Running into his cage in panic…again

[MiNinoJack]

So when I had my bun for 2 weeks he got scared and tab from his play area into his x pen cage and got his head stuck. I posted about it here, and he ended up being ok, but super scary. 

Since then things have steadily gotten better! He doesn’t freak out anymore and we’ve bonded and really gained a lot of trust. 

But then tonight, as I was about to go to bed I moved to give my boyfriend something on the couch right as he turned out the light and I guess it looked scary to my bun and he LOST IT. Ran head first into every corner of his cage at full speed slamming his little face into the bars. It was over in about 10 seconds but it was so scary and WEIRD.

I think he’s ok. He’s hiding, but he did take and eat some hay. I didn’t see any blood or anything. He doesn’t want to be touched though.

I’m so upset! I thought we were really making progress and he was calming down (super shy bunny). I don’t know how to help him. I thought we were past the panic stage. 

Quick background: 2-3 yr old neutered male. He’s a rescue who the vet thinks was either abused or severely neglected as a baby. I don’t know his story (or even his age, technically) he spent the last year at a shelter, but got out to exercise everyday. He’s healthy as a good eater. 

[BumiBunny]

My bunny, Bumi, used to do something similar. He would run circles in this cage really fast, which was always scary. It seemed like anything could set him off–walking into the room with a piece of paper, putting on a shirt, seemingly nothing at all. He did this for about 3 months after we first got him, and I thought this would be something we would just have to deal with forever.

He did settle into his environment. We think moving him into our office helped because it exposed him to more sounds and we tend to hang out the most in the office. It sounds like your guy is a lot like our Bumi, because after the panic attacks, he would still eat food and accept treats. The no touching bit sounds normal. What we found best is that after a panic attack (and a quick check to make sure he’s ok) we just left him alone to calm down–sometimes leaving the room completely.

Another big help is adding some hidey-hole to his space that he feels safe running under. For Bumi, it took a while for him to use and understand his hidey-hole, but I think he feels more secure in having it.

It’s been several months since Bumi has had a panic attack, but he does still errs on the side of caution. I have heard it can take years for a bun to completely trust his human, so I would say just be patient.

[MiNinoJack]

Hi,

Thank you for responding. I feel a little better that he’s not the only one. 

He has a hidey hole that he loves, but during this episode ran into it and moved it almost 2 feet. I realize now he was trying to escape. Where to? I’m sure he doesn’t even know. 

I work from home and spend the majority of my time in the living room, which has now become his room. He allows me to spend time in here, haha! He really has gotten a lot better. I’ve only had him since February, so its still early. He loves to lick my face and loves cuddles on his terms. He has a space on the couch he goes to every time to demand head rubs and kisses. He’s a runner by nature – he’ll have the occasional binky, but bunny 500’s are how he expresses his joy. It probably helps wear down his nervousness. 

I really felt like we regressed last night though. This morning he was a little aggressive with me. Attempted a few nips when I fed him and hopped on my lap on the couch just to dig at my leg and nip me. Which I firmly let him know was not ok (it hurts!) so I pushed him aside and left the couch. He looked sorry after that. 

He seems fine now. He’s sleeping in his maze haven. I have altered almost everything I do to accommodate his nerves. Its exhausting! Every time I drop something I freeze hoping not to set him off. Lately he has been ignoring my clumsiness (I think he realizes I drop and bump things a lot), but last night… WHOA. 

Did you do anything to his cage to protect him? I was thinking of building a cage with a smaller footprint, but is much taller, because I think he likes to climb. Maybe if he has less space to build up speed he will be safer. I’m not sure if that’s true though…

[Azerane]

Is he ok with fleece blankets? Perhaps you could fold or roll some up and attach them to the corners of his cage as a soft bumper, even attaching pieces of cardboard with cable ties to the corners will provide a safer impact than hitting the cage bars.

It sounds like he has improved a great deal since you have had him though. Every rabbit is bound to get scared at some point. Bandit was always a very confident rabbit but on rare occasions, sometimes a sound that he’d heard many times before, perhaps accompanied by different circumstances would send him running.

[MiNinoJack]

Yeah he loves fleece blankets. He loves to dig and chew them, haha. Bumpers are a good idea. His cage will be like one of those padded rooms in asylums! 

This is only the second time this has happened, but so scary. And I worry that it could happen when I’m not around, although I always seem to be the one scaring him (and comforting).

He’s still a bit aggressive this morning. He actually nipped my nipple! Ouch!!  Not sure what all of that is about, other than maybe just being a grumpy morning bun.

[RosieBunny]

Hi NinoJack,

I got a roll of foam (strangely we have a foam store right by our apt in the middle of nyc lol) and am padding up hard corners for when our buns has her eye removed and won’t be able to navigate so well. I also have myriad of cardboard boxes and tunnels instead of an actual cage… that way she has total hide privacy but also no hard edges 🙂 may be worth a try for your buns?

Good luck! They are such sensitive little souls !

[MiNinoJack]

Thanks Rosie! I’m in NYC to, and, believe me, I know all about those weird specialized stores everywhere. It’s a good idea, but I’d be afraid he’d chew the foam. 

If I am ever able to have a dedicated bunny room I’ll definitely butted a cardboard castle. 

They are so sensitive but my Jack is really the joy in my life  I just want him to be safe and happy and CALM. That’s the hardest part.

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