Runny Babbits

[tenohfive]

Hoping for some advice.

We had a pair of dwarf lionheads, brother and sister. Unfortunately the brother passed away a couple of years ago due to a GI problem (vet's best guess.) For a number of reasons getting another wasn't something I was keen to do straight away, but I've come to revisit the idea now.

At this stage would looking into another rabbit be a good or bad idea? I think she could use the company but I know that finding another rabbit that'll bond with her could be tricky. So I'll be looking at adoption from somewhere that'll accept the caveat of 'if they don't bond within a few months, it's coming back' rather than putting either at risk. The accomodation arrangements mean it should be easy to introduce them to one another without risk of injury, and build from there.

If it's a worthy idea then where do I start - should I be looking at male or female, a similar breed or does it not really matter? Anything else I should know?

[Animal]

tenohfive said:

Hoping for some advice.

We had a pair of dwarf lionheads, brother and sister. Unfortunately the brother passed away a couple of years ago due to a GI problem (vet's best guess.) For a number of reasons getting another wasn't something I was keen to do straight away, but I've come to revisit the idea now.

At this stage would looking into another rabbit be a good or bad idea? I think she could use the company but I know that finding another rabbit that'll bond with her could be tricky. So I'll be looking at adoption from somewhere that'll accept the caveat of 'if they don't bond within a few months, it's coming back' rather than putting either at risk. The accomodation arrangements mean it should be easy to introduce them to one another without risk of injury, and build from there.

If it's a worthy idea then where do I start - should I be looking at male or female, a similar breed or does it not really matter? Anything else I should know?

You definitely need to find her a new husbunny. A single rabbit is a very lonely rabbit! Most, if not all, rehoming centres should be willing to take the new one back if he/she doesn't bond. Just remember - neutral territory when you introduce them!

[mrmaggit]

And be patient! And quick to separate!

[Trailhead]

tenohfive said:

Hoping for some advice.

We had a pair of dwarf lionheads, brother and sister. Unfortunately the brother passed away a couple of years ago due to a GI problem (vet's best guess.) For a number of reasons getting another wasn't something I was keen to do straight away, but I've come to revisit the idea now.

At this stage would looking into another rabbit be a good or bad idea? I think she could use the company but I know that finding another rabbit that'll bond with her could be tricky. So I'll be looking at adoption from somewhere that'll accept the caveat of 'if they don't bond within a few months, it's coming back' rather than putting either at risk. The accomodation arrangements mean it should be easy to introduce them to one another without risk of injury, and build from there.

If it's a worthy idea then where do I start - should I be looking at male or female, a similar breed or does it not really matter? Anything else I should know?

I also have dwarf lionheads and had a female who had got bored by herself.

I did a lot of research into this and found that a baby of the opposite sex would be easiest to bond, which I indeed did and it went fine.

I know several breeders of high quality/healthy lionheads if you would like any pointers (rather than using pets at home et al; which have a nasty habit of dying due to being inbred)

[littlegreenfairy]

Speak to a rabbit rescue. Most of them have bunny dating services. When we got Coco she was a unwanted pet at the boarding kennels and we were naive. It took about 20mins for ours to become best friends but I think that's fairly unusual.

[axgizmo]

tenohfive: Look at my posts on Pages 3&4 of this thread.
They talk about when my girl bunny died, how my remaining boy bunny coped and me bringing home the new girl after having him bonded at a rescue centre

It was a great service, I just took him in asked them to find his perfect partner, someone that he was happy with

[tenohfive]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds well worth doing then. I've done some digging and am going to make some enquiries with a rescue centre nearby.

[moorx]

Definitely try a rescue centre; there are so many rabbits needing new homes. The rescue where I got my rabbits offer a bonding service and are so good I've now rehomed four rabbits from them

[richatnort]

tenohfive said:

Thanks for the advice. Sounds well worth doing then. I've done some digging and am going to make some enquiries with a rescue centre nearby.

Best way of doing it i would never buy from a breeder again. We have one from a breeder and one from a rescue and would always get a rescue one now.

Where are you based as we might be able to help you find a good rescue centre?

[littlegreenfairy]

Rabbit Rehome is the laminated book of dreams when it comes to rescue bunnies. I fell in love with inmate 11717 nearly 8 years ago and the rest is all history.

[axgizmo]

Gareth seems to be struggling with his back legs a little (not always). I've never in my 8 years seen him lie like he was above. His back end just seems lazy. He'll be lying down and to get up he will drag his rear end until he wants to actually move then will get up properly.

Took him to vets last night, they said he has a tender patch on his back but his legs are not in pain and he can feel them fine.
The Vets gave him an anti inflammatory injection and gave me some oral medication for him, going back on Wednesday to have another check up, if he's no better he'll be having an X-ray.

Terrified i'm going to lose him, he is just over 8 years old so isn't a youngster anymore, he means the world to me & his bonded partner Cinders, she follows him everywhere, she'll be lost without him.

Please excuse the poo explosion on their rug, they are protesting at being relocated in the living room!

[littlegreenfairy]

Poor chap. There are some amazing things the vets can do so hope it not lost.

You also seem to have got away lightly with the poo protest. That's nothing.

[axgizmo]

He seems fine in himself, is eating well and drinking lots so i'm hopeful but well aware how quickly they can go down hill due to hiding things from us hoomins.

Good to know I have gotten off lightly with the dirty protest haha

[axgizmo]

Poor little guy losing his balance, he doesn't look to be in pain but it is uncomfortable for me to watch.
https://youtu.be/3W6lhiefZFY

Follow up at the vets tonight and maybe an X-Ray

[TheLordJohn]

axgizmo said:

Poor little guy losing his balance, he doesn't look to be in pain but it is uncomfortable for me to watch.
https://youtu.be/3W6lhiefZFY

Follow up at the vets tonight and maybe an X-Ray

Hope all goes well with him
But either way, just be grateful you were lucky enough to get 8 years of pleasure.

Our first rabbit (Fudge) died at a year old (Pets at Home, bds) and he was the best pet we've ever head, he was truly wonderful.

Fudge on the right -

We soon rescued Jessica rabbit (on the left), who was in a bit of a state, to keep him company.
She was definitely gutted when Fudge died unexpectedly and unexplainably, so we soon got Roger to keep Jess company.



Fudge and a Jess were like an old, inseparable couple, whereas Jess amd Roger are like brother and sister, who are always in cahoots!
We don't leave them outside or in a hutch. Although they spend a lot of time outside, as they choose to. But live inside in our utility room.

We love them all very much, and mean the world to us. I know I'd give a lot to have Fudge back.
I think we are now in a perpetual cycle of having to replace whichever rabbit dies to keep the survivor company.

As the above photo is upside down, I'll try some others...

Edited by TheLordJohn on Wednesday 16th September 20:38

[TheLordJohn]

HA - epic fail on my part...
I'm only 27 and I don't have a clue, or a care, why it's doing that...!

[littlegreenfairy]

axgizmo said:

Poor little guy losing his balance, he doesn't look to be in pain but it is uncomfortable for me to watch.
https://youtu.be/3W6lhiefZFY

Follow up at the vets tonight and maybe an X-Ray

Hope it went well. He seems alert and bright so hopefully it isn't anything serious.

[axgizmo]

Went for follow up appointment last night and the vet said she is happy with Gareth's progress, the sore patch on his back is much better (if there at all) but his balance is still iffy so he is to stay on Metacam for another week (he doesn't mind, seems to love it) and i'm taking him back for another follow up next Wednesday evening.

LGF: He is just his normal happy, loving self, he's eating & drinking fine so hopefully he'll regain his balance soon and I can stop worrying about him (who am I kidding, we never stop worrying do we...)

TheLordJohn: You are right, I am very lucky to have had 8 amazing years with him, he was from Pets@Home so I have also been lucky in that he has never been to the vets for anything other than injections & the snip before now.
You have & have had some lovely looking buns

Edited by axgizmo on Thursday 17th September 11:21

[TheLordJohn]

axgizmo said:

TheLordJohn: You are right, I am very lucky to have had 8 amazing years with him, he was from Pets@Home so I have also been lucky in that he has never been to the vets for anything other than injections & the snip before now.
You have & have had some lovely looking buns

Edited by axgizmo on Thursday 17th September 11:21

Thanks very much! Very glad to hear its good news, not bad.
That first picture means the world to me.
Jessica is a different rabbit now. She was kept in a 'hutch' so small she couldn't sit upright so she walked as if someone was pushing her to the ground, causing her to hunch right down. When we first got her she had a huge infection on her whole back end due to sorting in her own waste, she couldn't walk properly, she stunk and didn't binky.
She barely left her little wooden house when we first got her but she just got more and more confident, got well again and could start walking properly.

As I say, that picture means more than words can describe

[axgizmo]

Aww bless, poor little thing.

Cinders, was from Freshfield Animal Rescue, she was taken there along with 40 others who came from the same house, from what I was told they were left to breed and breed until someone reported the "owners" for animal cruelty.
She also didn't come out of her 'love den' (wooden house with a heart for a window) for a long time and is still quite jumpy but finally starting to make progress with her, it has taken so long to get her to trust me but I'm deffinately getting there now

Edited by axgizmo on Thursday 17th September 14:16

Edited by axgizmo on Thursday 17th September 14:17