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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.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Moving & Bonding Simultaneously w/ Older Bunny

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    • Dee
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      704 posts Send Private Message

        Hi Everyone! I haven’t been on in ages although my phone keeps me signed in forever. It’s good to see some familiar people/rabbits ?. Hope everyone is having a happy holiday season.

        Ok, I’ll start with backround for those not familiar. I have a female rabbit, Nelli, who will turn 8 in March. She was bonded to my male bunny, BunBun since we adopted her when she was 5 months old. He died in early June. I was heartbroken but she seemed OK. In late June, we took her to a shelter where she met a little bunny who looked much like BunBun- his name is Luke and he was only a year old. She was lovely with him, groomed his head even, and he was very shy and gentle with her. She did hump his head after the rescue lady groomed her and put her back in the pen with him, and that kind of freaked him out, but he just ran away from her. They did fine on the car ride home. But once we got home, she started chasing him to the point where he was growling and really looking panicked. The rescue lady had (I thought) instructed me not to separate them, just put them right in the house (Nelli is indoors only, free range). So we separated them and starting bonding, but they got together 2 more times accidentally and the 2nd time Nelli needed stitches from Luke’s sharp “young bunny” claws. That really scared me and since then, we have kept them separated by an Xpen fence. At first we had screening up so they couldn’t reach each other at all, but once they were laying next to each other nicely and trying to touch noses, I removed the screen. They spend lots of time laying next to each other and eating hay from the pile I put on either side of the fence. But Nelli still snorts at him a lot and they will get into these nipping contests where it looks like they are going to rip each other’s noses off, but nobunny ever gets a scratch. Occasionally one will grab a little fur from the other’s butt- Luke especially gets upset when Nelli goes to hop away from him. He’s started to imitate her snorting and it’s pretty funny!

        So- this whole time we have been fixing up another house to live in. Its finally almost ready and our plan has been to bring the rabbits over in separate carriers, then put them together upon arrival at the new house (under constant supervision at first). I will bring their old toys, litter boxes and cardboard hidey houses. I am hoping that the brand new surroundings will remove Nelli’s territorial behavior and that Lukie will be a comfort to get. He is good at adapting to new situations, whereas Nell is very nervous about everything.

        My concern is that these changes are going to push Nelli into a health crisis. She has always been healthy, but after BunBun died, I noticed her being a bit wobbly in her hind legs. Then the rescue lady at Luke’s shelter said her eyes looked cloudy and suggested a give her a 28 day course of Panacur. I did, and the leg issue improved a lot. I still notice it a teeny bit, but that might just be due to her age, perhaps a little arthritis. I’m going to try glucosamine if it’s safe. Akao, the vet did say she has mild cataracts that don’t affect her vision. Last, she has had a mild issue with her right ear- it smells slightly off and sometimes she’ll shake it and scratch. I got drops from,the vet and added grape seed oil extract and a bit of cider vinegar to boost any anti yeast or antibacterial action. That helps, but catching her and putting it in her ear every day is terribly stressful for her, so I just do it once a week or so and that seems to control it.

        Sorry this turned out to be so long! I always do this, and up writing a book here. Anyway, any suggestions or experiences that you all would like to share? I would love to hear them. The good, the bad, the ugly, and even any viewpoints that completely disagree with my plan.

        Thanks so much!!!


      • Kokaneeandkahlua
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          I would have a full exam before doing any more bonding-the aggression could be due to illness or pain. (I know, in the middle of a move, you have lots of time ot get to the vet! Maybe after your move you could do this)
          If it is, you could recommence bonding after. However if it’s not, I don’t know I would keep trying. Sometimes they just won’t bond and if there is a lot of hurt feelings, and a real injury that was sustained, I would say these guys may not be meant to be together-is it possible for you to house them separately?


        • Dee
          Participant
          704 posts Send Private Message

            Hi K&K,
            Thanks for your reply! I can house the bunnies separately- I would keep one in the kitchen, which is HUGE, and one in a spare room where I’ll be hanging out a lot reading and doing crafts. And I’d switch them around like I do now, for variety and so they don’t fight simply over territory.

            I agree that a vet visit for Nell would be wise. She eats very well, jumps up on everything that she used to, and seeks out Luke to lay beside him. I’m always coming in to catch them laying together, separated by the fence of course. But when Luke sticks his nose through the fence, Nelli starts snorting away and goes after him, but at the last second closes her mouth or grabs some fur. The other night she took a patch of fur right off his face, above his nose. He was unfazed but I felt so bad! I’ve started telling them to “Be NICE, bunnies!” and that keeps them in,check mostly.

            So it’s a very mixed reaction. If it was all bad, I wouldn’t even try them together. But I really think it is probably Nelli being a territorial, grouchy old lady!

            I’ll let you know how it goes at the vet and with the bonding. I can say that I’m giving Luke a good nail trim before we move, and will be right there, ready to jump in if they start fighting.

            Thanks again!

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        Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Moving & Bonding Simultaneously w/ Older Bunny