Loss of trust. How do I get it back?

[Jennifer Eames]

We rescued the most affectionate rabbit I have ever come across. He loved to give kisses and snuggle up to you. He ran up to us, followed us all around the house, run around our feet, reach to be picked up ect.... He was also calm and would just let the business of the house happen around him with out being scared.

We had him neutered because I have have other rabbits in another room and I have one who lost her family to a dog attack and was hoping to bond them but didn’t want babies.

After his surgery he was still affectionate but part of the wound wasn’t healing as well and he needed medicine. He was not happy to take it and now doesn’t trust me to not give him meds and runs from everyone. He is scared when anyone enters the room now. He doesn’t want to be picked up anymore either. When he does jump up where we are sitting he bites and scratches.

It has been 2 months and he is still untrusting no matter my efforts to reestablish it.
He is the prince of the house and quite spoiled but he was before the surgery and he was not fearful of us and was bonded to all of us. He still gives kisses though so there is that.
Any tricks I may not have tried?

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

Aw. Don’t worry, he’ll definitely come back to you.

A few ideas:

1. Sit on the floor in his enclosure and ignore him. Have a banana or one of his favourite treats by your side. If he comes up to you, move slowly and offer him a bit of the banana.

2. Offer him a small treat like a pellet, whenever you walk into his room or enclosure. He’ll start to associate you with food.

Don’t force him to be picked or stroked, that could just make him more scared.
As for him biting and scratching, tell him a firm ‘no’ and move him from wherever he was.
Good luck!