Older neutered rabbit suddenly acting sexual

[marcelleqb]

My rabbit is 9 years old. I had him neutered when he first showed signs of reaching sexual maturity – he was circling my feet and humming – I think he was a few months old. He never really got very active and it quieted down and went away.

About a week ago, he started hanging out by my feet and then he nipped my foot – something he’s never done. He started coming up to me and standing really close to my feet. Not sitting, but standing, as though he was waiting for me to do something. I thought this was some new form of begging to be petted. Normally he just gives me a nudge. The past few days, he circles my feet and then waits for me to reach down and pet him. Then, tonight, I heard this thumping and I looked under my table and he is mounting his stuffed bear.

He’s never done this. He didn’t do it right before he was neutered. He hasn’t done anything like this the entire 9 years I’ve had him. I work from home, he hangs out near my desk, so I see him a lot. I have no other rabbits (he’s my first) and I’m a little bit puzzled about his behavior.

[Bam]

The adrenal glands produce a little bit of testosterone. Sometimes something happens that increases this production. In the spring, this can be perfectly normal and due to increase in the amount of daylight, because that affects the pineal gland (“March hare-syndrome”). This time of year it can’t really be blamed on big changes amount of daylight.

If this is a passing thing, ie if it resolves itself within a couple of weeks, it might still be a normal fluctuation. But seeing that he is old, there is a risk of something being up with his adrenal glands. Here is an article about that: http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-10/sexhormones.html

Veterinary investigation into adrenal problems in rabbits can be difficult to obtain, it depends on the availability of really rabbit savvy vets.

[marcelleqb]

I did set up an appointment with the vet today. I don’t know how savvy she is with rabbits. She does treat rabbits, but not sure if she’s a super expert. I’ll reference the article and ask questions.

Thank you for the info.

[Author]

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