Chewing her feet

[MIKEP]

Hello. I have a 3 months old doe which I noticed she has been chewing her feet for the past week and I seriously wonder what could lead her to do that while her companion, a ND buck who is a month older than her not showing such behaviour.

I attached some photos and shared some her living condition here:

1. Living indoor and roaming around the apartment whenever I was at home.
2. She has a ND buck companion which is 1 month older than her.
3. Both the bunnies are not yet spayed and neutered for I realised they must be at least 5 months or older for the procedure.
4. I kept both of them in a 120cm x 60cm enclosure with fence and mosaic floor.
5. Litter box is provided with alphafa hay being fed.
6. They were also fed with green vege and Rabbit Diet Food of pellets in all Apple, Raspberry and Wildberry flavours.

It would be great if the expert here could shed some light. Thanks!

 

[Spectacles]

Are you sure it’s her chewing her own feet not the buck?

 

[MIKEP]

Are you sure it’s her chewing her own feet not the buck?

very sure. I've been monitoring them since I adopted both of them. The doe, Maya, has been a sweet heart to me and I got her first before I got the ND buck, Pepsi, in a week later.

Maya used to be very affectionate when I just got her at a month old and she would rush to me everytime when I came home from work or came out from my room every morning but not so anymore. Unlike Pepsi, shy and skittish mostly, given that it is the nature of a ND so I didn't bother.

I just took this picture and as usual, chewing? grooming? licking? her feet


This picture was taken like a month plus ago and I understand bunnies are very territorial animals but I got them young so they have socialised well together, I barely see them grooming each other and if Pepsi has been chewing on Maya, she would had a fight with him long time ago and refused to be fenced together with him.

 

[Spectacles]

I actually have a Netherland dwarf and a Netherland dwarf cross and both love to groom them self’s but if it isn’t Pepsi could she be allergic to the hey, your using, was she doing it when you got her and have you mabey changed the kind of hey or bedding your using

 

[MIKEP]

I actually have a Netherland dwarf and a Netherland dwarf cross and both love to groom them self’s but if it isn’t Pepsi could she be allergic to the hey, your using, was she doing it when you got her and have you mabey changed the kind of hey or bedding your using

That I couldn't be sure if it were the new hay and bedding causing Maya to chew her feet. She didn't chew her feet regularly when I just got her in June and she was just a month old. I first got timothy hay for them but realised alphafa hay is better for younger rabbits so I switched to alphafa hay and shall feed them this until they are 6 months older.

This is the bedding I've been using for a month and I only placed it in the litter box and will clean the litter every alternate day.


Though I would change to dryper after finished using the above bedding as I thought this would be more economical.


This is the pellets I've been feeding them for a month and I would rotate the 3 flavours which are meant to keep them healthy.


The 60cm x 90cm enclosure I would keep them at night or whenever I'm out of the house. I gave them some chewing toys like the apple wooden stick or paper box whenever possible.

 

[Spectacles]

Well all I can think of is that mabey she is allergic to something she is walking in, I would advise mabey trying to find out what they used where you got her from or if it’s causing her discomfort mabey take her to the vet and they could run some tests and find out what’s going on, I can’t really think of anything else, sorry

 

[MIKEP]

Well all I can think of is that mabey she is allergic to something she is walking in, I would advise mabey trying to find out what they used where you got her from or if it’s causing her discomfort mabey take her to the vet and they could run some tests and find out what’s going on, I can’t really think of anything else, sorry

Thank you. I'm planning to do so before the situation worsen but thought may be could get some advice online before going to the vet as you know vet would charge on high consultation fee.

 

[Spectacles]

I’m so sorry I couldn’t be more help, we are facing the possibility of a larg vet bill myself and I know that can be tough, again sorry I couldn’t be more help, good luck

 

[MIKEP]

I’m so sorry I couldn’t be more help, we are facing the possibility of a larg vet bill myself and I know that can be tough, again sorry I couldn’t be more help, good luck

no worries. thanks a lot too.

 

[Aira]

It looks like the bunny I had. When I took him to the vet I was told he had mites. He had scaly skin on the toes. Don’t want to worry you but the best practice is always to take rabbit to the GOOD vet. I know it costs money but you don’t want it to escalate.

 

[rabbitlover2019]

there may be some infection/Parasites

 

[MIKEP]

I shall find a day to bring Maya to see a vet. I read online situation could get worse until the bunny has to be put down and hope this would not happen to Maya . She's just 3 months old If it was an infection or parasites, would it spread? Pepsi doesn't show any sign of what Maya have.

 

[lolly 1969]

My bun had mites on his feet
We thought that he pulled his nails off as on a closer inspection the paws were red raw, so took boo to our vet here in malta, she gave antibiotics and cleaned his paws it was not a pleasent experience but it had to be done, then we had to take rexie roo because she caught them too they are contagious so be careful if you have other buns. Be meticulous about the cleanliness of where they sleep etc. Animal friendly disinfectant is the best

 

[rabbitlover2019]

I shall find a day to bring Maya to see a vet. I read online situation could get worse until the bunny has to be put down and hope this would not happen to Maya . She's just 3 months old If it was an infection or parasites, would it spread? Pepsi doesn't show any sign of what Maya have.

its best to be inspected by an experienced vet.

 

[lolly 1969]

I totally agree. Best to take to the vet. It took 3 injections of antbiotics and one main clean on initial visit to the vet after 2/3days he was back to his normal self binkying etc much happier.
This is Rexie Roo And Boo.

 

[Niomi]

I think you first need to take your rabbit to a vet to make sure it is not a medical condition. If there is no medical condition, then it could be an obsessive compulsive disorder. Just because two rabbits can live together, that doesn't make them a bonded pair. If you put them in a large cage and they stay on opposite sides of the cage, they may be just tolerating each other. It is possible that your female might do better if she had her own cage, if this is the case.

I had one rabbit that used to chew the top of his foot until it was raw and bloody. I borrowed him to a college so that the vet tech students could practice physical examinations on live rabbits, and that is when he started self mutilating. When I found out what was happening, I brought him home and he stopped chewing his foot, and was a happy guy again.

 

[lolly 1969]

Hello. I have a 3 months old doe which I noticed she has been chewing her feet for the past week and I seriously wonder what could lead her to do that while her companion, a ND buck who is a month older than her not showing such behaviour.

I attached some photos and shared some her living condition here:

1. Living indoor and roaming around the apartment whenever I was at home.
2. She has a ND buck companion which is 1 month older than her.
3. Both the bunnies are not yet spayed and neutered for I realised they must be at least 5 months or older for the procedure.
4. I kept both of them in a 120cm x 60cm enclosure with fence and mosaic floor.
5. Litter box is provided with alphafa hay being fed.
6. They were also fed with green vege and Rabbit Diet Food of pellets in all Apple, Raspberry and Wildberry flavours.

It would be great if the expert here could shed some light. Thanks!


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That is definately mites. It will not be a huge bill, well it was not for us it cost €15 for 1st antibiotic ***, clean his nails as they became so encrusted and really sore, and a general medical examination. I dont know how much vets fees are where you are from. But trust me it will be worth it

 

[MIKEP]

That is definately mites. It will not be a huge bill, well it was not for us it cost €15 for 1st antibiotic ***, clean his nails as they became so encrusted and really sore, and a general medical examination. I dont know how much vets fees are where you are from. But trust me it will be worth it

Thank you! I will make appointment with vet this week and better yet to check them both! I came home today in the evening to find pile of fur of both Maya and Pepsi around the enclosure. Look like they were fighting or trying to escape! I never came home to find such chaos! I know rabbits shed their fur occasionaly but this is something new!

 

[MIKEP]

I have read online and some recommend the spray for anti bacteria/fungus/virus. Wonder this would work and should get things like this as part of maintaining the rabbit's health.

 

[Domino Rabbit]

Lots of time my rabbit would gently chew his paws. Other times he would chew more when his nails were to long or fur got in his way. Once nails trimmed about one or two days later much less feet chewing.