Over grooming “off” areas

[mia]

I believe my new young bun is over grooming my older two buns. Not sure what to do…

On one of my buns, I found an open wound roughly 1/4-1/2 a quarter in size. At first I thought it might be from a fight. I treated it and it’s healed. I see now on the edge of the healed section, there is more, albiet much smaller, section of open wound. Around this area, this bun has scabs/scars/or something rough-ish; this is not new and he’s always had them.

On the oldest bun, his microchip disappeared soon after it was implanted. When I consulted the vet regarding the open wound of the other bun, she ask if it was the microchip area (based on the description of where they are implanted, I don’t think it is).

So, I’m thinking this is probably what’s going on – youngest bun is over grooming areas that is “off”. She’s actually helping them a great deal in other respects (e.g. one is very sneezy but you wouldn’t know it from his fur) but it’s too much.

 

[Wick & Fable]

First, what do you mean by one of your rabbits has scabs/scars that he’s “always had them”? If there is an underlying condition, for example syphilis causing ongoing scabs/wounds, it is important to get that checked and yes, bonded rabbits can react to illness in the other rabbit.

Do you notice the rabbit is overgrooming the others, or is it just your suspicion at this point? Sometimes it can be the rabbit themselves overgrooming a healed wound/scar simply because it bothers them and they don’t know it’s not good to overly irritate/clean that area with their gross saliva. Pictures would be helpful.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[mia]

Yes, the one who had the open wound has always had bumps of some sort. He had/has a history of fights (surrendered multiple times) so I just assume it was battle scars. We see vets quite often.

I have seen the young bun groom the open wound area quite often and lengthy periods, both when I first found the wound, and still now after the main wound itself has healed. I’ve tried to shoo her away when I see it but of course that doesn’t really help long term.

[mia]

Now there’s another spot above his eye. Youngest bun going at it quite a bit, plus the old spot.

[DanaNM]

Is there anything stressful going on in your home? This over grooming is also known as “barbering” and I’ve seen it happen in bonded pairs when they are under a lot of stress. If she is grooming areas that are actually wounds then something should be done to prevent it. I know of another bunny that was overgrooming himself who ended up needing some calming medication. He also wore a little shirt that helped a bit (he was overgrooming his chest area). Ultimately he finally stopped when he was bonded and adopted (he was a shelter bun).

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[mia]

Thank you for the term “barbering”! I looked it up and yes, I think that may be what’s going on with all the possibilities open.

We will finally be going to the vet soon (appts are far out) and will check to see if the one being barbered has any other issues that may be related but I think the one doing the barbering, at a minimum, needs more play as she’s young. I had to stop free roam for a little bit, which has never bothered the older two boys but they are much older, but I think that was not good for the young bun as she has so much energy. Every time the young bun is out, she does the highest binkys I’ve ever seen, jumps all over furniture, and makes so much thuds from running into things in her runs; energy may be misdirected. What’s curious though, is that it’s only happening to one bun, not both older boys

[DanaNM]

Ooh that’s interesting insight! Maybe adding some more enrichment for her would help? If you search the forum for “boredom buster” toys there are lots of ideas for DIY toys that might help her direct some of that energy to something safer.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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