Need help - is my rabbit mentally ill?

[Aquariel]

I have a rabbit, male, French Lop, not quite one year old. He has always had a playful, active and very affectionate personality. He is a house rabbit, and I do not cage him. He has his own room which is baby-gated at night or when I'm not home but otherwise he has free range of the house. He has loads of toys and obstacles in his room and around the house to play with. He is on a normal diet of varying greens and veggies morning and evening, unlimited hay and occasional pieces of fruit for treats. He is neutered.

About a week ago he started behaving completely the opposite of his usual self. He doesn't want me to touch him. He runs away when I come near him, even if I get down on his level to not appear frightening. I try not to corner him because I know that can scare a rabbit, but I wanted to check that he wasn't injured or ill. The one time I did this he growled and charged at me. He has NEVER done that before. He usually greets me with binkies and nibbles on my pants.

I took him to the vet so they could check him over. He has no injuries and isn't sick. He's still eating and drinking normally and his digestive process is fine, including his cecum. He was very aggressive with the vet, growling at her and he bit her.

What could have caused his personality and his affection for me to have completely changed seemingly overnight? He was fine one night and completely different the next morning. D: I'm at my wits end worrying about my baby.

 

[MiniLopHop]

Did they do any kind of blood work? Check the teeth?

I suspect pain is involved, but that is baffling. Cound something traumatic happened to him (scared by another animal or child etc)?

 

[Aquariel]

Yes, when I took him to the vet she checked everything she could think of (I was freaking out thinking he could be in GI stasis), his teeth, his body temperature, made sure he was hydrated, she checked for infections. Nothing appears to be wrong physically. I don't have any other pets and my husband and I have no kids so if something upset him that much I have no idea what it could have been. He won't come out of his room, but he isn't hunching over or grinding his teeth. I can actually stand outside his room and watch him and he appears normal as long as I keep my distance. As soon as I step into his room though, he gets defensive and angry.

 

[MiniLopHop]

Were you or your husband around other animals that you might have their smell on you?

This might sound weird, but are you recently pregnant? Sometimes animals know first.

Accidentally drop anything in his vicinity that could have scared him?

Just trying to brainstorm. :?

 

[Aquariel]

Not pregnant that I know of but now I'm paranoid and might check. xD My period isn't due for another week.

I haven't dropped anything recently but I did think of something while going over any new sounds or smells in the house. We replaced the carpets just after Christmas because our house is 20 years old and had the original carpets the previous owners installed. We took him over to my grandmother's house while that was going on so the work didn't scare him, but maybe the smell is freaking him out?

Edit: Also my sister has a German Shepherd. I do visit her every once in a while, but I've come home from her house tons of times in the 9 months we've had Tank. Could be it though.

 

[MiniLopHop]

I would bet money it is the carpet! New carpet stinks and tends to give me a migraine. Imagine being down on the floor smelling that 24/7 with a much more sensitive nose.

Being in California can you open some windows and air it out a little more? It will probably just take time to get rid of the new carpet smell and for him to get his chin smell to be the dominating scent.

From what I understand, for rabbits living in a space that smells like themselves, even though we can't smell it, is very soothing. It's the smell of home and safety. He's probably just stressed that his whole scent environment changed so he is feeling like something is going to eat him at any moment, hence the aggression.

Do you have any blankets or something from before that has his scent on it that you can put down on the floor in his room? That might help a little. Otherwise I would just air it out the best you can and give it time.

 

[Aquariel]

Yeah, I have a couple blankets and rugs I lay down on the tile for him because tile scares him. I'll put them down over the carpet and open his windows during the day. Hopefully that will help.

Edit:I'll keep you posted!

 

[LakeCondo]

Sounds good.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Smells and changing locations can really have an effect on your bun. Over time they can change quite a bit too for no apparent reason--just "because".

 

[gmas rabbit]

I agree, nothing gives me a headache faster than new carpeting. I actual have to shampoo it so that I can live with it. If he is sensitive he may have a headache.

 

[OneTwoThree]

Oh the new carpeting being the issue was a good one, that could do it!

Also, just to be clear, your vet is an exotic vet right? Not just a cat/dog vet?

I'd get lots of fleece blankets and maybe a throw rug to put over his room, those should absorb his scent pretty fast.

 

[Aquariel]

Update: After having his tile blankies and rugs down, and I took his fleece bed and rubbed it all over the carpet Tank has improved A LOT. He's still agitated but he let me come into the room to feed him and put the bowl right in front of him without growling at me.

 

[MiniLopHop]

Excelent! I think you definately have figured out the issue and a good way to help him feel more comfortable. I'm glad everyone is starting to settle back in.