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any rabbit owners? please help

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doubletrouble
4/28/2012 9:45:37 AM | IP
doubletrouble

hi, I have a pet rabbit-- her name is jubilee. she's less than a year old, probably about eight months now and is not fixed (yet). I have been struggling to find a vet for her in my area that would be less than $200+, but recently moved out-of-state where it is cheaper. I found a great exotics vet in town but they could not give me a quote without viewing her, so the price remains on that once I bring her in.

here's the dilemma. jubilee is the sweetest rabbit in the world. my boyfriend and I got her together when we were just starting out, out of a shoebox hours away from home. she was the only white one in the litter. raising her, we would take her everywhere, usually on our shoulders or in the hood of our jackets... she loved to nestle in my neck and hair. she used to fit in the glove box of my boyfriend's car and would roll around and nap in there, it was precious. as she got older she has become more difficult to handle... she has claws! and getting scratched up (even unintentionally) is a common occurance now. she's too big to sit on my shoulders (she now prefers my chest) and I am planning on purchasing a bigger cage for her comfort. in our old home my boyfriend built her a cage outside that we used to let her run around in during the day... but things got complicated when she started digging holes... now that we've moved, we take her outside to run around in the front yard, but I can tell she is frustrated by not being out all the time.

her behavior as she's matured has changed dramatically. she is still a sweet bunny; she loves affection and will cuddle with you for a long time. we raised her that way, with our dog too, so she acts in many ways like a little dog. but her hormones are so dramatic, she marks everything now. as I've slowly been recognizing these behaviors I find myself almost frightened by them. she loves us, but it seems more and more she wants nothing to do with me because she is too preoccupied by her instincts. she rubs her chin on everything. I mean EVERYTHING. her food. her cage. her water. our feet. my hands. she sprays, constantly. I used to let her roam around the house because she was good for awhile and would not mark or chew, but now I cannot put her our for a minute without her marking. I can tell she is not as happy as she could be, because I can't let her out as much, and it honestly kills me. I dream of giving her the ultimate bunny life, where she can run around and be comfortable.
doubletrouble
4/28/2012 9:59:56 AM | IP
doubletrouble

she's just become so intolerable lately, it makes me angry, sad, and disappointed. I find myself not wanting anything to do with her at times... and that upsets me. you can still hold her, but she'll chew your clothes (something the boyfriend gets VERY upset about). you can let her out but she'll spray, poop, and chew on your wires. you can give her everything, but she seems dissatisfied. I DO NOT want to give up on her... it would kill me. but this is causing a great shift in my relationship with her and I don't want to keep her if she is just going to be unhappy. that is unfair.

basically (and thank you for reading) I want to know if anyone has experienced similar behavior patterns with their pet rabbit(s) and whether or not fixing them really helped. I understand that fixing her is the right choice, because she can live a healthier, longer life. but is it really the best investment for her behavior? will her attitude go back to her sweet, normal ways? she has become difficult to manage, simply because she is sexually matured...

any advice would be greatly appreciated. I do my research, so I do understand the medical pros/cons of surgery, how to feed her, etc. I take very good care of her. I try too, at least. but lately I feel it has not been enough and I'm afraid that all I do is make her unhappy... she's such a joy when she kicks her feet and skips around like she loves her life. she comes up to me and licks me all the time, like a pup. I want to give her that all the time.

will fixing her help us...? it is an expensive investment, and want to make sure it will be worth it, for her & for me.
spica
5/9/2012 11:05:40 AM | IP
spica



｡*☆∴★ ∵★｡☆∵｡

Hi
It's late but I reared bunnies in my preadolescence. Yes bunnies are like dogs and they have personality.
I let my bunnies run free because they'd be deathly when locked up.
However that also led to their demise.

Regarding the spraying issue, you might be too kind on her. You need to discipline it by either flicking it's nose or whacking it lightly to show her it is wrong.
My rabbits were very obedient because as a 12 - 14 yr old, I literally tamed them. I would hold it upside down like a cradling baby and it would listen to me and come when called.

A friends rabbit was never fondled or held and thus was disobedient and run over the owner.
You sound like u have a good relationship with your bunny, but lack discipline.

Besides neutering, u might put the bunny in a sheltered yard for it to frisk about instead of letting it chew wires n clothes which may be a sign of frustration. U need not neuter her but might do well to mOdify her behavior.

I know this wasn't much of a solver but I hope it helped some.

 

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