aggression

Question
we purchased a dwarf rabbit 3 weeks ago. He is very social and we have had no probs. This morning when we tried to take him out of his cage, he was very aggressinva nd tried to bite us. Please advise?? This is very unususal for Tank, he is usually very cuddly. Thankyou

Answer
Hi Martha,

well, there is always a reason behind aggression in rabbits.  Either something happened yesterday where he is now on the defensive, or someone smells like a person who had abused him before, or you smelled like another animal (perhaps a predator animal like a dog or cat) and this made him react this way.

There is always something you can go back to to figure out why theis happened.  Someone did something, was he moved around from his normal place in the house, etc.

The only other suggestion is that he is injured and does not want to be picked up and this is what he is doing to deter you from picking him up.  

Finally are you certain 'Tank' is a boy?  And not perhaps a pregnant female?  If he is a boy, has he been neutered?  If not he may have hit sexual maturity and it may be bringing out some aggression issues.  The solution to this woudl be to get him neutered by a good rabbit vet.

If you have not yet taken Tank in to a good rabbit vet I would advise doing so, to start a history with a good rabbit vet (not all vets are good rabbit vets).  Start here:

www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

and find a House Rabbit Society-recommended vet near you.

Write back anytime.  Lee