Can bunnies get depressed?

[Mariah]

So just a little background history. Citrus-neutered buck (4.5 years) and Kiwi-spayed doe (1 year) lived together and were bonded for about a year. Citrus passed away at the end of April (RIP my sweet little boy). The day I came home without Citrus, Kiwi looked everywhere for him for about a week. Now, she seems withdrawn. If I'm not sitting with her out of her cage, she just sits and sulks. So about 2 weeks or so a go, I went and got her a new little friend who's name is Papaya. He's about 10 weeks now. Their cages are side by side (not touching) and they have been introduced to each other. Now I know, he needs to be neutered- she is already spayed before the true bonding can begin; however, Citrus and Kiwi were bonded before she was spayed (Citrus was already neutered) and they were both fine after I brought her home from being spayed. Nothing changed. It was love at first site.

Now Kiwi and Papaya... They will sniff for a second and either Kiwi will ignore Papaya or she will lunge and grunt at him, which of course I stop immediately. Papaya will sometimes try and mount Kiwi which I also stop because I'm afraid Kiwi may try and bite him.

I got Papaya so Kiwi would be happy again and it's not working. Any suggestions on how to heal Kiwi's broken heart? She really misses Citrus.

Also, another thing that may be playing a factor in Kiwis moods is just this past Thursday, we moved to a new apartment. Keep in mind, she was acting this way before we moved as well.

 

[ZRabbits]

Kiwi is out of sorts. She's lost that bond that gave her trust and now she's scared and lost emotionally.

Here's my experience with a lost bond. Sorry I'm long winded so please bare with me.

Dobby and Kreacher, though not from the same mother (Kreacher fostered) were bonded from the beginning. The bond grew after Kreacher got ill. Him and Dobby were inseparable. With me, they were always aloof. I was the Food Giver, that was it. They were safe and secure with each other, so that trust, we as bunny owners need to get, was only given partially.

But unfortunately on October 31st, 2011, that bond was broke by a very scary incident. I still get the chills. I woke up to Dobby's face being partially bald. I got lucky. Bunny fights can be nasty. And truly understand the ramifications of what COULD have happened.

Dobby and Kreacher were split. They reacted the same way your Kiwi is now. They would be active with me, but on their own, as you say "sit and sulk".

What I did was spend time with them individually, playing, grooming, just sitting or reading, eventually that sulking stopped, they felt that safety again. That trust. They got over that hard patch. Will I put them together again. I loved to now that they are 1 years old. But in a very safe environment, like their run. They will always have their own rooms.

With that I say, get Kiwi's trust back, work on Papaya's trust. Treat them as individuals. When you have Papaya neutered, they in a safe environment, let them really know each other.

It will take time and patience. They're worth it.

Hope this helps.

K

 

[Mariah]

Zrabbits, very true. Citrus was her big brother. She always hid behind him when she was scared. She was always the timid one even though she would let me pick her up (didn't like it) Citrus would never let me pick him up.

I am trying to spend equal time with both Kiwi and Papaya, and give them equal time out of their cages. It's hard though!

It just breaks my heart to see Kiwi so sad. I'm in the process of building a bigger pen for both of them to have time out of their cages. Basicially, i want to be able to open their cage doors and they go right into the pen (separate times of course). My old set up was that Citrus and Kiwi spent the day together but at night, Citrus went back in his house and Kiwis cage was the pen. That's what I'm trying to do now but it's not completly bunny proofed or secure so I can't leave them alone for every long.

 

[ZRabbits]

Understand how hard it is. Lots of time involved. Believe me, there are days that I can't get all mine out individually. Sometimes I even stagger the time outs, where some get out and some don't. I felt guilty for not sticking to my original schedule, but they are all very content with it now.

Sounds like your future plans will be wonderful for both of them.

I was wondering. Is there any way you could switch pens with Kiwi and Papaya. Give Kiwi something different. Maybe that will stimulate her out of her shell to start the process of bonding with Papaya. I know it stimulates my bunnies when I rearrange their crates. It's like a whole new view.

Hope this helps.

I know you want her to be herself again. It's tough to see them not themselves.



K

 

[MiniLopHop]

Basically they have lost their spouce, so there is lots of grief. I think it is harder for a bun to move on if they didn't see the body so they know what happened.

Two months ago Cinderella got very sick. In the end we needed to have her put to sleep because the medication wouldn't control the seizures. Houdini, her husbunny, was with her as she passed. I let him have some time with her body so he knew what happened. When we went home he would lay in the doorway to their burrow and sulk. He wouldn't eat or groom himself. I couldn't even tempt him with his favortie snacks. I was afraid we were going to lose him too.

I took him to a rescue for bunny dates the same weekend Cinderella passed. He didn't like the first girl he met, but when Sophie came into the room he immeditely started to groom himself and wanted to sit next to her. Now the two of them are inseperable.

Honestly the first couple weeks I was a little mad at Houdini for moving on so easily, but he was right. He knew what happened to Cinderella and that she wasn't coming back. He had taken care of her faithfully the last few weeks when she was sick. Houdini and Sophie deserve to be happy together. However, Sophie doesn't keep his ears as clean, but she's a good second wife.

Sophie was not spayed yet when I bonded them. They clicked and spent their first night on in his space, they never had any issues other than a little humping. When Sophie got spayed, about two weeks after moving in, Houdini went with her to the vet. They said he kept close eye on her the whole time and groomed her face as she was waking up. I think having the mate at the vet really reduces the stress for both.

Good luck with your babies, the grief process is hard on both you and them. With all the extra love they should be back to themselves in no time.

 

[Mariah]

Hi again,

I could switch houses with them, however Papaya is currently being treated for coccidia... He also had pinworms which I already finished the treatment for. I haven't seen any worms but according to his fecal I took into work (im a vet tech) he unfortuntely was postive for those worms So I don't want to stick Kiwi in his house, even though I am disinfecting it everyday, usually about 3 times a day! I had a fecal done on Kiwi too and she was completly fine- thank goodness! Once Papaya tests negative, I will try switching houses with the two of them.

I feel so very bad for my little Kiwi. I couldn't imagine loosing my significant other I'm sure she knew Citrus was sick, but I don't think she got to say goodbye. Poor little girl.

 

[Mariah]

Ok so update on Kiwi's behaviour: I haven't let them play together recently because of Papaya's parasites. So I let them
have playtime separately. So Papaya was in his cage and Kiwi jumped on the top of his cage. She's done this before and
I always make her get down because it could be dangerous if she gets her foot stuck in the wire cage etc. I left for a second to grab something in another room, and when I came back, she had jumped on the top of Papaya's cage, pooped everything through the bars and peed all over Papaya's head and in his water dish!! Bad kiwi!! Poor Papaya was
soked in urine Why did she do this??? I of course cleaned him up but I can still smell pee on him

 

[ZRabbits]

I believe she was showing dominance. Bunnies do pee on people, objects and other bunnies to show that "it's theirs." Now that Citrus is gone, it seems now Kiwi is trying to find her way and now she needs to show dominance. It's a prey instinct. She felt safe when Citrus was there. Now a new bunny, she has no Citrus, she's showing dominance. At least she's starting to come out of that funk she was in. Though not in a way you really want her to show it. But it is her way as a bunny.

Time and patience. Please keep us updated.

K

 

[Mariah]

Ah dominance.... She jumped ontop the cage again tonight. Papaya wasent in the cage (thank goodness), no pee this time, just poop... But all in his water dish!

She then decided to break through the bunny barrier... They were together for literally a minute. No fighting, so I suppose that's good. Papaya did try to mount her which of course I separated them immediately.

Is he only mounting her cause of hormones?

 

[ZRabbits]

Mariah wrote:

Ah dominance.... She jumped ontop the cage again tonight. Papaya wasent in the cage (thank goodness), no pee this time, just poop... But all in his water dish!

She then decided to break through the bunny barrier... They were together for literally a minute. No fighting, so I suppose that's good. Papaya did try to mount her which of course I separated them immediately.

Is he only mounting her cause of hormones?

Not necessarily. Bunnies even neutered and spayed will hump each other. Mounting is not just hormones. It's another way for a bunny to show dominance.

K

 

[Mariah]

Hmmm. I don't know what to do?? It seems they want to be together. When I have them both out for playtime (with the bunny barrier up) Kiwi bites to bars to get to him, and then they both sit on either side together. Is this a good sign?

 

[ZRabbits]

Mariah wrote:

Hmmm. I don't know what to do?? It seems they want to be together. When I have them both out for playtime (with the bunny barrier up) Kiwi bites to bars to get to him, and then they both sit on either side together. Is this a good sign?

Means they are still interested in each other. Looks like a good sign to me. So thrilled for Kiwi. She's really starting to notice Papaya.

Keep going. The bunny barrier is helping. Stopping any fight but allowing them to see and smell each other.

Keep us updated.

K

 

[Mariah]

Update: I work 10.5 hour shifts most days at work. So I got home last night and let them both out in their play areas and went to take a shower. The bunny barrier isn't super secure but I figured for the 15 minutes I was in the shower it would be ok. When I got out, Kiwi had broken through the barrier... So of course I freaked out and ran in to see what they were doing. They were both in Papaya's house sitting in his litter box together! No injuries but Papaya was excited and was trying to mount Kiwi. Kiwi was just ignoring him and eating his hay! I did seperate them right away due to Papaya's parasites. But I guess it was good that they weren't fighting?

I'm thinking they may become friends afterall!! Yay for Kiwi and Papaya!!