A rabbit bite wound is something quite normal for owners who have a little experience. For newcomers to rabbit keeping, however, it is often a cause for concern. But don't worry, often the reasons why a rabbit has bite wounds are trivial and can be easily prevented. We would like to show you here what options there are for keeping aggressive behavior within reasonable limits.

Rabbit bite wound - normal?

Rabbits live in a community and there is a strict hierarchy. The rabbits sort out the hierarchy among themselves and this sometimes leads to fierce scuffles. Bite wounds are not uncommon in rabbits, but these should not be large and should heal quickly on their own. Out in the wild, this is a normal process.

Therefore, a rabbit bite wound can be considered normal, but we believe that everything should be treated as normal. Rabbit Keeper should do to ensure that this does not happen. And please don't forget that your rabbits are animals and don't always behave the way we would like them to and, by the way, bite wounds can also occur unintentionally when romping.

Bite wound due to too little exercise

Rabbits often get bite wounds because they cannot run away from other rabbits. It is also important to provide hiding places so that a rabbit has a resting place just for itself that it does not have to share. This brings us to the minimum size that a rabbit needs to be in order to be kept in a reasonably species-appropriate way, and this is larger than most people think.

Newcomers to rabbit keeping are often offered a cage that is far too small and sold as species-appropriate. The fact is, however, that a rabbit needs at least 2 m² of space on a permanent basis in order to be able to exercise to some extent. This means two rabbits = at least 4 m². Since rabbits should be kept at least in pairs, you need enough space.

However, this minimum is not really good, the more the better. Because you must never forget that rabbits outside travel hundreds of meters every day to get their own food. Another important point is that you provide enough hiding places in the enclosure. Because a flat area would ensure constant eye contact and your rabbits would not be able to rest.

Rabbit bite wound due to ramming

During the mating process, regardless of whether your rabbit is neutered or not, the dominant male often bites into the neck of the female, resulting in bite wounds. This is difficult to avoid, so the best solution is to neuter the male rabbit. Here we prefer early castration, as the procedure can be carried out without complications and the bucks do not even reach puberty.

A bump between two rabbits is not always sexually motivated. It is often a matter of establishing the hierarchy and showing the other who is the boss. Females can also inflict serious wounds on males if they have no means of escape. Especially with two male rabbits that are not neutered, serious injuries occur again and again.

This is because testosterone-driven bucks often do not stop attacking their sexual companions when they submit. Therefore, castration is the best solution for keeping rabbits if no breeding is to take place.

Bite wounds during socialization

If two rabbits get to know each other, the hierarchy must also be clarified here. In many cases, or almost always, this leads to arguments and scuffles. The rabbits almost always point each other out to find out who is the stronger one. Don't worry, this is normal behavior and the rabbits will calm down after a while.

However, when socializing, it is also important to provide sufficient space so that the rabbits have opportunities to escape and hide. Always keep a close eye on how long and how fierce the argument between the two rabbits is. Even if it is sometimes difficult, do not intervene too early so that the two squabblers can clarify the hierarchy between them.

Rabbit bite wound while playing

Rabbits nip each other regularly and without malicious intent. However, if their exuberance is so great, bite wounds can occur that are not nice to look at. Even if these don't bother the rabbit so much, we as owners are sometimes worried about how bad such a wound can be. Almost all of us have worried unnecessarily about our pet at one time or another.

Understandably, we have grown fond of these animals, but we shouldn't anthropomorphize them too much. Therefore, a rabbit bite wound while playing is a harmless matter and only requires more attention in exceptional cases.

Rabbit bite wound - Wound treatment

If you discover a bite wound on your rabbit, you must decide whether it is dangerous for your rabbit or just a superficial injury. If the wound is bleeding, you should clean it. A saline solution or calendula essence is ideal for this, which can be diluted and used to detect the wound. You can also use disinfectant spray for wounds, which is intended for humans.

If you don't have any of these to hand, lukewarm water will suffice for initial treatment, but the wound should still be disinfected as quickly as possible, if not otherwise possible, a visit to the vet will be necessary. As soon as the wound has been cleaned, you can see how large and deep it is. If the wound is shallow and bleeds easily, then it is usually sufficient to clean the wound and check it regularly. You can apply a wound ointment to help.

Here too, you can use preparations for humans, including ointments that contain the active ingredient panthenol/dexpanthenol. This provitamin B5 activates the genes that are responsible for wound healing. Betaisodona ointment, which contains povidone-iodine, has also proved effective. This is an antiseptic that has an anti-inflammatory function.

Rabbit bite wound - Vet

If the rabbit bite wound is deep and the bleeding cannot be stopped, then you must visit the vet. Such wounds can cause blood poisoning or lead to severe inflammation. Abscesses can also form, which then have to be removed. Therefore, if you are unsure, go to the vet and have the situation clarified.

In extreme situations, the rabbit bite wounds are so deep that they need to be stitched. To do this, the rabbit is put under anesthesia and a suture is applied by the vet. Fortunately, in most cases a tissue adhesive is sufficient so that your pet does not need anesthesia. A wound should be checked daily so that a small rabbit bite wound does not develop into an abscess.