Phantom Pregnancy/agression in neutered doe?

[Midori1999]

I know, I know, it's PAH...

Anyway, they've had a neutered 3 year old doe in the 'rescue' section for ages, at least 4-6 weeks. I asked about her today as I do feel sorry for her, it's no life for a rabbit stuck in there. The girl I spoke to said she was brought in as she has phantom pregnancies during which she becomes very aggressive and lunges/scratches. (She didn't say she bites, btu I would assume she would if provoked enough) She didn't know how long the doe had been in the store, or how long she had been neutered for. She said she had been neutered before she was brought in though and had had phantoms since she was brought in, although she thought she hadn't had one for a while.

If I wanted her to keep on her own, I would have her in a second. I don't mind the aggression and can avoid handling her at these times. However, I was hoping to get her to try and bond with my existing neutered male and female. Obviously there's no guarantee they would bond as a trio anyway, but I'm wondering if these phantom pregnancies are likely to cause a serious problem? I thought that possibly she had been neutered quite recently and maybe as her hormones lessened over the next few months her behaviour may become more stable? Although obviously she could have been neutered for ages AFAIK.

I suppose I just wondered if anyone has any experience of a neutered doe still experiencing phantoms, as I thought it prevented them?

Firstly - is she definitely neutered (it wouldn't be the first time PAH had got it wrong)?

She may well bond with your rabbits - the company could be just what she needs. You would need to be prepared to house her separately just in case they didn't get on though.

She sounds like my kind of bunny - previous rabbit was an aggressive, bad-tempered, grumpy doe - she was wonderful!

Thanks. I've spoken to my vet this morning, who have a rabbit specialist vet nurse there and also contacted the rescue we got our current doe from. They've suggested that trying to bond another rabbit into our current pair could cause a lot of problems that aren't already there and cause the current pair to fall out and fight (which I did know) so think it's best not to rock the boat and try bonding in another rabbit.

However, the vet nurse felt that this female may be recently spayed and therefore the phantoms will stop, or that the aggression isn't associated with phantom pregnancies or is but is made worse by her surroundings, so would improve in the correct set up. She also felt that it would be possible to pair her with a neutered male later on.

So, I'm just trying to decide if I can provide separate accommodation for another bunny, which is bad timing as I have just ordered a large kennel/run set up for my existing bunnies and proper rabbit accommodation isn't cheap. I just can't stand to think of that poor doe in PAH getting stressed/being miserable or going to a new home where she won't be looked after properly and never have the chance to have some bunny company, which could obviously massively improve things for her.

I don't think I can keep her indoors as she'd have to be within sight of the current buns or downstairs and I don't think that would suit her due to the DC. Also, it looked like, from what few toys she had, that she is a bit of a chewer. So any ideas for reasonably priced accommodation appreciated...

I have just adopted a ( nasty ) as they called her bunny from PAH she had been there two and a half years we got her a large double Hutch and a run from ebay which has now been left empty as she decided she was a house bunny and wanted to live with my dog :)
She is amazing and after two weeks of love and food became so friendly and tame she just needed a chance she isn't neutered as with not knowing how old she is it could be risky but we love her to bits and she is now pet number eight :) I wouldn't be without her and I only went in for bunny food ;)

Thanks for replying. Glad your bunny has found a nice home with you, 2 1/2 year sis ages to be stuck in PAH, what a miserable life she must have had.

Can you ask your vet about neutering her? I think if you use a rabbit specialist vet the risks are quite low and I know the local rescue will neuter whatever age they are.

Bunny is now here anyway. After pressing PAH for proper information it turned out she had been in there for 10 months and was only neutered 4-6 weeks ago. She's been here two days now and I decided to put her in the same room as my existing buns, but she is in a large pen (they free range) and I've made a double layer so they can't touch/fight for now. New bun is called Dash and has been laying as close as she can get to my two since she got here and I found my girl bun laid up near to her on the other side of the pen this morning and they all seem quite unbothered by each other, so I may think about introductions at the weekend when I can supervise them all day/night.

Oh, not one sign of 'visciousness' from her either, although I've only sat with and stroked her/brushed her. I haven't pushed my luck trying to pick her up yet.

My vet said they would do her but they didn't think it was worth the risk they don't like doing them over 3 and she could be and she would need Loads of bloods first they said better to let her live a happy life now she finally has a good home, I did agree as I would never forgive myself if she didn't survive the opp , my other bunny is 6 and a half and isn't done as it wasn't the done thing when we got her. Glad yours has a loving home to x x