Question about biting

[Kate79]

I’ve had Chester for a little over a month, and he just recently started to bite a bit. I’m not sure exactly how old he is but my guess is 3 or 4 months. He is mostly litter trained, and uses the box about 80% of the time. Today before work I had him up on the couch with me… he has a pen to run around in but otherwise does not get free roam of the apartment because I have 4 cats and only trust one of them with him.

Anyway, he kept charging at me and nipping my arm. after doing that a few times he peed on the couch. I’m curious which scenario is more likely: 1.) either he was nipping to try to let me know he had to go, and wanted to be put in his box. 2.) he was being a little brat and the nipping and peeing were both bad behavior. 3.) they were unrelated coincidences.

I guess I’m just wondering if I should take that as a sign to put him back in his cage.

He isn’t neutered yet, I’m definitely going to get it done, but since I’m not 100% sure of his age, I’m trying to put it off until I’m certain he’s in the 3-6 month range.

 

[Monkeybun]

Sounds like its almost neuter time to me.

[Beka27]

A reputable vet would not neuter too early, so I would be confident in neutering when the vet says you can. Has he been to the vet for an initial exam and confirmation of sex? It definitely sounds like he’s maturing and that is what is fueling this behavior. Once his testicles drop, at 3-4 months, he can be neutered. If you are not seeing testicles right now and/or the vet has not sexed him, it’s possible he could be a she and she would exhibit similar behavior.

[Kate79]

He hasn’t been to the vet yet, I was hoping to get the initial check up done along with the neutering, but if it’s customary to do that first I’ll schedule it soon. I haven’t seen testicles yet, but he’s very very fuzzy. I can’t even see his tail, but I know he has one I didn’t even think about confirming his sex.. the shop told me he was a boy so I just assumed they knew. I hope Chester doesn’t turn out to be a Chelsea

[Beka27]

Pet shops are notorious for being wrong. They don’t know half the time, but the baby bunnies are so, so young when they come in, there’s little risk of pregnancy with everyone in the same tank.

You have to have an initial exam prior to any type of surgery. The vet will give him a thorough check-over, check weight, estimate his age, check ears, eyes, nose, teeth, temperature, and perform a fecal test to rule out parasites like coccidia (which is not uncommon in petstore/breeder bunnies). You can also ask a vet tech to demonstrate nail-trimming for you if you want. All of this info will clear him for surgery and you can hopefully schedule it ASAP.

Bring any questions you have to the vet, you can talk about his housing, his daily exercise time, diet, or any behavioral concerns you might have. Rabbit savvy vets are a fountain of knowledge! Do your research ahead of time and this can help you gauge the vet by comparing what they say to what the House Rabbit Society says. The vet should be relatively consistent with those guidelines.

Have you been looking for a rabbit vet in your area yet? HRS has a page with vets by state.

[Beka27]

Just noticed your location. New Jersey also has a reduced-cost neuter program (last I heard). Does someone have the info or link to this info?

[Kate79]

I actually just came across it yesterday  http://www.njhrs.com/spayneuter.htm

 

The vet I was planning to go to isn’t on the list, I really like and trust my cat’s vet so I was planning to go to the rabbit vet she recommended to me. I might use the neuter program and go to the guy on the list, but I’m not 100% sure yet.

[Author]

Messages