it could make him a little less trusting of you.

[Author]

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