Over-Grooming?

[Bunnisox]

A few days ago, I’ve noticed that my little dwarf girl (Waffuls) had some fur missing on her face. I took a look at it, and nothing seemed “bad” about it, just a bald spot. Yesterday I noticed it was due to the other rabbit licking/biting/grooming her face obsessively. I’ve tried shooing him away every time I see him doing it now, but it’s so often (literally like every few minutes) that it’s becoming hard to manage. The odd thing is, that she is the dominant one, and it seems like she’s enjoying it? She will run up to him to have him do it to her. I wouldn’t mind so much the bald spot, but this morning I noticed it’s actually making her bleed and scab.

I normally let them run around together, but after seeing that this morning, I’ve separated them; and that makes me feel bad.

I’m not sure what to do at this point. Has anyone else experienced this kind of behavior or this issue?

 

Thank you!

[Mikey]

Youll want to keep them separated until her fur grows back. Try getting her to groom him instead, maybe? It could help limit the time he grooms her to she wont be groomed to the point of bleeding. You can try putting a few drops of apple juice onto his head or a bit of mashed banana to encourage her to groom him instead. We have to do this once in a while because our nethie falls asleep while grooming our mini rex and continues grooming in his sleep, often leaving our mini rex with a few small bald patches around his face. Weve never had him bleed from it, but when they get to the point of over grooming, we redirect by making them share grooming time by adding the apple juice or banana

[SmushyWillow]

My bun had a spot like this by his eye about a week ago, and he did it himself as a part of the beginning of his molting. So I’m sure it’s not hurting Waffuls!! No worries there, as I’m sure she’d voice her pain to your male if it was hurting her. Maybe he noticed that it was a matted spot and was just trying to help as this is a spot that buns can’t really get to easily to pull out themselves. I’d still say to keep them separate, but if it happens again, just keep an eye on it and don’t be too concerned.(:

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