Please help

[Petunia]

I need any/all advice on how rabbits usually actwhen they're in heat...if they even act differently at all. My rabbithas NEVER tried to bite me or run away, and she has NEVER "screamed" atme when I try to pick her up and she is doing all of that now. She was"bunny-sat" while I was away...she wouldn't be scared of me now, wouldshe? I thought she might be in heat because her personality is totallydifferent. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[irishmist]

Screaming is not a good thing... she may be inpain. I would take her to the vet to get checked.She could have been dropped while you were away. Like I said bunnies donot scream for no good reason

Susan

 

[AmeliaOK]

She could be in heat, my bunny never used to actup, and all of the sudden shes been growling and running away fromme...she did a total personality change, and im pos. that it is becauseshe is in heat.

 

[la]

Oh my. I hope she is okay. I know that whenevermy female rabbit does have that "time" she is cranky, but she neverscreams at me or anyone. She just is irrtable and wants to stay in hercage. I hope she wasn't hurt while she was being watched by someoneelse. I do agree that she should be taken to a vet, even if they tellyou she is in heat. She isn't grinding her teeth in pain is she??

 

[Petunia]

She isn't grinding her teeth and she doesn'tsqueak or otherwise scream when I pet her...she flattens out. After Ipick her up, she quiets down, but she acts very upset and territorialbefore I am able to pick her up. I will take her to the vet to getchecked out, just to be sure she's just in heat and nothing else.

 

[TinysMom]

From my understanding - rabbits don't go into"heat" per se like cats and dogs. Female rabbits can matesomething like 13 days out of every 16 - or something likethat. From what I've been told - as they reach sexualmaturity - they become more territorial.

I got Miss Bea on Sunday and she's "interesting" forme. On Monday, she became very territorial about her cage andwould growl at me and lunge at me when I opened her cagedoor. She even bit me a couple of times - as well as mydaughter....even though it wasn't hard and didn't really break theskin.

I figured it was partly due to the fact that she's a doe andterritorial and partly due to the fact she's in a new place andnervous. When I'd reach in and calm her down, she'd sort ofcry - almost like a guinea pig's sounds (its been years since I'veheard a guinea pig - but that was what it reminded meof).

I've been working with her for 2 days now - sometimes she lunges andsometimes she lets me pet her. I'm trying to train her to seeme as something good by giving her a small treat when I reach in (evenif she lunges I put the treat in front of her after calmingherdown). She's becoming a lot more calm.

I emailed the breeder and she suggested that it was time to mate her ifshe was "growly". Since I got her to be part of my newherd...I was glad for the breeder's comments.

Anyway, since you were away and your girl was babysat - could she stillbe upset over that? If she wasn't screaming but insteadcrying...then I'd think she was upset - but if she's screaming, I agreethat perhaps she was dropped.

I hope you get this worked out.

Peg

 

[Petunia]

She is doing just what yours was doing...actingvery territorial and she did bite me for the first time today, but nothard. She kind of flattens out and raises her rear when I pet her,which is strange...and she doesn't seem uncomfortable when I massageher or hold her, so that makes me think that she isn't hurt. Do youthink it would be a good idea to get her spayed? I wonder if that mighttake away the territorial behavior.

 

[bunnydude]

If she is old enough (6 mos. +), definitely gether spayed. In addition to behavioral improvements, it can preventhealth risks like ovarian cancer. But make sure to find a bunny-savvyvet.

http://www.rabbit.org/care/vets.html