Vet says to house bunnies separately

[Ldyjane30]

Hello! These two bunnies ,Nymeria and Ghost, both females, were adopted from a very popular rabbit only rescue. They told us they were found together in a laundry basket in a parking lot. They are about a year old, and have been living in the same space at the rescue facility for at least 4-5 months. At our first vet appointment, the vet (the exotics vet) said they should not be allowed to live together so they don’t fight even though they are bonded. They had been living together already for so long. They had a few fights before they were spayed, now none. So we’ve been keeping them separate except for playtime. I think they would really like to live together. Has anyone else heard of the vet recommending bunnies not live together bonded or not? Also now Months later Nymeria has been diagnosed with pasturella (snuffles). Ghost has had no symptoms what so ever. They still really like to be near each other, and I guess what I’m asking is despite what my vet says about fighting is it ok to house them together? If so even though Nymeria has snuffles which we have been treating?

[Bam]

I think you should treat both rabbits for pasteurella even if only one shows symptoms since they’re having such close contact.

That said, your vet seems a little old-fashioned in his/her views on bonded bunnies. Lots and lots and lots of desexed bunnies live together. I don’t know why they shouldn’t unless they do fight a lot (bunnies can hurt each other bad when they fight). In the olden days, it was generally believed that rabbits wanted to be housed alone, like gold-hamsters. This view has changed. Rabbits are very happy when they have a rabbit friend (or in some cases, several rabbit friends). I think the old view really was about intact bunnies.

I know some vets don’t believe it’s possible to bond two neutered males, (but we have many members here with male-male bonded pairs) but I’ve never heard this about two spayed girl-bunnies.

[Gina.Jenny]

When my two boy buns started fighting, we got them neutered. I was advised by the nurse who handed them over post op to keep them apart for two weeks til the incisions healed, so followed this advice. When I went to check both boys next morning, Pippi had two open wounds, side by side, and I thought he must have chewed at one of the incisions, so we rushed him back to the vet. The vet said these were the result of self harm due to stress of being kept from Rusty, and were to the side of the incision site. The neuter incisions were healing fine, and the vet said to put Pippi straight back with Rusty, as soon as we got home. We did, and they stayed happily bonded til Rusty had to be put to sleep.

Thankfully both self inflicted wounds healed fine, but it showed that Pippi was more stressed by being kept apart from his bonded buddy, than by the surgery. so I would only ever split a bonded pair of bun for unavoidable reasons.

When Rusty had to be put to sleep, we had a recently acquired, rescue girl bun, struggling to recover from the anesthetic needed for her spay. Although she hadn’t been spayed for the recommended amount of time post spay, to consider bonding her, she needed bunny company, to help her keep warm, and feel safe. Pippi seemed to welcome her, I guess another bunny was better than no bunny. They bonded very fast, and and now firm friends.

Bunnies, as a rule do best with bunny company, so I would think getting them back together full time would be best, unless they do fight. I’m assuming they both have a cage they consider ‘theirs’ so you might need to get them to be together in a neutral place overnight at first, or at least clean and rearrange the cages to avoid any territorial issues?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

If they aren’t fighting, rabbits like to live together if they are bonded. I wonder if you should just shop around for a new vet.

All vets cannot be all things to all people (and pets) and it doesn’t sound like the one you saw is very rabbit experienced. I would shop around for someone who knows better-then you can more likely rely on them when health issues arise, as they are likely more ‘into’ rabbits, know more and stay on top of current research.

[JackRabbit]

Neutered/spayed bunnies that are truly bonded should definitely live together, in fact, separating them can cause them stress. It is even recommended that bonded bunnies be kept together even for vet visits so they continue to “smell” the same and so that the bun who doesn’t need to be seen can still comfort the bun who does need to see the vet.
My half brother/sister buns have never been apart since they were spayed/neutered and put back together again.

[vanessa]

Couldn’t agree more. House them together and find a new vet.

[jerseygirl]

House together, separate if them being together is causing a health issue in one or both. I think separating can cause stress and bring on health issues.

Ive had a vet suggest to me to separate a bonded pair. It really surprised me. I’m really against it and didnt take the advice. It’s my pair where the male ( long term neutered) bothers the female a bit with trying to mount her. Mostly they deal with it and if he’s really annoying her, I bring him out for to the living area with me. The rest of the time they snuggle together. He’s just become hormonal in his old age.

[Dee]

I agree with all the above replies to house them together unless they are fighting. The neutral territory or giving their space a good cleaning is a great idea, since their being separated may cause them to need to be “reintroduced”. I doubt it would be like bunnies who have never met, but I would keep an eye on them to be sure they are being peaceful. Some humping or nipping would probably be normal, but not outright rolling around fighting or one bullying the other.

Often even good rabbit vets aren’t expert at rabbit bonding. I turn to this forum or my local rabbit rescues for advice on bonding issues. However, your vet sounds like he might not be very rabbit experienced, given his outdated stance on housing bunnies separately. I would look around for other vets unless you really trust this one’s medical expertise. You don’t want an emergency to arise and have a vet who doesn’t know how to handle it!
Good luck ☺!

[Ldyjane30]

Thanks everyone for the great responses. Looks like I get to build a new cage big enough to house them both ! They already have full run of our dining/living room, but are caged at night and when we are not home. They really do adore one another and like to snuggle!

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