Pulling at fur as stimulation..

Hello,
Hopefully i have posted this in the correct place, sorry if not!

About 5 weeks ago my bun Martha had both her eyes removed after contracting Myxi. She's been doing INCREDIBLY well and seems completely unbothered about the whole situation apart from ripping/licking her fur out of her front and back legs and getting incredibly wet in the process.

I was concerned enough that i took her to the vets who seems to think it's become a behavioural habit as she's looking for some sort of stimulation now she's completely blind (when she was under for surgery they also trimmed back a few spurs that was just beginning to form and she checked her mouth thoroughly again and perfect teeth!) so she doesn't believe it's her teeth causing her problems.

So, going on her needing more stimulation, i have been so focused on her recovery that i genuinely (and so stupidly) didn't even think her needs would of changed so drastically to change her behaviour. So, we've got her more food based toys, and i've started scattering her food about, which seems to be making her think about things more but I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas of things I could do to make her brain work again? Or anything I could do slightly differently?

Thankyou in advance,
Meg and Martha x

Meghan said:

Hello,
Hopefully i have posted this in the correct place, sorry if not!

About 5 weeks ago my bun Martha had both her eyes removed after contracting Myxi. She's been doing INCREDIBLY well and seems completely unbothered about the whole situation apart from ripping/licking her fur out of her front and back legs and getting incredibly wet in the process.

I was concerned enough that i took her to the vets who seems to think it's become a behavioural habit as she's looking for some sort of stimulation now she's completely blind (when she was under for surgery they also trimmed back a few spurs that was just beginning to form and she checked her mouth thoroughly again and perfect teeth!) so she doesn't believe it's her teeth causing her problems.

So, going on her needing more stimulation, i have been so focused on her recovery that i genuinely (and so stupidly) didn't even think her needs would of changed so drastically to change her behaviour. So, we've got her more food based toys, and i've started scattering her food about, which seems to be making her think about things more but I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas of things I could do to make her brain work again? Or anything I could do slightly differently?

Thankyou in advance,
Meg and Martha x

Click to expand...

dear Meghan,-thank you for saving the bun,.-she is now a special needs bun.,i too had two blind buns-[from abscesses]-the layout for their pen-[fenced area/perimeter] should be not too confining,but not so big as to get lost,-she will learn her way around,and then donot change it.-after cleaning everything goes back to where it was,-poop box-[no sides/to hurdle]-,water bowl,pellet bowl,and grass bin.-all within her reach.-she may not care for toys,-I have to bite my lip when I think of myxi.--sincerely james waller from the other kent-usa

I imagine for her, losing her site is especially hard. my bun is blind but has been that way since birth, so she doesn't know any different thankfully! but for instance, I can not scatter feed her food or offer puzzle toys as she has NO idea how to find the food and gets rather upset :lol: however, I have found some things to bring enjoyment too her! I haven't found she has any issues now navigating, jumps around, on top, in, all over the shop honestly. she has an underbed storage box for a litter tray that she gets in just fine. along with a wooden house, activity table, and a dig box! she's a bit older now so she's slowed down, but once she has mapped it (and I've tried to keep things the same), we've been okay.

a dig box might be an idea actually, but obviously if her eyes are still healing I wouldn't for now in case dirt gets in. I just got a plastic storage box and filled it up with soil :lol: you can get more sophisticated dig boxes made by others but, a box works well honestly.

you have living world train and treat, that might be an idea for her! its a puzzle based food activity so she has to work for it. my poor girl can't figure it out and just sulks, but, she may be able too https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...g-world-teach-n-treat-3-in-1-interactive-game

my bunnies used to love something similar to this, its exciting as it moves around, and you could stuff hay and forage (or pellet) in there to make it more interesting! : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-World-Spinning-Dispenser-Wheel/dp/B009YK2U5A

there's also hay rollers or forage rollers such as these, they seemed to have changed the design though (mine has a hole in the top rather than a bar missing), so I'm not sure how good it is, or if it holds well. but, there are other retailers that make something similar, so def have a google: https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...assic-hay-and-play-roll-small-animal-chew-toy

you could also consider putting fresh herbs in this: https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...nd-playthings/small-animal-veg-to-ball-holder

there is also this on zooplus which many bun owners use! https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_toys_dog_training/intelligence_toys/classic_puzzles/622255

this is not only pretty cute but may be practical for skewering things into once in a while for her to eat the food off of: https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...ightlifter-small-animal-vegetable-kebab-maker

outside of that..toys with bells, baby stacking cups and baby teething rings work well here
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...hings/pets-at-home-play-ball-small-animal-toy

I've found forage toys to be a big hit too, such as
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...me-hide-and-treat-maze-small-animal-game-275g
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...ythings/woodlands-small-animal-hay-box-medium
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...aythings/woodlands-small-animal-hay-box-large
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...-and-playthings/quiko-fitness-foodball-carrot
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...nd-playthings/quiko-fitness-foodball-beetroot

and this, which is cardboard, and was destroyed in a matter of hours, but seemed to have brought a lot of fun! https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...-maze-a-log-treat-challenge-for-small-animals

this makes such a mess but was so much fun (for them, not me cleaning it!!!) : https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...nds-meadow-forage-box-small-animal-treat-750g

there are also the things such as treat balls but I'm sure you have one of those https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...t-home-treat-dispensing-ball-small-animal-toy

I also brought this, which is really nice as you can use it again and again. I own a few coconut shells now, and stuff them full of hay, forage, pellet and herbs! https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/...lower-filled-coconut-shell-small-animal-treat

I suspect she is becoming adjusted to her loss of sight and eventually she will settle down. There are some good suggestions from Binky-Codie and I hope your bunny soon starts to feel happier in herself.

Does she have a friend to interact with? Two of my rabbits have poor eyesight and rely heavily on their friends.