advice after a fight

[Lagomorphic]

I’ll try to keep this short, but there’s a fair amount of background info . . .

My Clementine lost her previous partner a couple of months ago.  They had the closest bond of any buns I’ve ever had.  A couple weeks later, we went bunny speed dating at the local HRS to find her a new guy.  It was kind of hard to tell who she clicked the best with, but she and Oliver didn’t have any negative interactions, they just kind of ignored each other.  So he was the lucky guy.

I got him home and he immediately went into stasis!  Talking to his fosterer, it sounds like he was already in mild stasis before, and it took a while for him to recover.  So no bonding sessions at first, but he and Clem lived adjacent in the living room and dining room.  They didn’t really seem interested in each other.

Then my work got crazy busy, so all together they lived side by side for at least a month before any bonding sessions, not really interested in each other.  When we finally did them, the sessions went well.  Some nips and minor lunging, but no real aggression.  We got to the point where we could have long, peaceful sessions with no disturbances to the peace, and I could even briefly leave to grab something etc.  But they had each only established their own territory in the “neutral space” and were only COEXISTING together.  They weren’t SHARING the space together.  I wasn’t sure how that would play out in non-neutral territory.

So last night I decided to move them to a new neutral space for a session.  Everything had been so peaceful for so long, and they had never really fought in the first place, so I was unprepared for their level of aggression in the new place!  It happened so fast I didn’t see it coming, but they got into a serious fight that I had a hard time breaking up.  Poor Clementine had blood on her eyes and nose, one eye that she wouldn’t open, an ear she wouldn’t put back up, and a wound on her cheek.  Oliver was fine as far as I could tell.

I took Clem into the emergency vet (we have a good, rabbit-savvy one here), and everything was actually pretty superficial, but she’s on pain meds, antibiotics, and cisapride to prevent stasis.  But she looks absolutely miserable and isn’t eating now.  

But now what?  Do I continue to try to bond them (after Clem recovers of course)?  I’m feeling pretty negative about Oliver right now!  

[Lagomorphic]

<–Awww, I didn't realize I had a photo attached to my account. That's Clementine and her previous partner Alex. I don't have one of her and Oliver . . .

[Mikey]

Nope, do not bond for a long time. Youll want to give her time to heal, and youll want to wait a few months so they can hopefully drop their grudges for one another. It is possible she will always be afraid of Oliver because he got her pretty badly by the sounds of it. If you try to bond them again in a few months after shes healed and grudges were dropped, and Clementine seems overly stressed or scared during the bond session, they very likely will not be able to bond with one another

(((((healing vibes for Clementine!)))))

[Lagomorphic]

Thanks. I also heard back from the HRS person. She said I could continue to try Oliver, I could return him and try someone else, I can talk to someone with lots of bonding experience to get a better sense if things will work or not, or we can recommend to you a person who does bunny bondings professionally for a reasonable fee.

I had no idea there was someone who does bunny bondings professionally “for a reasonable fee!” (This is a big house rabbit town, but really!). I think I’ll talk to the person she knows to get a better sense about whether things might work out. I’ve had Oliver for a while now, so I feel a bit invested in him. But if he’s not going to work out, I don’t really want to keep him. Especially not if he’s going to distress Clementine. But I don’t have a sense of whether she’s distressed now, she’s just laying in her litter box looking pitiful right now.

[Mikey]

Getting more advice on the matter is good. Hopefully theyll be able to give you some more/better tips since theyll be seeing how they react in person Typically being pouty and lethargic/not wanting to play or eat is a sign of high stress. Just make sure she is still eating, drinking, and pooping and she should be alright with time. Best of luck to the pair!

[Q8bunny]

I feel for you – but I would definitely talk to the person recommended to you and hopefully give Oliver another shot. And I must say: I would kill for access to a professional bonder. My little guy is all alone because he fights viciously with all rabbits.

[Lagomorphic]

Clementine’s doing better now! She’s acting more like herself, she’s eating better, AND she’s been expressing interest in Oliver. She has gone up to the x-pens that separate them, looking into the living room for him, and she’s been laying on the rug that’s closest to the living room.

We won’t be doing a bonding session anytime soon – I’m going out of town in a couple of weeks, and then I’m having some people stay with me, so it will be at least a month, probably a little more. And then for our first session, I’m thinking I’ll have someone else help me so I’ll have an extra set of hands and eyes, just in case. It’ll make *me* feel better at least! But I’m glad Clem’s giving me clear cues about how she’s feeling about Oliver!

[Q8bunny]

That’s great news!

[Author]

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