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my rabbit is making strange noises please help

lauranurse

New Kit
Please help when i go to pick my rabbit up she gets very destressed and starts making strange squeaking/grunting noises. I try not to pick her up to much but this is the only way i can put her out to play. She is a year old now and has always been a timid rabbit but never been as bad as this before. Nothing untoward has happened to make her do this she is very loved and well fed. Has anyone else had this problem and got any suggestions.
 
I can't help much, but maybe she has some sore parts and it hurts when she is picked up?

Give her a check all over and see if she hates being touched in any particular places?
 
Is she speyed?
Our female was quite agressive when we used to pick her up, she never used to grunt when we had her in our arms, but she did before we used to pick her up.

I think its her warning of put me down.

But as Tim said, double check she isnt in pain at all. Does she fidget when you pick her up ?
 
Please help when i go to pick my rabbit up she gets very destressed and starts making strange squeaking/grunting noises. I try not to pick her up to much but this is the only way i can put her out to play. She is a year old now and has always been a timid rabbit but never been as bad as this before. Nothing untoward has happened to make her do this she is very loved and well fed. Has anyone else had this problem and got any suggestions.

We've had a foster bun do this. It's generally because she's not hugely keen on being picked up and turns into a grump ****! However, when she's then moved onto the grass in the run she's perfectly happy again.
 
Do you socialise yourself with her?
If not, think about sitting in her run with her and maybe trying to feed her to gain trust and plop her on your lap. Gradually build it up, and also the above threads are options as well. i.e. speying.
 
Try to stay calm when handling bun cause she'll pick up that you're getting stressed. Apparently rabbits are scared of heights so generally dont like being picked up. Try wrapping her in a towel, and/or covering her eyes, particucarly if she struggles.

Most of my rabbits when being held, liked to have their heads higher than their body, usually popping their nose under my chin. However Harley who likes to be different, likes to be held flat, sitting on my arms as if he were sitting on the floor. Try different positions?

I have always found that soothing talk and stroking their face (from nose up to ears) calms them, you could try that before and during handling?

The squeaking could mean pain, if nothing is obvious to you, take her for a check up at the vets.
 
Thanks for all your suggestions.

She hasnt been speyed, I was wondering if that was the problem myself? I dont think she is hurting anywhere, I have checked her over and there doesnt seem to be a problem. She actually seems quite happy hopping around the rest of the time, so I dont think she is i any pain.

She actually starts making the noises before I even touch her, but she only does it at certain times of the day - in the morning and evening when she knows I am likely to pick her up. The rest of the time she will actually act quite friendly and hop over for food. She has never really liked being stroked either, she just seems to tolerate it!

We spend quite a lot of time with her in the garden, letting her hop around us etc. I have never had a rabbit quite as nervous as this!

I forgot to mention in my first post, she also stamps her foot a lot, which suggests she is frightened, but half the time I dont even know what has frightened her! Sometimes it almost seems like she is just being grumpy lol.
 
Often unspeyed females become like this when they are experiencing a 'phantom' pregnancy....that is their hormones have convinced them that they are carrying kittens.

I would strongly suggest having her speyed as phnatom pregnancies can occur frequently and are quite stressful for the rabbit.
 
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