She is biting and scratching me!

[Hande]

Hi,

I have just registered here. I have a cute, female bunny. She is about 9 months old. She used to be very calm and like being hugged. But 2 months ago she began biting and scratching me with her paws! I have cut her nails but still it hurts. 

I gave her some materials to play, but she insisted on biting me. She bites while I am stroking her gently, or hugging her to put it in her house.

I don’t know what to do! She doesn’t escape from me but she doesn’t let me touch her. 

She is not spayed yet. Help me, I want my fluffy and cute bunny back 

[Sarita]

This is very typical for a rabbit this age – she will need to be spayed.

Rabbits do not like being picked up if that is what you are trying to do.

The only thing you can do is to get her spayed and eventually this behavior will calm down as she ages. It’s a combination of spaying her (for health and for behavior) and age.

[Hande]

Thanks for the answer.

Yep, I am trying to pick her up, because she doesn’t go her room by herself. She likes playing in the living room.

There is no vet in the town where I live. But at the end of the month I will take her to the vet. I hope she will calm down after spaying. 

[jackikal]

My rabbit did that as well at that age. I haven’t gotten her spayed, but the behavior vanished. One thing I recommend is having confidence in your actions. If you are going to pick her up, don’t let her scare you. Just swoop her up and hold her firmly.

A good exercise you can do, when she’s on the ground, is to pet her a bit more firmly than usual. Also, cover her eyes, then hold her entire body in place. Cover as much of it as you can with your arms and body. She will most likely try to get away. Don’t let her, unless you think she might hurt herself. After she stops resisting, release her completely and walk away. This shows her that you are the boss, and your are not going to hurt her. If she doesn’t resist at all, give her a treat.

If she’s scratching with her paws, then you need to approach her from the top. Pet the top top of her head and backwards. Eventually she will grow out of this behavior, but starting this “therapy” as soon as possible will be a good bonding experience for the both of you.

Good luck!

[Monkeybun]

Spaying is definitely a good idea.

[Hande]

Thank you for your answers. 
I decided to spay her but in my country it is a bit difficult. I am searching a vet or an animal hospital that can do this. Some people say this procedure hurts the rabbit. Also vets barely know about bunnies. This situation makes me worried.

Thanks for your advices Jackikal, I am going to try.

[Freyja]

The rabbit is anesthetized and would feel no pain, they would be a bit sore afterwords from the procedure (much as you or i would be after having an operation) but you can ask for pain medication to give them for the first few days to relieve this. What country are you in? hopefully somebody on the site can recommend or help you find a rabbit savvy vet in your area

[Sarita]

I totally understand your concern about spaying – what country do you live in if you don’t mind posting…there are some vet lists for rabbits that have rabbit vets listed in other countries, perhaps we can help you find one.

[RabbitPam]

Check out the House Rabbit Society list of international vets. We may have the link here so scan the Forums for the pinned posts at the top because we have 2 or 3 on finding a good vet.

Once spayed, she will not calm down for a month, so be prepared. But she is in her Terrible Teens now in bunny years, so she should improve. You can always squeal in a high pitched voice when she hurts you. It says “Ouch!” in bunny language, which she’ll understand. They learn to use their mouths and paws to communicate, but not hurt too badly, as they get older.

[samiboo]

spaying can help but she will still do it if you don’t disciplined (yes bunny’s can be disciplined) my 2 year old still does it but she’s learning now that she has a new home with me she has new rules and she doesn’t do it unless she wants to run around and play with the cats

[Author]

Messages