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    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

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Depression in Bunnies

Our bunny Aurora seems a little down in the dumps, she spends a lot of time just sitting in her hutch with her cagemate Gaia, her owner, my son Adam is at college, and goes out a lot.....could that be the reason??


:(:(:(:(:(
 
How long has this been going on for ? Have you taken her to a Vet to make sure that there are no health problems causing her 'depression' ? Is she eating/drinking/pooing and weeing as normal ? Is she losing weight ?
 
No, she seems fine, she is still eating, drinking and going to the toilet as normal.
She was just sitting in the hall as per usual, it was my son who noticed her looking so sad today, he asked if bunnies can become depressed, apparently they can.
 
She seems fine now, I think she was just having a wee rest!

I was just about to reply, and good to see the problem is sorted!

Yes bunnies can and do get depressed, but it's a good idea to make sure there isn't a physical reason behind it. Rabbits (as I'm sure you know) hide their illnesses very well. A bunny that appears to be depressed could be a bunny who is giving up for some reason and perhaps needs help.

Welcome to the Forum :wave:
 
Hello and welcome:wave:Have a good look all over the forum it really is a mine of information about all things bunny.:DLots of very knowledgeable people who can provide info on all sorts.
 
Didn't mean to repeat myself, I was trying to delete the 1st post!!!!!!

I know .. I've been on here over 10 years and I still can't work out how to delete a post. I've a feeling the most you can do is to reduce it to a dot .. I thought it was quite appropriate though, as bunnies are so impenetrable little creatures xx
 
If you can rule out there being anything physically wrong with her, then sometimes new toys can create some interest for them and give them something to investigate. This was suggested to me recently as I currently have a grieving bunny and it has perked her up.

It doesn't have to be expensive, I've used things like empty cereal packets, big cardboard box stuffed with hay so she can go inside to hide and dig, cardboard toilet roll inners stuffed with hay, natural wood sticks to chew (willow, apple, hawthorn)

I hope she feels better soon xx
 
He is probably lonely. Rabbits are social animals and if he doesn't get a lot of attention from you and because he doesn't have a rabbit play mate he is probably really lonely which is causing him to get depressed.
 
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