unhappy rabbit!!!!

[fredricks owner]

so my rabbit fredrick got neutered about 4 days ago.. and i know it hasn’t been long but he’s mostly recovered, he’s acting normal again and so i decided to let him out of his cage today and last night. so both times when i let him out, he’s completely ignored me. before the surgery he was the friendliest bunny i’ve ever met. he was super social with me AND even other people. and now that he is neutered, he’s been even running away from me. it’s been a struggle to pick him back up so i can put him back in his cage for the night. he’s barely accepting food from me when i hand-feed him. and the whole thing is really upsetting. it gets frustrating when i walk over to my bunny expecting him to hop up to me for some pets like he used to but recieving a running rabbit. i even tried to lay down on the floor next to him but he even gets scared by that. and sometimes when he’s in his cage, he seems okay with me. but when i let him out, he acts like he doesn’t know me.

is he just mad at me? i want to know because i really love him so much, yet he seems to act like he doesn’t love me anymore. i know he’s a rabbit, and he might not show much emotion, but it does really feel like he doesn’t love me. have i betrayed him in anyway? please help!!! i miss my happy loving rabbit

[Snowleopard]

Oh bless him, don’t worry, I’m sure all he needs is a bit of time. One of my bunnies can hold a terrible grudge and give me the silent treatment for weeks after a trip to the vet for a simple check-up.  Some bunnies can take a little longer to forgive and forget, but I’m sure he still loves you just as much. He may have been a bit freaked out by the neutering experience and needs time to settle + his hormones might be fluctuating after the op. If there’s one thing bunnies have taught be above all is patience. 4 days can seem a long time for us, but I think bunnies experience time a lot differently. For example, it’s taken me a month for my most recent rescue bunny to trust me enough to let me pet her (and that’s pretty good as I’ve heard some nervous buns take even longer!), so don’t worry. Maybe don’t try to pick him up so much (if possible) and try not to follow him if he runs away from you as he could just need some space while he recovers. Offer him his favourite treats and spend time with him like you’re already doing, but don’t try to pet him (basically pretend to ignore him as you read a book or watch TV) so he feels safe enough again. Good luck!

[ThorBunny]

Male rabbits are also known to go through what is known as a “post neuter craze”. Basically, they get a bunch of hormones released into their system from the neuter. It is possible he is just being a grumpy, hormonal teenager Good news is that the hormones wear off, most people say it can take a month to 6 weeks.

[fredricks owner]

thank you so much!! i will use your advice!! also, he seems to like my cat a lot and loves playing with her. if i let him see her more do you think it would make him feel more safe and happy?

[fredricks owner]

haha!! that seems very likely! he is a very sassy rabbit too so thank you!!

[fredricks owner]

again, thank you for the advice!! in just a little under 24 hours fredrick is mostly back to himself!! i took your advice about ignoring him, and just letting him come to me and the ignoring him part seemed to work!! when he went by me and acted like he wasn’t there, it seemed to bother him because he’s supposed to do the ignoring!!! also i fed him his favorite treats (plus a few extra to really make him like me) and after a few hours he’s back to his old self. following me around begging for more treats [and sometimes kisses!!!] and of course being a sassy bunny! he really thinks it’s funny to do things he knows he shouldn’t so of course he was teasing me by binkying every time i caught him doing something he’s not supposed to! he still gets a little spooked if i walk into the room but he’s not 100% himself yet. once again thank you!!

[Author]

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