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2 spayed rabbits: one has become aggresive towards the other

22 10:56:10

Question
I have two lovely netherland dwarf rabbits born end of August 2006. They are
not from the same litter, and got along quite well with each other until last
week, when they got spayed. The larger bunny now chases the smaller one
and will nip at her hind. The smaller one does a good job of fleeing, but she
doesn't put up a fight. They used to get along nicely and snuggle.
I can imagine that the spaying was traumatic, and that each rabbit can have a
range of reactions, but this is very distressing to me and the smaller bunny.
They used to share a long cage that allowed them to hop around a bit, and
I've always let them roam the apartment for a couple of hours, in the evening.
After the sugery, I put a metal separation in the cage, which at least kept
them in contact but unable to fight. The bigger rabbit expressed agression
through the bars, gnawing and pulling at them and growling at the smaller
one if she approached. This seems to have lessened in the last couple of
days.
When they are out of the cage, they mostly avoid each other, so there isn't
much of chasing around the place. I've let a week go by, and tonight I took
out the separation from the cage. The chasing and agression isn't ferocious
and is quite intermitant. I will monitor them closely and see if I want to
chance leaving them completly alone tomorrow.
I really need advice on this problem. The small rabbit is also my son's favorite
rabbit, so he'd be heartbroken if the other rabbit did her serious harm or
killed her. What can I try? have you heard of this before? does the problem
lessen with time? help!

Answer
Hi Bernard

You said they just got spayed?  If this is the case they usually need to be separated for 3 weeks so that they can completely heal.  After this time because of the trauma of surgery they will need to be re-bonded.  It is obvious that you care enough about both of them to take the time to do this.  I can give you some suggestions and then I will give you some web-sites that you can look through to help you.

1.  take them for a car ride together before you let them out to play.  Put them in a carrier and make sure someone is watching them but chances are they will fear the car ride so much that they will again turn to each other for comfort.

2.  After they are done with the car ride try putting them together somewhere that neither one of them has been before.  If they both have free run of the house you might have to use a bathtub or a basement or someplace that is safe but neither one of them have been before.

3.  Stand by with a spray bottle.  Let them chase and mount and if one seems to be just letting the other do this that one is telling the other one that she can be the boss.  If they start to circle or put their ears back like they are about to have an all out fight then spray them in the face with a water bottle.  This will make them stop to groom.  

4.  If an all out fight breaks out separate them but try holding them side by side but not close enough where they can bite each other.  Many times they will continue to want to fight and at this time it is time to put them both back in their cages for a bit of time.  You should try the bonding sessions several times a day until they are back to grooming each other and happy.  Sadly sometimes with the surgery the bond can be lost but with work they can be re-bonded.

Here are some useful sites I have found over time.

Good luck and if you need any more help please let me know.

Pam

http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/behavior/bonding-tips.html

http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/bond.shtml

http://www.mybunnies.com/bonding.htm

http://www.freewebs.com/hgrabbitry/howtobondmybunnies.htm
(this one you can skip to the bottom since you already made a life commitment)