You know that rabbits like to scratch if you are a rabbit owner. They will scratch anything and everything in sight, including their owners! This can be a bit of a problem, especially if your rabbit strikes you hard enough to draw blood.
You love spending time with your pet rabbit. They are so cute and adorable, and they make the perfect addition to any home. However, if you’ve ever had a rabbit scratch you, then you know that they can also be quite dangerous! This blog post will discuss the dangers of rabbit scratches and what to do when one happens.
Why do Rabbits Scratch People?
Unfortunately, rabbits tend to scratch people who handle them or try to pet them, but this behavior can be prevented.
Every house rabbit owner has experienced the problem of their bunny scratching them when they pick it up. Sometimes they may even draw blood!
Rabbits are territorial
Bunnies do not act this way out of aggression; instead, rabbits are incredibly territorial and will mark their territory with scratches. If you’re wearing clothes, your bunny sees you as part of its territory. They also know the air around you as part of their territory, so don’t be surprised if it hops on your head and starts scratching away at your hair! This sounds cute in your imagination, but if you’ve ever had a bunny jump on you unexpectedly, it’s pretty surprising!
If you’ve ever watched rabbits interact with each other, you’ll notice that they will scratch at the ground to let others know they are in the area. This behavior can be likened to dogs urinating on lampposts—they are using marking to communicate to others that this is their territory.
Bunnies do not see things in black and white; there is no good or wrong marking. Instead, marking serves an essential purpose for your rabbit by letting it know where it stands in its territory (which includes you). Rabbits who live with humans learn quickly that their human body is part of that territory because humans rarely try to remove them from their homes! To them, scratching is just another way of marking.
This behavior is widespread in rabbits, who are prey animals. When predators attack them, their instinct tells them to run away or play dead—which can be pretty tricky when there’s a cat sitting on your back! Rabbits also use scratching to tell other rabbits that they are not interested in playing with them; it’s just an invitation for the other rabbit to leave her alone.
Fear Caused Flight
Often, rabbits will scratch when they are afraid of something. If you try to pick up your rabbit and it strikes you, the reason may be that it is scared of being picked up. It’s best not to catch your rabbit by surprise with this behavior, as some rabbits tend to growl or bite if startled unexpectedly.
Knowing why your pet scratches you is essential because it allows you to prevent these situations in the future. If you know that your rabbit crosses when it’s afraid, you can introduce her to things slowly, so she doesn’t get scared.
Hormone Caused Aggression
Hormone-related aggression is another reason why rabbits may scratch you. Male and female rabbits who are not spayed or neutered will often mark their territory with urine to attract mates. Because of this, hormone-driven scratching typically occurs during mating season, which occurs once a year for most rabbits (in the warmer months).
This behavior can be problematic if your rabbit starts marking everything in sight, including you! This type of marking can also occur when two rabbits are vying for dominance over each other—and it’s similar to what happens when cats fight! If your rabbit starts scratching you when it sees another rabbit, try to get them together in the same area so they can sniff each other through the cage wire. If that doesn’t work, then try putting them into separate cages on either side of a solid wall so they can smell but not see each other.
If your pet rabbit acts aggressively towards you because of hormones, then you should consider having them spayed or neutered as soon as possible. Keeping your rabbit intact is essential for his health.
If possible, watch how other rabbits interact with one another and notice which behavior causes the most scuffles. This will allow you to understand why they do this in nature and what specific action can be done to avoid conflict among them.
How Deep Are Rabbit Scratches?
The depth of a rabbit’s scratch will depend on the cause, as well as its mood. If your pet is still afraid or nervous, it may only give a small scratch because it prefers to run away from you instead. In this case, the claws are laid upon your skin and pressed down slightly before being removed quickly.
If your rabbit is feeling aggressive towards you—or another animal—it will typically use its back feet to kick out at you to drive you away from its territory. This can be pretty painful if it causes a wound! Rabbits have razor-sharp claws that can easily dig into the skin, causing deep scratches that sometimes require stitches.
A deep cut can be dangerous because it allows bacteria to enter your body and cause an infection. Stop the bleeding with pressure if you notice blood seeping from the wound after a rabbit has scratched you. Apply some gauze on top of this if possible, or cover it with a cloth bandage.
How Rabbit Scratches are Dangerous for Humans
Rabbit scratches may not look like much, but they can be quite dangerous if they’re left untreated. Rabbits have foul mouths! When a rabbit bites down on something with its teeth, the dirt, their mouth is pushed into the wound. This can lead to painful infections if left untreated for too long.
Many rabbits have Pasteurella bacteria in their mouths, an incredibly hardy type of bacteria that can survive on surfaces for at least two weeks! These scratches are so dirty, so it is even more important to treat them immediately properly.
Disease And Bacteria From A Rabbit Scratch
While you may have been under the impression that rabbit scratches can’t do much to harm a human being, this is not true! There are quite a few diseases and bacteria that your rabbit could pass on if it scratches you.
Tularemia Transmitted By Rabbits
Tularemia is a type of disease that affects humans and animals alike. It’s caused by eating undercooked meat (including wild game), drinking contaminated water, or inhaling the bacteria.
Rabbits carry this bacteria in their mouths, so if you’re scratched, then you could get the disease from your pet’s teeth. Keep an eye out for symptoms such as Muscle pain around the wound, Fever, Headache, Severe headache, Nausea, Loss of appetite, Cough Chills, Rapid breathing Diarrhea Fatigue As well as a variety of other symptoms! Although a vaccine is available for this disease, it’s not usually administered unless someone has been bitten severely several times.
Tetanus Transmitted By Rabbits
Tetanus is another disease that rabbits can carry, usually in the dirt under their claws. It’s also contracted through contaminated water or food. If you aren’t vaccinated for this disease before entering your pet’s cage, then you could easily contract it from one of its scratches.
This infection enters your body when bacteria enters a wound and begins multiplying—which is precisely what happens with a rabbit scratch! Symptoms include: Wound on hand becoming red and swollen Tingling sensation around the wound Numbness in hands Difficulty swallowing High fever Seizures Loss of muscle function Muscle spasms (hard to control) Once symptoms begin appearing, it only takes four days for tetanus to become fatal if left untreated! But don’t worry; there’s a vaccine that you can receive to protect yourself from this potentially deadly disease.
Salmonellosis Transmitted By Rabbits
Salmonellosis is an infection that causes diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. If you notice any of these symptoms after being scratched by your rabbit, then it’s essential to seek medical attention right away.
While this disease isn’t usually fatal, it can be hazardous if left untreated for too long. Young children are the most at risk here because their immune systems are not yet strong enough to fight off the bacteria on their own. So take your child to the doctor immediately if they are experiencing these symptoms!
Pasteurella Transmitted By Rabbits
Pasteurella is a type of bacteria carried in the mouths of rabbits. When a rabbit bites a human or animal, it may contract this disease and develop Pasteurellosis.
This infection causes swelling and fever if left untreated for too long. Rabbits can pass it between each other and humans, so make sure to keep an eye out for these symptoms after handling your pet!
Once again, doctors treat this disease with antibiotics, such as Penicillin (though any will work), which you might be able to get at your local drugstore without a prescription, depending on the severity of your case. I wouldn’t personally recommend going this route, though, because these medications come with dangerous side effects that could potentially harm.
Rabbit Scratch Treatment
The best way to avoid contracting any of these diseases is by treating your rabbit’s scratch as soon as possible. If you cannot bring yourself to take your bunny to the vet, the next best thing would be to clean and dress its wound as if you were a doctor taking care of it.
You’ll want to start by pressing firmly on the site of the wound for about ten minutes if there’s still visible blood coming from the cut. You may want to check in occasionally to ensure no more bleeding is occurring!
If you’re dealing with a severe injury, do not attempt this treatment at home! Bring your pet immediately to a veterinarian who can properly flush out and bandage the wound. For more minor injuries, though, here are some steps for home treatment:
Clean the wound with a cloth soaked in warm water. Flush the area around the wound with hydrogen peroxide Dress it loosely with clean gauze. If any visible pieces of dirt or hair are still stuck in the cut, then carefully remove them with tweezers. Change the bandages every day until your rabbit is healed!
If you’re unsure how to properly dispose of all this medical waste afterward, it’s best to be safe and contact your local health department for more information. Depending on where you live, there may also be laws against disposing of these materials yourself! Your vet will likely do this as well if they’ve treated your pet for an injury.
Rabbit Scratch Prevention
Here are some simple tips for avoiding injuries during your subsequent encounter with bunnies!
Always pay attention to where you’re sitting and standing before touching one of these cuties! Always wash your hands after holding or playing with your rabbit, just in case. Don’t let young children play unsupervised around rabbits. They can cause serious harm because they don’t know how gentle these animals are. Always consult a professional should you feel like something is out of the ordinary after handling your bunny.
These cute fluffballs make excellent pets because they love to cuddle and will follow their humans around all day if allowed to do so. But as much as we adore them, it’s important not to underestimate the pain that an angry rabbit can inflict! So while these creatures are indeed our friends, it’s best to treat them with respect while also keeping yourself safe!
Teaching A Rabbit Not To Scratch
It’s easy to teach a rabbit not to scratch when it’s young. Just let it play on the ground with you watching so you can stop it if it starts to lift its paws.
Teaching an adult bunny not to scratch is more difficult without hurting it- how can you punish something so cute? I’ve had success by trying to distract them with yummy treats or taking their paw in my hand and saying ‘no’ firmly when they start to lift their foot. When rabbits are stubborn, sometimes just moving away for 15 minutes will break them of the habit, because they want to follow us! Picking them up every time they do it only teaches them that it’s ok behavior. If your lop-eared bunny gets into some mischief that you could have prevented, then try to remember this whenever they are being cute, so you don’t get too upset with them!
However, rabbits can indeed be trained just like dogs and cats. These animals are pretty intelligent- in fact, their intelligence has been compared to primates! They can thus be easily taught not to scratch or bite when they’ve done something wrong. As long as the punishment is mild, it should never scare them either because these animals are very forgiving. For example, if your bunny chews on your favorite book, move them away for a few minutes (without yelling) before letting them back in the room after your anger subsides. With patience and care, you’ll soon be able to trust that these sweet animals won’t be scratching you for no reason!
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do I need a tetanus shot for a rabbit scratch?
A. No, a rabbit scratch does not require a tetanus shot in most cases. A rabbit does have a weaker immune system than dogs and cats so they may need more protection from viruses that can cause disease. If you are concerned with getting a tetanus shot after being scratched or bitten by your bunny then please seek medical attention immediately.
Q. Can rabbit scratch cause rabies?
A. No, rabies is only spread through the saliva of an infected animal. If you are concerned with getting rabies after being scratched or bitten by your bunny then please seek medical attention immediately.
Q. Can a human die from a rabbit scratch?
A. In most cases no, rabbits have been known to scratch humans but with careful attention these scratches will heal quickly with little pain and very few problems. In some cases it is possible for a person to get a serious infection from any type of scratch if their immune system is compromised in anyway which could lead to death in rare circumstances. Again, if you are concerned with contracting rabies or any other infections from being scratched by your rabbit then please consult a physician immediately
Q. What happens if a rabbit scratches you?
A. Generally a scratch from a rabbit will be harmless and heal quickly and cleanly . Sometimes rabbits can get ‘spoiled’ by their human owners and become aggressive, usually only acting out when they don’t get what they want such as attention or food.
Q. Why does my rabbit scratch me when I pick it up?
A. If your rabbit is scratching you when being picked up it could be because they are scared of being held, feel trapped, or are trying to get away from the situation. When rabbits get upset their natural defense mechanism is to scratch so if your bunny feels that way then they will likely just start scratching randomly . This often occurs when a person tries to pick a rabbit up who is not used to being held– the bunny will begin thrashing around to get away from you and since they have such powerful hind legs, they can easily scratch you in the process.
Conclusion
So now you know why your bunny scratches you and other bunnies! The next time your bunny starts scratching at you, don’t get mad! Instead, give him some carrots or pet him gently to let him know that he can trust you not to ‘hurt’ him. Remember to keep his nails trimmed so that he won’t damage you.
Don’t be too concerned about the scratches if you have a particularly persistent bunny. After all, rabbits are intelligent creatures—they understand that it’s wrong to mark their humans! If your rabbit is healthy and has been spayed or neutered, then the chances are that they’ll stop marking you in a couple of months.
Dr. Elly Cameron is a veterinarian who has always loved animals. She grew up with cats and rabbits, and knew from a young age that she wanted to help animals in whatever way she could. After completing veterinary school in New Zealand, she and her husband moved to North Carolina in 2009. There, she worked as a small animal veterinarian, seeing cats, dogs, and of course her favorite patients – rabbits! In the last few years, Dr. Cameron has been working as a locum vet while she concentrates on raising her two young daughters. She also started writing this blog to help other rabbit lovers out there.