Bun suddenly afraid in crate

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Mrs641

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Hey there, had my bun Penny for over a year, very healthy and behaviors normal. Within the past week, she has been waking us up thumping in her crate, acting skittish during the day and will suddenly run and hide and thump. She is peeing in her crate which is NOT normal, she’s very clean and always goes in her box. Her crate is always clean, fresh water twice a day etc...absolutely nothing has changed, I’m not sure how to help her? She runs away from us too which again, is not normal. Thanks guys
 
Do you have any other pets in the home? Has there been any change in home cleaning products?

My first thought is that she is hearing something (perhaps even outside) that you aren't able to hear. Perhaps that is scaring her. Maybe a neighbor is playing music that you can't hear but the bass is thumping through the ground and scaring her.

Just trying to brainstorm here...
 
Do you have any other pets in the home? Has there been any change in home cleaning products?

My first thought is that she is hearing something (perhaps even outside) that you aren't able to hear. Perhaps that is scaring her. Maybe a neighbor is playing music that you can't hear but the bass is thumping through the ground and scaring her.

Just trying to brainstorm here...
Nothing has changed cleaning wise, although it occurred to me after I made this post that she may have been wanting her blanket she snuggled with changed, she had directly peed on it, which isn’t normal, so I’ve gotten that switched out. I was thinking the same thing about something going on that I can’t see/hear. Our house has been cleansed several times, we have ghosts (I know I sound crazy but I could tell you some interesting stories) and I wonder if she sees things, animals are more susceptible to that I think, I saged my house last night in hopes it may help lol
 
I don't think you're crazy and yes, animals can react to such things. We've had our own experiences and are aware of how to deal with it (without sage). But I think I'll switch this subject over to private message.
 
Unusual changes of behavior like this are going to usually be due to changes in the environment, a new smell or sound, or a health issue. It could be as simple as a piece of furniture that was moved, the scent of a cleaning or beauty product, a scent from outdoors or a neighbors such as from smoke, a new sound like a critter in the wall or construction noise outdoors, a new electric appliance or electronic device creating noise that may not be perceptible to you, or maybe even a new pet smell or sound from a neighbor. Then there are the health possibilities like loss of eyesight or hearing, or other health condition causing pain, that can cause a sense of panic and fear from a rabbit not understanding what's happening.

If it's something in the environment causing the upset but you aren't able to determine what it is, you could try things like keeping music on as background noise to mask a possible sound that is causing the upset, use an air filter to help if it's a scent causing the problem, and/or provide a hiding box and cover her crate with a sheet to help give her a sense of security.
 

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