Rabbits started fighting after being together for 6 years

My niece has contacted me in a panic because her two rabbits, who are sisters have started fighting. Fur has been pulled out from tail area. They haven't been spayed but have been happy together since birth. Does anyone have any ideas why they have suddenly become aggressive to each other.

I think the problem could be the fact they are not spayed this can happen. It is best to get females spayed for their own health really. They can get uterine cancer as they get older and it's much better for them on the whole to be spayed.

I use to have two females and a male trio and they were Sisters and Brother and they were all spayed/neutered and I never had any problems with them at all.

Hopefully it was just a tiff as they do have them and that they will settle down again together. Sometimes if one keeps humping the other they can end up fighting.

Keep us posted.

Thanks Maysie, she did mention that she saw them humping a couple of days ago. She's had a good look at them tonight and one of them has about a dozen bites on her back, the other has only one bite. They will be going to the vet tomorrow. I've mentioned to them frequently about uterine cancer in unspayed rabbits, but I don't think people believe it.

Oh right if one has a lot of bites on their back it does sound as if the one with one bite has been humping the other one a lot and it's turned into a fight and I'm afraid this might keep on happening unless they are spayed.

Plus the bites can become infected and abscesses start so in the long run it's far better to get them spayed.

Vibes for both bunnies and I hope they are ok xxxx

Spaying will help. And I'd never have an unspayed bunny after losing Paris to cancer. It's not nice to see them deteriorate before your eyes and all you can do is make them as comfortable as possible. Spaying will calm their behaviour and hopefully they can rebond.

I'd have them checked by a bunny savvy vet Jo. It could be that one of them is in pain and therefore attacking the other. This happens with my Charlie when his abscess play up - he is horrible to Annie.

They will be going to vet today, hopefully. I will keep you posted.

You mentioned on FB that there were two males bunnies in the garden too, so it could also be referred aggression.  I used to look after a couple of sister buns who are not speyed, when their owners went on holiday (people might remember The Incredible Escaping Bunnies threads!).  During the time they were at mine, the dominant bun would hump the other and sometimes chase, but it never went into aggression.  I put it down to the fact that Gloria and Wolfie were not too far away from the girls and they could smell them. 

You pal should definitely get them neutered - at the same time - and then try to rebond them but away from the other buns if possible.  However, it might be that the bond is gone for good.   Perhaps she could try bonding two pairs.

Let us know how you get on love, it is really upsetting seeing a bun fight especially when they have been such good friends.

Hugs

JO xx

Velvet.Tears wrote:Spaying will help. And I'd never have an unspayed bunny after losing Paris to cancer. It's not nice to see them deteriorate before your eyes and all you can do is make them as comfortable as possible. Spaying will calm their behaviour and hopefully they can rebond.

Lorna.  I lost my mini Lop Lady that way.  I didn't know about spaying them.

gentl wrote:

Velvet.Tears wrote:Spaying will help. And I'd never have an unspayed bunny after losing Paris to cancer. It's not nice to see them deteriorate before your eyes and all you can do is make them as comfortable as possible. Spaying will calm their behaviour and hopefully they can rebond.

Lorna.  I lost my mini Lop Lady that way.  I didn't know about spaying them.

Yes I didn't know until it was too late but I had all the other rabbits I had at the time done and luckily Holly who was 4 when she was done hadn't developed cancer.