i have a rabbit and need help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

Question

i have a rabbit who we found out has been choked and hit by a 9 year old we used to live live with and now shes bites scraches and hisses i love her so much and will not get rid of her i need sugestions that will help her calm down,she has got a little better.no jokes

Answer 1

First thing, you should speak to that child's parents and reccomend some extensive therapy. Isn't that how most serial killers start out? I've taken in abused bunnies before, being a bunny breeder I tend to acquire strays that my extended family adopts from their friends and so forth. The best thing to do is to take it one day at a time, let her sniff you when you feed her and change her pen, speak softly or in a pleasant voice, while giving small pieces of apple or banana, never be grumpy or yell anywhere near her. It may take quite a while for her to trust people again, but it will be rewarding for you to see her coming up to you in trust than cowering in fear. :)

Answer 2

Hi sue,
how old is the bunny and how old was she when the abuse by the 9 yr old child started? It surprises me that a 9 yr old would do such a thing to an animal because they are old enough to know better and know that actions such as choking and hitting an animal will either kill the animal or turn it mean. This just saddens me and I'm so sorry for your dear bunny.
Here are my suggestions, they have worked for us in our taking care of a young wild cotton tail, I don't see why they wouldn't work for you too.

First off:
You need to place her cage in a room with little "Traffic" in or out (the quieter the better). Only interact with her to feed or provide water for her; at all times speaking in a very soft, calm voice making no sudden movements through the whole processes. Continue this process until she no longer hisses at you every time you come near her cage to give her food, treats or provide her water. When she stops hissing at you, stops lashing out at you when you reach into the cage to get the food dish; this is when you start making slow attempts to touch her and start working on gaining her trust back again. Please understand; this is going to be a slow, long and tedious process that will require a LOT of patience on your end in order to achieve the ultimate goal of having your loving bunny back.
Under no circumstances make any attempts to pick her up until she comes to YOU, nudging you, licking you or giving you love nips. Even making attempts to try to get into your lap seeking the attention she craves from you. Even at this time, move slowly, take it slow and easy so as not to scare her all the while allowing her to initiate the contact not you. Right now all she remembers is the abuse she had by a child.
There is however one thing important to note about her after this..... She will most likely forever hate and fear children and nothing you do will change that feeling.

Once she's allowing you to stroke her coat while you talk softly to her, you should be able to move her cage back where you kept her before in your house. However keep an eye on her at all times, should she appear to be stressing again, seem agitated, start hissing or scratching you again you will have to remove her and put her back in the "quiet" room.

You can coax her gently with treats to try to get her to come to you and allow you to cuddle her or pet her etc. However that will only work for a short time with her and well, treats on a regular basis aren't good for her to begin with anyway.

I do hope this will help her and you. It will take time and patience as I said but she should come around at her own pace.

*hugs*
Please feel free to e-mail me about how old she was when she was abused and how old she is now. I'm hoping she's still pretty young so the abuse will be something she can forget easier than if she were older.

Answer 3

I had a rabbit that became very calm when I started feeding her mostly by hand, and always before giving her more food. Give her a couple of small grapes once in awhile. Try holding her in a baby tummy pouch also. And to not freak her out when you go to pick her up, never chase her. Show her something in front of her to get her attention fixed on that, and then calmly scoop her up by the tummy and put the once distracting hand over her shoulders and bring her into your chest with both hands and hold her quiet for a moment. If she stays out of touching range, just sit down and ignore her, and she will come over when she knows you've given up trying to get near her.

Answer 4

I think you should just introduce her to yourself and others SLOWLY. Of course you probably already know this. I think a quiet environment would help. Also, when you go to pet her reach slowly and be really quiet. That should allow her to adjust to you and feel comfortable with you. I've also heard that when you put a rabbit down on the floor, into a cage, etc. that you should put them in feet first -- something about there back feet and it is supposed to keep them from scratching you up in the process.

Answer 5

I'm sorry for your poor bunny and for you. Your bunn is obviously a frightened bunn. Have a read of this Yahoo Answer, about rabbits' vulnerable sensitivities in general -
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlgejiOOFjAuk_VEJ3IunELg5gt.?qid=20060621215536AAOsI3J

And have a read of these articles about aggression - hope they're very helpful -
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/aggression.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-3/age-related-behavior.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-2/mean-rabbit.html
http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html

Have a read of these great detailed rabbit sites too -
http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html (this one is SO good - how to translate bunny behaviour and language!)
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/rabbits/a/?once=true&
http://www.tagyerit.com/hopline/cold.htm
http://www.rabbit.org/
http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/
Please have a browse and very best of luck to you both.

Answer 6

after being abused it will take alot of time but as long as you move slow, don't startle her, she will start to learn you won't hurt her and she will return your love. try sitting by her cage and just let your hand rest in it at first she will run to the other side but she is curious and will come to investigate in the beginning don't reach to pet her just let her smell you and after awhile she will trust you it will take time but the love she will give you will be worth it

Answer 7

Call that pet psychic from Animal Planet and have her come out to the house to see wassup.

Answer 8

that kid needs nelp - call somebody and report what the kid did - reason for this is most people who commit murders or torture people started on animals...

anyhow just lots of gentle touching for her.. offer her carrots or some other treat everytime you handle her so she associates being handled with good memories

Answer 9

just keep trying to pet her and be gentle and beat the 9 yr old. actually call the police

Answer 10

well just try like petting er and giving her treats n stuff always take care of her...dont be mean...and dont let a lot of people see her ...maybe 1 or 2