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Troubled Bunny

norbertsmom Mar 27, 2007 09:09 AM

We rescued a rabbit from beside the dumpster in our apartment complex about 9 months ago, you while my friend was leaving for work one hot morning he saw a lady carrying a cage with a rabbit towards the dumpster and didnt really think much of it but when he came home 8 hours later he discovered the cage was in the dumpster and the bunny was in the grass next to the dumpster. He of course scooped her up and got the cage and called me to come get the rabbit. come to find out my boyfriend knows the lady who through the bunny away. He asked her brother about the rabbit and he told us she had to get rid of her because she was moving. So of course we kept her. The rabbit was very "mean" and didnt want any interaction. So we left it alone, bought baby gates and allowed her to run around the living room on her own. Now she's still "mean" but not as bad and she sits with my boyfriend sometimes but she wont sit with me unless I catch her and make her sit on my lap, although sometimes she'll come by to ask me to scratch her. My problem in that she knows what she's not allowed to do (chewing on wires for example) and believe me I've gone out of my way to block them off, but she still does but only when we're not looking and then when we come around the corner she hops away like she wasn't doing anything. She does other negative attention getting things as well but I've rambled on enough. I've talked to a few people about this and they think that she's just trying to get our attention, negative or positive, and they suggested I start taking her places with me. Is this a good idea? I've taken her out before with a harness on and she is very good when we're out. I don't want to scare her even more, what do you think?

Replies (4)

dustbunny Mar 29, 2007 07:55 PM

I think your rabbit looks a lot like a water dragon!

Heheh ...Just kidding!

First of all let me say good job for saving the poor bun! I can't believe someone would just leave the bunny out by the dumpster like that...so sad - someone should have called animal control or something on her.

No wonder the poor thing was mean - I would be mean too if someone dumped my by a trash can!

Just keep working with her - she should get better. Don't force any interaction with her, rather wait until she comes to you. Or offer her treats and such to make her come to you - show her that humans are nice and make her want to seek out your attention.

Also, I assume she's not spayed. You should look into getting her spayed, that should calm her down a bit, and it will prevent her from getting cancer - which is very very common in unspayed female rabbits.

I don't think she's necessarily chewing things and such for attention. All bunnies chew. Zeus, my bun, has lived in the lap of luxery since he was a couple months old and he still chews wires, baseboards, anything he can get his teeth on!

I wouldn't really say the solution is taking her out places with you either. If she likes going outside, then by all means take her out. Just be careful where you take her - new, loud places can be scarey for little bunnies.

So taking her out probably wont stop her from chewing on things. Rabbits need to chew to keep their teeth trimmed, because they continously grow. If you haven't already, make sure she has things that it's ok for her to chew on like wooden toys and whatnot.

Now what I had to do with Zeus was to just bunny proof the room he's in as much as possable. Get things you think she'll chew on off the floor, try to block off wires, stuff like that. For the remaining wires I couldn't move and things like the baseboards that he was chewing on, I bought something called "Fooey" to spray on things. It is basically just a rabbit safe spray that you spray on things your rabbit would chew on and it has a horrable bitter taste to it. The only problem with that is that it lasts a very long time, and if you accidently touch the wires then put your hand in your mouth or something your in for an unpleasent suprise. Also when you spray it you have to make sure to try not to breathe it in - this stuff really tastes horrable! I know there are other brands out there, so maybe you want to try another kind. If you want to try the Fooey stuff I used let me know and I can show you some sites to buy it at. It definatly worked for Zeus, hasen't chewed a single wire since I sprayed them. There are other alternatives too - some people buy some kind of rubber tubing to wrap the wires in so that its harder for them to chew the actual wires.

So basically, to sum that all up, rabbits need to chew - so you need to give them things to chew on, and find a way to either move, or deture them from what you don't want chewed on.

A hope that helps! Any more Q's feel free to ask - Good luck!

stormy762 May 06, 2007 06:10 PM

hi there.
it is common for bunnies to chew on cords. they are very smart animals, she could be trying to get your attention. Have you tried rubbing ivory dish soap on the cords or putting the ones she can reach into small PVC pipe.
It would be a good idea to take her out also. I think she is board and wants attention, rabbits are very social. you could put a light leash, or ever yarn jon her harness and tie her out in the yard so she can excersize while you guarden or some thing.
My bunny (Bobby) hates being alone so I put him with the guinea pig when I am not home and when I am home he runs around the house with my black lab/shepard mix. At night he is in my room with me and once I ge tseattled in to watch tv he jumps on the
bed and lays down on my pillow for me to pet him while we watch tv... This usually puts me to sleep, then he runs around while I sleep as rabbits love the night life...
I hope this has helped you some...Stormy

norbertsmom Aug 31, 2007 01:16 PM

Just an update

Buddy has been behaving much better lately. She comes to use when she wants attention and loves to be pet behind the ears. Everything had been going good until a few weeks ago she started pooping on the couch and more on the floor then before and last night she pee'd on the couch.

Well at least she likes us more now, we just have to figure out the new potty business.

norbertsmom Aug 31, 2007 01:38 PM

Forgot the Photo

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