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Emily94 · Mar 22, 2009, 11:16 AM

Hello, if you guys have read some of my posts you'll know my rabbit is being very unfriendly, but recently my sister got a zue/poodle. It is about the size of Mocha(The bunny), and when Mocha was out of her cage Masey(the dog) decided to go play with her, Mocha would chase Masey and then Masey would chase Mocha. When they got tired they both just lied down. They get along great. And my rabbit was more friendly when they were playing. But now my rabbit is starting to get very aggressive with the dog... the dog doesn't seem to mind and cntinues to want to play with the bunny... Is Mocha just playing.. . or does she just not want to play with the dog anymore?
(also Mocha is getting unfriendly to people again and when strangers come in she attacks them... she is not in her cage very often)

Alty · Mar 22, 2009, 11:23 AM

Have you had Mocha spayed yet? If not, this is likely the cause of her further aggression.

Rabbits are very territorial, but also social. They don't like being alone, they prefer having a friend.

An unspayed female will be far more aggressive then a spayed one, that's just fact.

So, have her spayed, if she's still aggressive then we can work from there, but until she's spayed I'm afraid this aggression will continue.

Emily94 · Mar 22, 2009, 11:26 AM

I just had my first shift today so I won't be able to get her fixed for another 2-3 weeks... but there is no "rabbit vets" in my area...

Alty · Mar 22, 2009, 11:29 AM

Have you tried calling your locale human society? If they have rabbits there then they likely have a vet that is versed in rabbit care.

Emily94 · Mar 22, 2009, 11:32 AM

They send tere rabbits to a vet that's about 3 hours away. And my mom won't drive me three hours to get her fixed, but my aunts rabbit was spayed here, but the vet wasn't actually a vet for rabbits, and I'm worried he might mess it up...

Alty · Mar 22, 2009, 11:56 AM

Is your Aunts rabbit okay? Did she have any complications? If not, then it will probably be okay.

Rabbits have a unique system, that's why most vets don't know how to spay or neuter them, but, that's not to say that some vets, even though they don't specialize in rabbits, can't do the surgery.

Talk to him, ask him how many spays he's done on rabbits, what the outcome was, what his experience with rabbits is, etc. etc.

Finding a vet the specializes in rabbits isn't easy. It's preferable when you have a rabbit to find a vet that specializes, but sometimes you have to take what you can get. If he's done a lot of surgeries and has a good track record then I would feel comfortable letting him do the surgery.

Emily94 · Mar 23, 2009, 02:43 PM

Okay well our dogs are going for shots soon, so I can ask him then:)

Alty · Mar 23, 2009, 02:58 PM

Great idea. Make a list of the questions you'll want to ask.

Here are the best questions to ask, found on the House rabbit society website;

Ask how many rabbits are seen at the clinic each week.

Ask how many rabbits are spayed or neutered each week.

Ask if they know which antibiotics are dangerous for rabbits (amoxicillin and most of the "...cillin" drugs like penicillin. Also see below).

Casually ask about preventing hairballs. Q: "What's the best way to prevent hairballs?" A: "Provide your rabbit with hay every day, preferably 24 hours a day. Provide daily exercise and brush frequently"

Ask if food has to be removed the night before surgery. The answer should be "no". Rabbits should never be fasted.

You might also want to ask which conferences they've attended lately that had talks about rabbit medicine and what journals they read. We want our veterinarians to be up on the latest in rabbit treatment.
If you don't get the "right" answers to the above questions, continue your search.

Emily94 · Mar 23, 2009, 03:07 PM

Okay well would you be able to give me kind of a heads ups on what she'll be like after surgery... her activity level, her appitite etc.
I've had a couple rabbits but I've never had one spayed..

Alty · Mar 23, 2009, 03:22 PM

She'll be lethargic and a bit dopey for the first day, giver her plenty of food and water, rabbits don't have a gag reflex so they don't need to be deprived of food after surgery like cats or dogs.

She'll need to wear an elizabethan collar until her surgery wound is healed. Rabbits will bite out the stiches or staples, so this is really important. The collars are hard to keep on, I laced mine through a cat harness and put it on my bunny that way.

Be prepared for the rabbit to lose some hair from stress and the collar, don't worry, it will grow back.

Usually by the second day they are their own hoppy little selves, it's just a matter of waiting for the wound to heal and voilà, happy bunny. :)

Also, be prepared to cut down the collar, most are too big for rabbits. Make sure your rabbit can eat and drink but not get to her stiches or staples.

Also, your vet will provide pain meds for the first 3 days, make sure you give them to your rabbit as prescribed.

She'll be okay, don't worry. I have 4 rabbits, 2 girls 2 boys all fixed and I've never had a problem. :)

Emily94 · Mar 23, 2009, 03:24 PM

Okay, I'm just a little worried:P

Alty · Mar 23, 2009, 03:30 PM

It's natural to worry, I did too, but all my rabbits came out of the surgery okay.

I can't guarantee anything, surgery is always risky, no matter who or what you are, but in this case it's necessary, your rabbit will live longer, up to 9 years longer by doing this.

If you have any concerns discuss them with the vet, he should be able to answer any questions you have.

You're doing the best thing for your bunny. It's not easy, it's not fun to watch them in pain, but the pain is minimal compared to the benefits of spaying.

Take a look at this site, it's the best site I've ever found about rabbits and rabbit care.

House Rabbit Society Rabbit Care Guide

Don't worry too much, I'm sure everything will be okay. :)