The Bunny Basics

Rdhrd70 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

I have a 5 month old male holland lop named Rookie. He is my sweet boy. I have noticed some things with him in the past month and no one around has any idea about bunnies.
My first question is when I lay him on his back (he likes this) and rub him under his chin his front paw does this like vibrating thing. Is this good? Is this normal and sometimes he does this with his back feet when holding him as well.
Second should he have a bowl of food in his cage at all times as well as the hay or just feed him in the a.m. and p.m.?
We just had him nutered a few weeks ago. He is doing this growling and also will scratch at the floor and growl. Why is he doing this and what does it mean? How do I get him not to do this?
Ok last question for now. He goes pee in his litter box and some poop but he will still poop where he sleeps. Is this normal? He does not poop outside his cage now pee well im not sure about that but I do know he will go back into his cage here and there when he is running around the house..
Please help with any advice. we want to do right by our Rookie.
Very Happy

thank you much
Rookies Mommy

buns2008 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Fort Worth, TX

Your bunny is still very young and litter box habits should get better. Also leaving little piles of poop is also a way of marking their territory.

As far as the growling, it sounds like it started after his neuter surgery. Unfortunately most vets do not know how to treat rabbits. Was you vet a rabbit savvy vet? If not, I would recommend taking your bunny to another vet to make sure the surgery was performed correctly and nothing is wrong. If you trust your vet I would bring him in for a follow-up to make sure he is OK. Growling means your bunny is not happy. Does this happen only when you do certain things or is it random. Growling and grunting can also mean they don't like what you are doing to them at that time.

What state are you in? I can post some people in your area that may be able to help you.

When you say vibrating, does it seem like he is shaking?

Rdhrd70 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

I am in Wisconsin USA. Ill give you an example of when he will growl. He has a chair in the house that he likes to crawl under. If we go to get him out he will growl at us. He dosnt bit. He just makes the noise.
As far as the vet he is very good and I have had him since I was a young child with all my animals. He feels he is trying to see who is in charge per say.
Its like a quick twitching im not sure if I would call it shaking. Its not like he is scared. I know how he reacts when he is scared. He does a lot of the perring or teeth grinding and is big on licking me.
Thank you so much for the time. It is nice to get infomation from people who have bunnies and love them as I do.

Rookies mom

buns2008 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Fort Worth, TX

It sounds like the growling is just his way of saying "I am not ready to leave what I am doing right now." I had a bunny who was a grunter. Whenever I stopped him from doing something he isn't supposed to be doing he grunts at me, shakes his head and runs the other direction. It is just their way of communicating their displeasure.

It does take a month or two after neutering for some of the agressive behavior to stop. Thank you for neutering him. It is so nice to see people being responsible and it will make him happier as well.

Soft teeth grinding and licking is definitely a sign of affection for you! The twitching is just probably a reaction to where you are petting him. As long as he isn't shaking he is just enjoying the attention!

Here is a link to a rabbit rescue in WI:
http://www.wisconsinhrs.org
Rescues are always willing to help and a great local resource for you.

Hope this helps a little! I wish you and Rookie many happy years together! Very Happy

Rdhrd70 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

Thank you so much for the advice. We wanted him nutered, he just had it done a little sooner then we liked because he was hummping the two dogs. As as gentile as the dogs are they let him ughh.. Sassy boys. Embarassed

Thank you much for your help.. Very Happy

buns2008 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Fort Worth, TX

Silly bunny! He was definitely ready for his snipping! Laughing