Aggressive but loving female

[PenPo]

Hi Everyone!

I have two 4 month old desexed rabbits a female (Penelope) & a male (Pony).
I've noticed before being desexed and after the female rabbit would hump the male rabbit, I believe this is a way of asserting dominance, but lately she's been biting him on the bum and chasing him. I haven't seen her hump him, is she with him? Or is she being mean too him?

He isn't playing back and I've noticed that he's got some scratches on him, they are on his side and it probably is possible that it's from him scratching himself (his nails do need to be cut) or is this from her being aggressive. In saying that they do clean each other and lay next to each other.

They have been together since birth and she is only 2 days older than him. They are mini lops and she is alot bigger than him.

What's your insight towards this? And if she is being too aggressive, what do you recommend me to do?

 

[PenPo]

I woke up this morning and there was more scratches further down and this time it was deeper. I don't think it's him scratching himself now. I think she must be doing this to them. I've locked him away in a separate cage to her. Any ideas?

 

[lovelops]

It sounds to me from the humping that she is asserting dominance over him and possibly either wanting to play or is just being way too aggressive with him. For now I would keep them separated. I'm having to do that with my Holland Lop and Giant or else she will beat the dickens out of her and they both have been fixed.

 

[PenPo]

Thanks,

I'm now starting to find out that the scratching isn't from her and I've sort of figured out why she's been biting him. Playful or not.. I did separate them this morning, her in the run and him in the cage and they kept licking each others noses.

I had a further look at his scratches and I now believe it is mites as I bagged some of his fur and there was some tiny black bugs. I've looked on her skin and she's got them too. Not as bad as he is.

I'm going to the vets when they open and I'll post about it!

Thanks for the help.

 

[Imbrium]

Best of luck! Mites are typically treated with selamectin (Revolution or Advantage in the US) or ivermectin; selamectin is generally considered the better route but either is effective. NEVER give or let a vet give fipronil (Frontline) and NEVER give OTC cat/dog treatments (I forget what the other common ingredient is if it's not fipronil) - they can be fatal to bunnies.

 

[JBun]

I'm glad that you were able to figure out what is going on and that you don't have to split up your pair. I agree with Jennifer, that revolution(selemectin) is the preferred treatment, as you usually only have to apply one dose, and maybe possibly a second 30 days later. With ivermectin you have to give at least 3 doses 2 weeks apart. One correction though, is with Advantage, it is only effective against fleas and not mites.

 

[Imbrium]

oh, is it? I thought they were both selamectin... my bad ><

 

[JBun]

No, regular Advantage is imidacloprid.

 

[PenPo]

Okay. I've gotten a different result.
So the vet gave me mite treatment anyways. He said it's very odd to have one rabbit with scratches and other not. We examined him and he has what looks to be bite marks. They have had a change in environment and she doesn't have anything on her. He's given me a course of antibiotics for Pony.

It looks like it has sadly resulted in her bullying him. They do have to live separately. I will introduce them back to each other after he's healed. I don't know if the change in climate has anything to do with it? It's been getting hotter and doing my best to keep them cool.

I'll have to come up with an alternative for playing and sleeping now.

So sad, after they've been brought up together from the day he was born.