Rabbits are known as energetic and social animals. Rabbits are also cute and here are the scientific facts about why rabbit are created as the cutest animal. They are always full of energy and enthusiasm. They will hop up to you, play and toss around their favorite stuffs.
However, sometimes, you might also notice that when your rabbit’s need are not fulfilled, they start to feel depressed. They will not say it for sure, but there are some signs they will show to us that they’re depressed.
As a rabbit parent, you are not only responsible for providing everything that your rabbit needs, but you also need to care for its mental health. That’s why you need to pay attention to your rabbit’s behavior in order to know whether it is happy, stressed or sad.
A depressed rabbit will commonly found sitting around most of the day. It tends to lose interest in grooming, eating and socializing. In some cases, some rabbits are even showing some aggressive behaviors, such as biting and swatting.
Sadly saying, many house rabbits experience more depression as the owners don’t know how to take care of it. That’s why it is very important to know and understand these 7 signs that tell your rabbit is depressed.
- Not Grooming or Over Grooming
A depressed rabbit may seem not interested in grooming itself at all. A normal rabbit is known to be a diligent groomers. It keeps grooming itself for maintaining the cleanliness of its coat. However, a rabbit that goes through depression tends to lose interest in it.
It also loses interest in its cleanliness. The coat becomes very dull and shaggy. A depressed rabbit will also stop clean up the stains of its poop or urine from its fur and bottom even if its surrounding is clean.
However, in some cases, some depressed rabbits tend to do over grooming.
Over grooming is considered as a negative behavior related to depression as
well. When a depressed rabbit keeps over grooming, it will end up having some
bald spots that can lead to some skin problems.
Rabbits love to eat! A normal rabbit will scurry over when the treat or food is given. It will love to munch on its hay all day long. However, if a rabbit is losing appetite and showing disinterest in food, then there is something wrong with it.
Depressed rabbits tend to have little appetite or no appetite at all. Lack of appetite can also be one of the symptoms of other illnesses. So if your rabbit starts losing appetite, then you need to contact your vet immediately.
Find the ideas on how to make your own rabbit food. They are healthy and recommended for your rabbit!
Rabbits are active animals, as they like to move around and be curious of their surroundings. However, when a rabbit prefers to sit around all day, then you should suspect your rabbit to be depressed.
Once it doesn’t get interested in toys, treats and socializing, then your rabbit may get depressed. It won’t get much exercise and prefer to stay put inside the cage.
Once your rabbit is not depressed anymore, find the things to consider while you choose the friendly rabbit toys.
A depressed rabbit might start pulling at its fur and causing some bald spots on its body. Do you know that fur pulling is also a behavior of a pregnant rabbit? The rabbit that has false pregnancy tend to pull its fur.
So, if you have a female rabbit that hasn’t been spayed, you might find it plucking fur from its dewlap, chest, and front paws to line their nest. Contact your vet if you find out that your rabbit is pregnant or spay your rabbit to prevent this kind of behavior.
- Showing Destructive Behavior
All normal rabbits like to dig and chew objects on some extent, but a
depressed rabbit will do further than that. A depressed rabbit will chew some
of the objects that are prohibited, and even growl at you when you try to stop
it. This destructive behavior is also one of the result of depression in
rabbits.
Pacing back and forth is also one of the signs of depression in rabbits.
It can also be the sign of anxiety. A depressed rabbit tends to move back and
forth restlessly over a small area. This sign can also tell you that the rabbit
feels bored and live in an enclosure that is too small for it.
- Avoiding Social Interactions
Rabbits that are depressed tend to avoid social interaction and refuse to come out and play.
Depression should be treated immediately as it might also possibly lead to death. Find also the other diseases, such as heart disease in rabbit and types of bacterial infections on rabbits.