Spayed bun mood changes

[Kori]

Ok, please don’t think I’m crazy bc this may sound a little off but I’m serious…. So I’ve had Belle my rabbit since she was 6 weeks old. When I got her somebody had bought her and couldn’t take care of her because she kept breaking out of the cage and they were afraid that they were going to lose her so I got her and we’ve had her for now almost 3 years. She is spayed and litter trained and over all a pretty good Bun but about 2 weeks every other month or so her entire mood changes. I thought getting her spayed would correct that and it kind of took the edge off but those 2 weeks here and there it’s back with a vengeance! I swear she gets this weird look in her eye and I instantly know his game on! It’s like the fight to be dominant and for her to win in some game I have no idea how to play. She’s not mean, she just starts acting out sometimes but not always chewing on things she normally doesn’t and peeing where she knows she shouldn’t. She starts keeping more to her self and she’s usually a very social and loves being pet so it’s a big difference. She’s usually allowed to rome as she pleases and has a huge bunny condo we like to call it. She and our dog who is a great Dane are friends and cool with each other, and I have a child that loves to play with her also. But it seems like as soon as she sees me she runs over to her spots and starts peeing and looking at me as if out of spite or something. She stares at me when I walk around when normally she would run to my feet and try to get some pets. Her condo isn’t kept as clean as usual and there will be frequent issues with her going outside of her litter box. Then after those few weeks it’s over and I can see it in her eyes and she’s back to being out coolest bun. Idk help please!! If anyone has any insight I would love to hear it!;

[DanaNM]

That’s really interesting! I’ve never experienced this. I have heard of “incomplete” neuters for male rabbits, where the thought is a few testicular cells are left behind, and it’s enough to trigger hormonal behavior. I wonder if something similar could happen with females? I really don’t know, I’m just speculating!

Does it happen to coincide with molting? I know my buns can get a bit fussy and cranky when they molt.

. . . 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.  

[Bam]

In dogs there’s a thing called Ovarian Remnant Syndrom, where some ovarian tissue remains after a spay, and that’s enough for the dog to produce sex hormones. Since the uterus has been removed there’s no risk of pregnancy of course, but the hormones can, or rather are likely to, affect behavior and mood.

Do you know if your bun had a full ovariohysterectomy, i e removal of the ovaries as well as the uterus? For a short while it was popular to only remove the uterus, since uterine cancer obviously  requires a uterus. The rationale was that it’s more natural for a girl bun to have her normal hormonal activity and the removal of the uterus will still prevent both unwanted pregnancies and uterine cancer.  (Where I am, only a few years back it became popular to only remove the ovaries, since rabbit uterine cancer is believed to be hormone driven. The rationale was that it’s preferable to remove as little healthy tissue as possible). What I’m trying to say is that vet medicine is subject to trends much like most other things.

The presence of a dog can set off a false pregnancy. Rabbits are induced ovulators, so they don’t have heat periods like dogs. In the spring all rabbits, neutered and intact, get a bit hormonal from the rapid increase in amount of day light, but it definitely isn’t spring now.

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