was it a growl!?

[New Bunny Mum]

Tonight I did Pancakes’s first monthly maintenance.

My partner caught her – she isnt a fan of being picked up, then sat on the kitchen floor with her so we were still low to the ground.  Then we flicked her onto her back in his arms whilst I checked her bottom. I hadnt looked at it before and I wanted to make sure she didnt have ‘poopy butt.’

Everything seemed fine.

We let her go, she ran straight into her litter box, used it and whilst she was in it I pet her and gave her some craisins which she took, Then as soon as she jumped out, I went t stroke her again and she made this honking noise I have never heard her make before, then did some really loud and hard foot thumps. About three.

She has let me stroke her a little since, bit she is quite jumpy and nervous around me.

Do you think she growled?

Can anyone recommend a way of doing this to not stress her out so much, or should I work on picking her up more to get her used to it.

[Elrohwen]

Definitely a “get away from me, mom” growl!

Hannah hates being picked up and has never gotten used to it, so I just don’t pick her up. I get her into her carrier, then use that to transport her to the kitchen counter for nail trims. We can trim her nails just by having one person hold down her shoulders and wrap her in a towel.

Some people will recommend picking them up to get them used to it, but that can also backfire and you’ll end up with a bunny who is very nervous around you because you pick them up all the time. You just have to try it and see if she gets used to it, but there are ways to do bunny maintenance without needing to pick them up every time.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

You’ll know a growl, it sounds like a growl They also honk, chatter, grunt and grit She’s probably mad at you, the treats will help though

I haven’t found a way to not stress Samson during maintenance, and she’ll hold a grudge for like, a week after hah.

[alexa]

I call it grunting ha ha. I get it too when I get on Spooky’s nerves. Spooky also does a playful kind of grunt when we are playing.

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