ForumDosing & Titration

We Injected Our Rabbit With Oxytocin

7 replies5 peopleJun 1, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

Can daily oxytocin shots make a house rabbit less skittish and more affectionate toward people?

One owner gave their female rabbit roughly 5 mcg of oxytocin and plans to repeat the dose daily alongside handling and treats in hopes of increasing sociability. Another user shared that the hormone produced only brief euphoria in themselves and questioned how rabbits process it. The thread touches on oxytocin’s natural role in bonding, possible parallels to human social anxiety treatments, and whether a second rabbit or other supplements would work better.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

Whether oxytocin produces meaningful, lasting social changes versus only transient effects

Still open

How rabbits actually metabolize repeated exogenous oxytocin and whether the approach improves long-term bonding

Nothing here is advice.

7 replies · 5 people
QuietSignal61archiveopening postJun 1

I gave our doe roughly five micrograms of the hormone. She stayed calm through the whole thing and looked at ease right after. Five minutes have passed and she's chewing on a snack. The idea came from knowing a healthy doe can have fifteen to thirty litters across her years. Ours arrived already expecting and delivered just once, but none of the young survived. From time spent with rabbits, the ones that liked being picked up and handled were usually mothers. Our pet has a comfortable indoor life with free run of the house and eats greens, small carrots, hay, pellets, dried fruit, bananas, seed treats, and occasional bits we offer for fun like chips or slices of cured meat. She especially likes corn chips and pepperoni. Still, she's timid by nature and only comes close when food is involved. We're hoping daily small amounts of the hormone plus petting and treats might encourage her to seek company more often. Ten minutes later she's moving through the room asking for food and grooming as usual. Right after the shot she kept her eyes shut for a short while during petting, maybe from the effect. Hormones seem to run strong in her, with phases of wanting contact mixed with times of extra nesting and nervousness. Curious to watch how things develop. She finished cleaning and has now settled down stretched out near us. I checked the amount first by mixing one hundred to one hundred fifty micrograms into a milliliter and drawing five or six units from that.

PatientFenwick91archiveJun 1
↳ replying to @QuietSignal61 (opening post)

Being a rabbit isn't for me, and this stuff isn't going to turn me into a more sociable person no matter what. The first time I took it, there was this sudden feeling of bliss, but that didn't last long. I keep doing the injections every other day still. My pet is really cute though. I wonder if she's doing fine because I have no idea how their bodies handle such compounds.

QuietSignal61archiveJun 1
↳ replying to @PatientFenwick91

I share that desire for other options besides those meds when dealing with anxiety around people. Although the effects don't last long, there seems to be some indication it can help a bit with looking at others and behaving more socially, even if the change isn't obvious like with certain other substances. Similar to our own processes. That peptide came from studying rabbit minds. Humans aren't far removed from those animals or pets like dogs and cats. The hormone comes out naturally when they give birth or nurse their young, same as us, and vets have looked into giving it externally too. I figure rabbits keep things basic so hormones run their lives more, especially with how they focus on having babies out there. As mentioned, my rabbit goes through those hormone phases and behaves oddly for extended times. I'd like to check whether providing that hormone might give her the particular connection she's perhaps lacking, the kind usually present between male and female rabbits.

PatientFenwick91archiveJun 1
↳ replying to @QuietSignal61

Although beta blockers exist they still act as blockers in the end. The one I use performs effectively for me. Yet my habit of disliking most humans while favoring animals usually stays unchanged by any such drug. Hmm. After the next intake I might time how long I can hold eye contact before glancing aside. Could she have PDD or perhaps adding a male rabbit to raise oxytocin levels naturally?

QuietSignal61archiveJun 1
↳ replying to @PatientFenwick91

Those meds help control pulse and the physical stress signals while also easing hypertension, yet they stop there. Blending that root with the other supplements worked for me on rare occasions. Drinking works way better when trying to connect with people. I would take it way more regularly if a partner was around, or just some companions. It would probably feel enjoyable ahead of intimate time or close contact, but currently there's no reason. Nah. The bunny stays content and fine, only a bit jumpy. Nah. Just one pet like that works fine.

SteadySparrow75archiveJun 1

Could the bunny stand for a romantic crush of some kind? My pal wants the answer.

PlainAlder11archiveJun 1

I don't know what substance went into the creature, yet the bunny looks pretty neat.

GreyAlder46archiveJun 1

Has the rabbit mentioned issues with intense redness across the face?

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