My Rabbit and his pet Lion…

[Lightchick]

I’m a weirdo, I know, but I’m jeolous of my Robbie’s stuffed lion.  Regulars to BB know, he just got neutered 5 days ago.  And I’m a freak, and I’m over-reacting…just tell me I’m not the only one!

Before the neuter, everytime I walked in the room, he would be front-paws-up on the pen, trying to see what I was going to do–let him out, give him treats, pet him.  Now I walk in the room, and he glances at me distrustfully and licks his stuffed lion.  In fact, I think he licks his stuffed lion whenever he feels vaguely annoyed or uneasy.  He never even NOTICED the stuffed lion until after the neuter. 

My bunny likes his lion more than me.  And I’m jeolous.  And a dummy. 

Also, he doesn’t wolf his food down anymore.  And he seems distrustful of being outside of his pen.  He used to LIVE to be outside…now I have to bribe him with food, and once the “good” food is gone, he goes back in and comforts his lion that there’s nothing left but endive.  (He didn’t used to mind endive!)

I should mention, that it’s not just that he’s still in pain and zonked on meds.  He bounces around inside his pen as though he wants out, but then won’t come through his pen’s door.  And once he’s in the hallway, there’s only one doorway that doesn’t have a door, and I put a box in front of it, and his one mission in life seems to be to get through that doorway.  Except that if I’m nearby he won’t come out of his pen at all.  I don’t want to hurt him so close to his neuter, so I haven’t brought him into the living room, and am just giving him the opportunity to come into the hallway adjacent to his pen.  But it seems like this is only something he is interested in if I’m not around!

I know he just got neutered, and his hormones are crazy, but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and if it’s normal, and if he’ll get OVER IT!

(Lizzy, meanwhile, my diva princess, has gone from sulking in her hutch, pissed as heck that I’m paying attention to someone other than her when I visit Robbie, to hanging out in the doorway.  Meatloafed patiently.  “You’ll come back to me.  You always do.”, she seems to say.)

Buns.  I need a translator.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I have to say first, again, how great it is that you rescued and neutered Robbie! He should be licking you not the lion, lol!!!

Second, I think you should try to stop worrying. It’s perfectly normal for a bunny to act a bit strange socially after a neuter or spay. Their hormones are trying to figure out what the heck is going on! Plus, he’s just giving you the perfectly normal “stink eye” period. When I brought Bindi home from his neuter I felt so bad because he was totally not his sweet, cuddly, social self. He seemed upset with me! And he probably was!!! He eventually got back to normal and was as sweet as pie again not too long after. I would just try to treat Robbie the same way you did before he got fixed, stick to his routine, and he’ll come around.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Ditto ^^ all of that! Try taking the lion out of the cage to encourage him out!

[Beka27]

oh Robbie. you’re making your momma sad. i would also try to stop worrying. he will come around. be aware that when they’re bonded you might notice a lack of interest in you from both of them, which is perfectly normal. that doesn’t mean they won’t still love you tho.

[Sarita]

I think the pain meds and being zonked out have alot to do with it besides the hormonal mayhem.

How long are you keeping him on pain meds? It seems odd that he is still in pain from the neuter too.

[Lightchick]

That would be very sad if they didn’t like me anymore… Fingers crossed that they do.

The vet told me to keep him on the meds for 5-7 days. He stopped seeming in pain after the first 2, but was anxious about my picking him up, which I had to do to get him playtime. I stopped with the meds after I saw your post, Sarita, so he only had them for…4 days? 5? He seems to have recovered fine.

Also, what with my being crazy-busy last week, he got less out-time than he’s used to. So now he LOVES me again, because he’s so desperate to run around! Crazy bunnies. I swear, mine don’t punish me when I’m “mean” to them…they get NICER, like they’re trying to convince me to never do that again! Lizzy won’t leave my side, for example, after I bring her home from the vet. “I’ll be best bunny EVER if you NEVER take me there again!”

[JamieM]

That’s cute. I really like Robbie and what you did for him. So cute!

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