A good VENTING sesh about my carpet eating bunny. Possible advice needed if you have it

[Floyd2019]

I didn't know which forum to post this in because it fits almost all of them. Really i just need to vent!
I have posted about my unneutered rabbit who has started chewing the carpet before and didn't get much advice. I talked to a behaviourist who said beitering probably won't help that behaviour - i can't get him a friend because i was barely allowed to have one rabbit in this house and would be kicked out for two, and my ENTIRE house is covered in this ugly shaggy 70's carpet that is covered in god knows what smells despite deep cleaning it multiple times!

Floyd has definitely ingested at least a few fibres from the carpet and everything i have read says basically he will die. I have tried covering as much of the carpet as i can but it's really my whole house and he doesn't have "favourite" spots, hes3 down to chew anywhere. At this point i dont care about the carpet but am worried about his health. He isn't a free roamer. Has an XPen space that is covered and i usually let him out under supervision but before the carpet chewing started i felt comfortable puttering around the house and having him out and about doing his thing. It made me happy to know he could have hours of free roaming and space and now I get nervouse to let him out unless my full attention is on him.

I just need to vent or maybe someone has more advice i don't know what to do. I'm worried about him. His poops have been a bit smaller lately, still hay filled, golden and plentiful but a tiny bit smaller. I'm not super concerned about that but want to nip this in the bud so badly.

He was a sick baby, possible megacolon symptoms in the first few months of his life. We were just starting to have a relaxed worry free time to bond and now I'm constantly clapping at him, yelling no, punishing him in his xpen, buying him endless toys and stressing.

I don't want ti be one of those people who's whole house is covered in blankets and looks like crap while i hover around my rabbit and can't live my life due to worry. It's consuming me because i love him so much and so many people on the internet have basically said i am sh*t outta luck. That just can't be true *face palm*

 

[Floyd2019]

Oops "neutering" typo, and by punishing i mean just putting him in his x pen when he doesn't wanna be in there because he was chewing.

 

[Blue eyes]

Are you planning on neutering him? Some rabbits will stop the excessively destructive chewing once neutered (...well, several weeks post neuter).

 

[Floyd2019]

Are you planning on neutering him? Some rabbits will stop the excessively destructive chewing once neutered (...well, several weeks post neuter).

I was planning on neutering him eventually. He is just under a year old right now, like 9 months i think. I can tell he is starting those habits like his litter training is slowly disappearing, he ised to be perfectly trained and he attempted to hump my leg the other night which was kind of hilariou because he's so small. But on my last thread about neutering this person scared me by telling me how both her rabbits recently died from anesthesia, and my rabbitbis my emotional support animal (i just call him that because he has helped me through some tough times) if anything were to happen to him i would lose it. So she completely scared me off from neutering him. As well, a rabbit specialist told me they don't thibk neutering will help with chewing so i keep getting oppositional opinions and I'm very confused.
This is my first ever rabbit

 

[Blue eyes]

A few things to consider...

Neutering is generally a safe procedure-- most especially when performed by an experienced vet. I would ask a local rabbit rescue for a rabbit vet reference. It is considerably less invasive than a spay. The following link includes a list of questions to ask a potential vet:
https://rabbit.org/faq-spaying-and-neutering/

The longer one waits to neuter, the more likely that naughty behaviors can become ingrained. He is more than old enough for a neuter.

Neutering absolutely could help with excessive chewing. Yes, all rabbits chew. But most will simmer down considerably after being fixed. ...however, you mentioned you have shag carpet? That is likely a temptation for just about any rabbit. Low pile carpets are less likely to be such a temptation.

I don't know your situation, but it might be worth thinking about choosing a specific room or area (ideally one you spend a lot of time in) and have the shag replaced with something more suitable.

 

[Floyd2019]

A few things to consider...

Neutering is generally a safe procedure-- most especially when performed by an experienced vet. I would ask a local rabbit rescue for a rabbit vet reference. It is considerably less invasive than a spay. The following link includes a list of questions to ask a potential vet:
https://rabbit.org/faq-spaying-and-neutering/

The longer one waits to neuter, the more likely that naughty behaviors can become ingrained. He is more than old enough for a neuter.

Neutering absolutely could help with excessive chewing. Yes, all rabbits chew. But most will simmer down considerably after being fixed. ...however, you mentioned you have shag carpet? That is likely a temptation for just about any rabbit. Low pile carpets are less likely to be such a temptation.

I don't know your situation, but it might be worth thinking about choosing a specific room or area (ideally one you spend a lot of time in) and have the shag replaced with something more suitable.

It's a rental town house and I live in the basement which is completely covered in this. It's not a full shag but think those icky rugs with visible fibers that are in most 70s basements. Like it's your great grandmas rug you know. I can't get it removed because it's a full floor cover rug built in to the house covering cement and also it isn't my house to renovate. Unfortunately it is what i have to work with. I currently cover it with blankets but he can dog the blankets up.

There is a small animal and rabbit specialty clinic 2 hours away from the small town i live in. Worried driving home after the procedure would be a lot for him though

 

[zuppa]

Depending on your budget you could possibly buy a 2ndhand carpet low-pile or a piece of lino and just place over the shaggy flooring? Sometimes you can get decent carpet for really cheap from your local online adverts when people are moving etc, there's no point in investing serious money into rented accommodation