My rabbit has been acting odd...

Question
Hi, we have two female rabbits and one, Cotton, has been acting very peculiar lately.  We keep her inside, although she was outside for a little while with a "male companion" a few weeks ago.  Since then, she ripped out her sister's hair to apparently make a nest.  I took her to the vet because her eating has subsided and she actually bit me one day, and they recommended I get her fixed for aggresion.  Upon further inspection, it apprears that she may or may not be pregnant.  What's very concerning is she's extremely stand-offish, does not seem to want food, water, or any attention and she has been streching out her right hind leg for streches.  Today I noticed that she seems to be limping on it and protecting it.  Her left hind leg seems fine.  Please help, I just don't know what iss going on with my rabbit and she's not even a year old yet!  Thanks.

Answer
Dear Colleen,

A lot of things may be going on here.  First, if she has been with a male, she may indeed be pregnant.  And if that's the case, if she is too far along to spay (the vet will be able to tell you this), then please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html

If she has been acting aggressive with the other bunny, they may have gotten into a tussle when you were not around, and she may have injured her leg.  I would ask the vet to have a good look to see if it's just soft tissue injury (which is most likely if she's putting any weight on it; if she's not putting *any* weight on it, it's more serious and may be broken.  Please have the vet check this ASAP, before it gets worse.  Analgesia (pain relief) may also be in order.)

The greatest concern is her reduced appetite, which could be from the stress of all this.  Please read these articles right away:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html

and

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

You can find a vet experienced with rabbits here:

www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

I hope this helps.

Dana