When is a rabbit depressed or just a French Lop?

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This topic has 12sd replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 10 months ago by Vienna Blue in France.

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- 04/09/2017 at 1:55 AM
  Barrett
  Participant
  269 posts
  No, that is a serious question.
  
  OK, recently, I have begun to wonder if Patton might be depressed. Or maybe he’s just a French Lop?
  
  Arguments for depression:
  1) Seems less active than he was in his early days with us. Sometimes doesn’t hop around until it’s about time for the kids to go to bed (7pm).
  
  2) Regrettably, I have been spending many nights away from home in recent weeks meaning that even when he would be active, his primary human contact is absent.
  
  3) Often, even when the kids are making a lot of commotion in the house, he can quite happily be curled up under a chair or dozing on the fireplace.
  
  Arguments AGAINST depression:
  
  1) He’s a French Lop. They are well known for being barely active.
  
  2) Although he was much more active in the evenings in his early days with us, he was YOUNG when we brought him home. Perhaps as he matures (he’s an adult now), his activity levels off?
  
  3) Still LOVES and I mean LOVES to eat! Still comes running when the fridge is opened and wants to see all the stuff we are not giving him in the fridge.
  
  If someone has a lot of experience with French Lops, their input would be especially helpful!
  
  I am now able to spend more time with him in the evenings (including long stretches of an hour or so of constant petting). My right hand types, my left hand pets LOL.
  
  P.S.- He still has the run of the house every day from 7am to 11pm at night.
- 04/09/2017 at 2:51 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17025 posts
  I don’t have any experience with French lops, but Bam is a mini lop and they’re known to be rather placid. Bam fits that description perfectly. Bam is free roam 24/7 but has never chewed wallpaper or carpet or done much bunstruction on his cardboard houses. He’s always hungry. He loves being pet, he’s like addicted to being pet. I didn’t know him when he was young though.
  
  It sounds to me like Patton is just becoming an adult. A happy adult. He has a vivid interest in food, he likes to be pet for long periods of time. That’s not at all consistent with depression in an animal.
- 04/09/2017 at 7:41 AM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  No French lop, obviously, but he sounds happy to me. Food and affection bring him running, so… he’s probably just a really chill guy.
- 04/09/2017 at 8:26 AM
  cinnybun2015
  Participant
  570 posts
  I have never had a French Lop, but I think that Patton’s just being his calm self Depression in an animal usually means lack of interest in everything–being pet, food, etc. Also, since rabbits are crepuscular, I think it’s probably natural that he doesn’t get that active until around 7 pm.
- 04/09/2017 at 10:12 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17214 posts
  I think Patton is just fulfilling the lazy lop stereotype.
- 04/10/2017 at 6:41 PM
  Reesebun
  Participant
  1037 posts
  This is the complete opposite of Reese, lol. Very active, Netherland dwarf, not very interested in eating unless there’s banana, will only be petted for ten minutes!
- 04/10/2017 at 11:57 PM
  Barrett
  Participant
  269 posts
  EVERYONE-
  
  Thank you for reassuring me! That’s all I needed to hear. I admit, we’re a pretty busy family, but I do not think we could have picked a better rabbit to be happy in our home. Patton’s a rather simple creature. Petting and food.
  
  He just did it again- I get home with groceries and as soon as I make my way into the kitchen and open the fridge, he’s there! Digging at the produce drawer which happens to be at the bottom of the fridge!
- 04/11/2017 at 9:50 AM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  Chewie’s a bit afraid of the kitchen now after the last time I accidentally locked him in the fridge – for all of ten seconds until he started digging at the door shelves.
- 04/11/2017 at 11:48 AM
  Barrett
  Participant
  269 posts
  Posted By Q8bunny on 4/11/2017 9:50 AM
  
  Chewie’s a bit afraid of the kitchen now after the last time I accidentally locked him in the fridge – for all of ten seconds until he started digging at the door shelves.
  
  LMAO!! Poor guy! At least he knows how to knock!
  
  Here’s Patton being his usual super depressed self.
- 04/11/2017 at 12:29 PM
  Luna
  Participant
  2219 posts
  Patton sure makes laying out on hard brick and mortar look comfy lol.
- 04/11/2017 at 1:26 PM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  Love how he matches the decor – great colour scheme!
- 04/11/2017 at 1:44 PM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Posted By Q8bunny on 4/11/2017 9:50 AM
  
  Chewie’s a bit afraid of the kitchen now after the last time I accidentally locked him in the fridge – for all of ten seconds until he started digging at the door shelves.
  
  Okay I shouldn’t laugh but OMG that is hilarious. Poor Chewie
- 04/11/2017 at 3:24 PM
  Vienna Blue in France
  Participant
  5317 posts
  Two of the (reportedly) most placid buns – French lop and Flemmie.
  Henry is a French lop crossed with Flemmie.
  Nuff said
  
  Patton looks a picture of careless contentment ! (maybe if that photo was him in a cage 1ft by 2ft we’d say differently but come oooon – he’s soaking it up !!!! LOL
  
  Chewie – rofl !
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