FreezeNkody
4 Fuzz-Butts
So I got a new Lop tonight, seems to have settled in. but I noticed a behavior.. He Humps a ball... is that normal? i was told he was fixed.
Humping ...
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Some rabbits will still hump a little even though they are fixed, but it's usually a dominance thing with other rabbits. Your rabbit doing it with a ball makes me think that maybe he isn't neutered. Is the person that told you he was neutered, reliable. Unless you got him from a shelter, individual sellers have been known to lie about these things. Did you happen to get a spay/neuter certificate proving that he was really neutered?
FreezeNkody
4 Fuzz-Butts
I got him from a girl off craigslist. i felt sorry for the bugger and he's so cute. I'm almost 100% sure he's going to try and be dominant with my 2 dwarfs, but if they never meet it's ok. they all have the same amount of play time out of the cages. And I dont have anything from her that proves. When i take him to the vet i'll have them give him a check up
Korr_and_Sophie
Well-Known Member
Neutered rabbits generally don't hump objects.
Luckily with males, it is pretty easy to tell if they have been neutered as they won't have testicles (assuming the rabbit is old enough to have them, usually over about 3-4 months).
I would keep him away from your other rabbits until you know if he has been neutered. An intact male can want to hump other rabbits a lot and could get into fights. So until you are sure, don't let them together. If he is not neutered and you plan on getting it done, wait a few weeks after before trying to introduce them.
Luckily with males, it is pretty easy to tell if they have been neutered as they won't have testicles (assuming the rabbit is old enough to have them, usually over about 3-4 months).
I would keep him away from your other rabbits until you know if he has been neutered. An intact male can want to hump other rabbits a lot and could get into fights. So until you are sure, don't let them together. If he is not neutered and you plan on getting it done, wait a few weeks after before trying to introduce them.
FreezeNkody
4 Fuzz-Butts
I'm almost wondering if these people really took care of him properly. He is a little skinny. and when i picked him up i noticed a funky odor.
i know about dwarfs, but not much of Holland lops. i wonder if he has an ear infection. or what is the smell of an un-neutered male?
i know about dwarfs, but not much of Holland lops. i wonder if he has an ear infection. or what is the smell of an un-neutered male?
His scent glands might need to be cleaned. They can get pretty stinky. Did they send a bag of his regular pellets, with him, and do you know about transitioning pellets? That can be pretty important with a new rabbit, so they don't end up getting sick.
FreezeNkody
4 Fuzz-Butts
He has a bit of pellets he came with, and I bought some new stuff last night for all of them. probably not the same as his? it was in a bucket. I'm getting worried i just got dooped. But even if hes not healthy he'll now get the care he needs now. but i'm clueless about lops. lol Today will be me calling around for a vet that is rabbit savvy.
FreezeNkody
4 Fuzz-Butts
Update.. I just checked his ears, there is no swelling or crusty stuff in them. I think he may just need a bath. any suggestions on giving him one? He's skittish and doesn't like to be picked up
agnesthelion
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I wanted to agree with everyone else that humping objects might indicate he isn't neutered.
As far as the smell, do you notice it after he has humped something? Intact males are "stinkier" that neutered ones, IMO. Also, the scent glands could need cleaned out too. Bathes are not recommended for rabbits except in extreme cases. Putting them in water can actually be traumatic and dangerous to them. Have you looked him all over? Make sure there isn't any pee/cecals dried on him somewhere.ms it cleaning with a damp rag OR unscented baby wipes would be a waynto clean him rather than a bath.
As far as the smell, do you notice it after he has humped something? Intact males are "stinkier" that neutered ones, IMO. Also, the scent glands could need cleaned out too. Bathes are not recommended for rabbits except in extreme cases. Putting them in water can actually be traumatic and dangerous to them. Have you looked him all over? Make sure there isn't any pee/cecals dried on him somewhere.ms it cleaning with a damp rag OR unscented baby wipes would be a waynto clean him rather than a bath.
You really shouldn't bathe a rabbit unless absolutely necessary as it can be extremely stressful for some rabbits. And if he is skittish, it doesn't sound like it would be good. Rabbits are always cleaning themselves, so bathing isn't necessary. You could use a cloth or unscented baby wipes to wipe off the surface of his fur. Did you check the scent glands down by his butt? They can get a buildup of this waxy stuff and it can get REALLY stinky. Just use a warm moistened qtip to clean them off. They are in the crevice on each side of between where they pee and poop.
FreezeNkody
4 Fuzz-Butts
I haven't given him an exam yet, only reason is I just got him last night. and he's not so comfy with me picking him up yet. and when I do pet him he kinda crouches to the ground., He is jumping up onto the couch though and "flops" I think when He gets a bit more used to me i'll check him. I've never had to clean a rabbits glands. (well at least on my 2 dwarfs they don't have this smell) it smells more like his ears but then again i've never smelled this before. It's like a musty/yeast infection smell. But all in all he's super active. But I don't think introducing him to my other smaller ones is going to be possible, he seems rather dominate. and i don't want to break Freeze and Kodys bond or worse get them hurt. He also I noticed Chins everything. is that a sign of an un-fixed male? I so badly want to flip him over and see if he has some testies. but i don't want to freak out.
My altered rabbits still chin things. The scent glands actually smell like a skunk smell, just not as strong. If it seems to be coming from his ears, you may want to take him into the vet in case it's an ear infection. Is he shaking his head a lot or scratching at his ears?
If he's flopping, it sounds like he is feeling pretty comfortable. The crouching down when you pet him may just be that he likes you petting him. My rabbits pancake sometimes when I pet them. Unless his eyes get really big and he starts breathing fast when you do it, then he may be a little nervous.
If he's flopping, it sounds like he is feeling pretty comfortable. The crouching down when you pet him may just be that he likes you petting him. My rabbits pancake sometimes when I pet them. Unless his eyes get really big and he starts breathing fast when you do it, then he may be a little nervous.
FreezeNkody
4 Fuzz-Butts
No head shaking at all! His ears look super clean. it may be the case I was lied to and he's not fixed. It doesn't smell like a skunk. it's musty.
FreezeNkody
4 Fuzz-Butts
One more thing I noticed. is he poops everywhere! i clean it up and he does it again, he pooped on my couch! is that a "territory" marking thing?
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The pooping is territory marking, and as he gets used to his new home, he should do it less. But sometimes it takes neutering to get a bun to have better litter box habits. So if he isn't already, then that is something you may want to do.
