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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BONDING Dealing with bunny grief and a new bonds

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    • kbecks
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        Hi All, Forgive me if I’m not posting this correctly. I had a 6m/8m old bonded pair of house rabbits. The the male was neutered early the female went for spaying yesterday morning. She had never been alone, straight from her litter to my boy. I asked the vet to put them back together ASAP. I was horrified to find out that after 2 hours, they had not been reunited and my girl had a heart attack and died after 20 minutes of attempted revival.

        I asked that her body be put with my boy so he could see what had happened. I literally had to drag him from her, it was heartbreaking. He repeatedly licked her head and refused to budge – he loved her so much, he’s a very needy boy. Once I got him home, he moped all day. He was clearly mourning and was all day either very detached or very clingy. He slept by my head for part of the night asking for strokes repeatedly. This morning when I emptied out her hutch (I had separated them in adjacent hutches for the 2 nights before the op due to her humping – which is why I was now spaying her), he just sat in it for hours, until I soaked it in vinegar and her smell was gone. 

        Today I searched high and low for a new spayed female to bring him some new company – to no avail. I ended up rescuing an 8 week old male. My adult (neutered) male was interested in him instantly. As I got him out of his carry case he came and nuzzled the new buns head briefly, before I put him in his new home for his settling in period (in a cage right next to my adult male). My older bun was instantly happy, began eating again, binkying again and climbing on the new rabbits cage/poking his nose through the bars. He seems very eager to be closer. I understand that the new bun will eventually become ‘adult’ and I’ll need to keep them apart until they are both neutered/have recovered, but my question is this… Over the next week, during my big buns grieving period and whilst my new bun is used to being with other buns and still small (8-9 weeks), can I introduce them in a neutral space and allow my big boy to have some contact with him, as he so desperately seems to be craving. I feel like I know that this would be good for him. I guess I just want some reassurance that they will be ok at lest before my baby bun is 9-10 weeks old. Also, there are still a few things in my big buns cage with her smell on, should I remove these completely or let him keep them. 

        Thanks! 

        Kirsty


      • Sarita
        Participant
        18851 posts Send Private Message

          I think as long as there is no aggression and your bunny appears happy then I would definitely start the bond. You may be lucky that they will continue to have a strong bond even as your new bunny matures (it is possible). Bonding guidelines are simply meant as guidelines based on overall experiences but they aren’t necessarily a must….


        • LBJ10
          Moderator
          16870 posts Send Private Message

            Every situation is different and like Sarita said, there are only recommendations not strict rules. You can certainly proceed with caution if you think that is what is best for everyone involved. See how things go first and then go from there. If they end up needing to be separated, then that is just what happens. So be prepared for that.


          • RabbitPam
            Moderator
            11002 posts Send Private Message

              I’m sorry about your loss, but it seems your boy is recovering from his grief, so you did a nice thing for him.
              How long since his neuter? If it’s a month or less, his own hormones may not have settled down yet. I only ask in case there is any doubt to the new bunny’s gender. If there is a chance “he” is a she, make sure they don’t get together until at least 4 weeks after your big boy’s neuter.

              If they do need to be separate a bit, try putting a soft plushy stuffed animal in each of their pens, get them to get their scents on each one, and then switch. This way a surrogate toy bunny will smell like the other one and help maintain a familiarity for a bond. If it’s safe to have them touching, then begin bonding now. When you go to get the new guy neutered, you can also use surrogates with their scents then.

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          Forum BONDING Dealing with bunny grief and a new bonds