Hello! I’m looking for some advice for my bunny Casper.
Background:
Casper is a neutered male mini lop. 1 year old.
Blind in both eyes from birth.
Will NOT drink from water bowls (he has too much fun knocking them over and binkying in the spilled water)
Lives in my room in a huge cage (worked it out at 70sq’) – freaks out when not in his cage unless human is around (blind)
Hates being picked up (blind)
Loves being cuddled (gorgeous, sappy fluffball)
About 3 weeks ago my workload became such that I could no longer spend hours with Casper so I decided to get him a friend. Enter Tuppence; a feisty young Netherland Dwarf. Unspayed (but only just mature – baby girly). She was a rescue; never been handled before or given space to run around.
The two bonded almost instantly and became inseparable.
Last Monday I came home to find my cage full of blood. Checked both rabbits. Both rabbits fine. Rabbits put into separate cages ready for emergency vet trip.
Then the bedding sneezed.
Juvenile rescue bunny had been pregnant. 3 babies.
No we had no idea she was pregnant (other than some weird dreams I had) and yes I had had her checked by a vet and vaccinated. Vet didn’t know she was pregnant either!!!
New mummy bunny and babies separated from Casper but in adjacent cage. Tuppence is the best bunny mum ever and all kits and mum doing well. I let Casper and Tuppence cuddle and groom eachother while supervised everyday for as long as I can. (Usually resulting in both bunnies purring and flopping on my lap while licking everything) All happy.
However:
Earlier today I noticed a change in Casper. He is quieter than usual and his poops are quite small and there aren’t as many of them. Still eating all his hay and binkying and cuddling on my lap, but just seems a bit… off. He has never had much to drink but today has been very dry even by his standards! He’s also suddenly stopped using his litter tray and goes around it instead. I’ve emptied the tray and cleaned everything, but still not using it.
I’m worried he could be getting stressed and depressed from all the changes and I think he might be missing spending nights flopped with Tuppence. But she needs to nurse the kits!
Is there anything I can do? I don’t want him to go into gi stasis or be sad! Do I need to think about a vet trip? Is there anything I should be looking out for?
N.b. babies doing well. Mum doing well. Good homes lined up for kits already (reliable homes – been checked out!) And Tuppence spay date booked in for 10 weeks time.