our house rabbit story..............

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 23sd replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 17 years ago by RabbitPam.

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- 08/01/2008 at 2:36 PM
  lottin_uk
  Participant
  33 posts
  Hello folks
  
  I have never posted on here before, but have uploaded many photos of our two house rabbits, Brucie and Lilly.
  
  Our adventure with house rabbits began in Jan 2007, i still dont know where I got the idea?!! After a couple of weeks pestering my OH, we bought a cage and found a bunny needing rescued by the SSPCA in Scotland. He was called Brucie, (my oh’s surname is Bruce – so it was meant to be!) he was 100 miles away, so we got up at 6am and drove through one sat morning, 17th March 2007. We had to go so early as they will not “reserve” animals. Luckily as we arrived in the city, we received a phonecall to say someone was at the centre and wanted to adopt him, so we raced to the centre to get him first! As you can see in the photos in the gallery, he was a beautiful Fawn coloured dwarf lop. Very excited and curious!
  
  He survived the 100 mile journey home, and my OH was driving very sensibly!!! He settled in well, got his jabs and then neutered. he didnt come round very well from the anesthetic, and had to be admitted to the vet again overnight – a sad night with an empty house!
  
  Brucie set off on his holidays with us a few weeks later, a 7 hour ferry trip to visit my family! he had a fab time, even got his own room as they were decorating a spare bedroom. all the family came to visit him, he trimmed some of my mum’s houseplants for her!
  
  After a few months of him settling in, we worried that sometimes he was lonely, and for our next holiday however we found a local rabbit breeder/shower who offered boarding facilities, after checking them out, Brucie checked-in for a weeks stay in August 2007. We asked her if she could try and bond him with any rabbit she was no longer requiring for breeding. When we returned from our holiday (engaged – yay!) Brucie also had a girlfriend – Lilly (a butterfly white/fawn dwarf lop) beautiful! After a few weeks of bonding (seperate cages, swapping scented towels between them, supervised sessions together) they fell deeply in love and became totally inseperable and very very cute together!
  
  A while later we noticed Brucie had a lump on his head, just below his left ear. Upon having it checked out by the vet they suggested it was an abscess. I’m a bit of an internet addict when it comes to any ailment, so after reading up on rabbit abscesses, i feared the worst. He was taken in for his first operation, where they removed the lump and cleaned it out. Again he struggled with the anesthetic. Unfortunately within weeks the lump had reappeared. The second time we went for the op we had a different vet, I showed her some of the info I read about antibiotic beads for packing the abscess track, and she already knew about this type of treatment and agreed to try it out. Brucie was delayed coming home from vet due to not coming round well from the anesthetic again. This time the vet left the wound open and asked us to self-treat. We had to clean it out when it built up of puss, and also had to give him injections ourselves twice per week with antibiotics. After 6 weeks this was no better, and they said it was probably not worth another operation at this point, and as he was in no pain and eating fine, just to leave him for a while.
  
  Since April Brucie had stopped eating his soft poops, and was leaving them all round the house, sitting on them and squishing them into the floor – yuck. so we took him back to the vet again. They suggested he was overweight. So he went on a diet. But it continued.
  
  In July the vet suggested again trying the op. We checked him in on Friday 11th July, and the op went ahead. Again they said he did not come round well, and we picked him up just before closing. The vet explained that there didnt appear to be a visible tooth abcess and was unsure where the problem was. Whilst she was cleaning it out, Brucie had been squeeling,so more anesthetic was given to him. Unfortunately this was the worst i had ever seen him. She said to my OH that we were only getting him home as we knew what we were doing. He was so sleepy he couldnt even hold his body in a sitting position. I took him on my belly for the evening, whilst he grinded his teeth in pain, and sighed every now and then. He would not eat even his favourite treats, and my OH was feeding him water by syringe. We liquidised some food and syringe fed this too. At 1am he perked up slightly and made his own way over to Lilly for snuggles.
  
  I awoke at 520 and asked OH to check on him……. and I heard him say “oh brucie, oh no, Brucie no” and just knew…. my heart broke and i collapsed on the floor. Brucie had hidden in a corner of the kitchen to die. He had just passed and he was still warm and floppy. It was the worst moment of my life so far.
  
  Brucie was my first pet ever, i’m 24! He is now burried in our garden, under a beautiful blooming rose “golden memories” very appropriate for my darling boy.
  
  RIP baby.xxxx
  
  I wanted to share our sad story with some other rabbit lovers, as we dont know anyone with rabbits, so no one can fully appreciate how great they are. He used to sit on the toilet waiting for my bf to come out of the shower, he would lie across his shoes so he couldnt go to work, he would stand on your foot holding your knee when he knew you had the fridge open! It has been really difficult, but what has made it worse was looking at Lilly – so sad and lonely, looking for him everywhere. SHe has completely “un-litter-trained” herself, tore up her rabbit bed to pieces, and become scared.
  
  So now we have adopted another rabbit who was desperate for a new home, an Alaskan rabbit, pure black, now goes by the name of Jack! He was rescued from a woman who kept several rabbits, not vaccinated or neutered, fed them on strawberries, no hay etc. SO they were overweight, some had flystrike, their teeth were not in good condition etc.
  
  Jack is very appreciative of his new home – binkies all over the place….eating better, now neutered and vaccinated, he and lilly have bonded well and she is returning to her old lovely self. Although jack will never ever replace brucie, no-one could, I feel it has really helped me. I have spent lots of time “on the floor” with him, he likes to lick you, and then will lie down right along side your body so you can feel his heart beat, and go to sleep!! He is running rings around lilly – must love her loads! they are already snuggling on the floor and cleaning eachother, so sweet.
  
  Jack coped with the anesthetic really well, although we still worried all day and night…. the things we do for our rabbits!????!!!
  
  Thanks for reading this far, hope u enjoyed our story…. so far….!!!
- 08/01/2008 at 2:48 PM
  wendyzski
  Participant
  1312 posts
  Welcome. I’m so sorry about Brucie.
  
  But I’m happy that you decided to open your heart and home to another bun who needed you.
- 08/01/2008 at 3:23 PM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  Your story about Brucie was heart-wrenching, but I am so glad you got a new friend for Lilly. Jack sounds like a sweet little guy with a lovely personality of his own. I’m sure he’s glad he found your family. We don’t replace the little ones we love – they just teach us how to love others. Nice to meet you.
- 08/01/2008 at 3:43 PM
  MarkBun
  Participant
  2842 posts
  I am sorry for your loss.
  
  After doing some research lately, I have to ask if you are using cedar and/or pine chips for bedding. Recently it was linked to troubles with anestesia for buns by a vet here in the US that we all have great admiration for.
  
  Also, did you let Lily spend any time with the body of Bruce? You want a bonded partner to spend an hour to t hours with the body so that they can learn that their best friend has gone over the rainbow bridge. Although it is torture for us during that time, it greatly helps with the healing process for the bun.
- 08/01/2008 at 3:47 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  Welcome to Binkybunny
  
  We definitely understand your sadness. It’s a terrible thing to lose a special friend. I’m sorry for your loss. Do you know the ‘Rainbow Bridge’ story? It’s comforting.
  
  Congratulations on rescuing Jack. You’ll have to post some pictures-they both sound lovely
- 08/01/2008 at 4:07 PM
  lottin_uk
  Participant
  33 posts
  Hey folks
  
  Thanks for the comments, it has been hard as people struggle to understand how a rabbit can be such a big part of your life – but a house rabbit is no different to a family cat or dog (better infact!!).
  
  We use wood pellet litter, they didnt like any kind of “bedding” so dont have any of that, except their cosy rabbit beds (cat bed style). Unfortunately my head was not in a good place that morning when brucie passed on, i’m usually such an internet searcher, but i never thought to check, so lilly didnt spend any time with Brucie, that we know of, unless they were together before I woke up.
  
  What is the rainbow bridge story?
  
  thanks
  
  laura
  
  x
  
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- 08/01/2008 at 6:51 PM
  osprey
  Participant
  2065 posts
  There are various versions of the Rainbow Bridge story. Here is one adapted by The Rabbit Haven:
  
  There is a special place known as the land of rainbows- a special place where our little ones go when they leave their physical body on earth-and cross into another state of being.
  
  Just a thought away, in another dimension, this place is safe, sweet, and holds all that brings joy to it’s inhabitants.
  
  When a bunny passes away, that bunny goes across the rainbow bridge to this special place.
  
  There in their new home, there are green meadows, perfect Timothy and fresh hays- lovely veggies and fruits and all the treats they love. Sweet dandelion and basil grow all year long and fresh streams provide water that is crystal clear.
  
  In this lovely land, all our bunnies hop and play, doing binkies and finding everything that brings them peace, comfort and joy- Here in this land every bunny is in perfect health, all injuries are gone, all ailments disappear.
  In this wonder filled land your bunny lives in peace and harmony with other rabbits as well as other animals and makes friends easily with everyone.
  
  One special aspect of the land of rainbows is the rainbow bridge-
  Some think that this bridge is for crossing over to the land only – We have come to realize that the bridge can offer a road that allows the bunny and you to come and go freely, to visit anytime.
  
  Yes, you may also use this bridge and visit with your bunny!- quietly close you eyes and visualize your sweet little friend and the bridge, softly see the translucent rainbow and look for your friend to appear and come to you-
  Eventually, when your mind is quiet and you understand these aspects and your heart is at peace, you may actually move yourself through this bridge to them as they wish so that you may visit anytime.
  
  We are invisible in the land of rainbows, as the rabbit is invisible here on earth- But together where ever you are, you can see each other and you can hold and love your bunny as always. They may jump for joy at seeing you- You are free to visit in spirit anytime. Continue your loving ways. Remember your special friend.
  
  In this beautiful sun filled land our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and hurt are restored to health and vigor; those who were inured or maimed are made whole and strong again. so as you see them they may look a bit different – but it is really your friend.
  
  All the animals in this place are happy and content. They will often try to visit with you. We only need be still to see and make this connection.
  
  In their land, they all run and play together, having a new adventure or a calm relaxing day in their lush new home. Whenever they aren’t too busy having fun they will think of you or they will come to visit you during times when you focus on them. They don’t mind it if you need to visit with them often. To them time is endless and everywhere- they always have time for you-
  
  Hopping over the green grass they can learn to travel through the bridge to see you anytime. Eventually you can learn to visit them in their place.
  
  When you can visit there, they will know when you arrive and will be waiting for you- they always know. Such knowing bunnies they are.
  
  Please understand that your little friend and companion is peaceful and happy. They are loved and in perfect comfort. Know that they will always be there waiting for you with happy binkies, loving nudges and kisses, playful bounds of love expressing happiness that you are there.
  
  Remember your beloved friend may have crossed the bridge yet they will also always be with you right here on this earth-they remain forever in your memories and in your heart.
  
  Love to you – sweet kisses to your beloved – blessings on their path & yours
- 08/03/2008 at 11:04 AM
  BBMommy
  Participant
  57 posts
  Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
  
  When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
  There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
  There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
  
  All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
  The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
  
  They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
  
  You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
  
  Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
- 08/10/2008 at 11:58 AM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Welcome, and thank you for sharing your story. You’ve come to the right place for understanding. We all know how wonderful, fun and intelligent that rabbits really are. They are a part of our family and the loss is deep. I am sorry for your loss. It sounds like your Brucie was so loved and you did all you could. Brucie had a wonderful life with you.
  
  It sounds like Jack is beautiful new addition. There’s always enough love to go around. One doesn’t ever replace the other, but just adds. Keep us updated with Jack and Lilly!
- 08/10/2008 at 12:09 PM
  JamieM
  Participant
  321 posts
  Aw. Jack is a cutie. I hope Lilly and he get along!
- 08/11/2008 at 11:37 AM
  (dig)x(me)x(now)
  Participant
  2517 posts
  Welcome to BB and thanks for sharing your story! You brought a bit of a tear to my eye, I must admit.
  
  I love your writing style, by the way; very witty!
- 08/11/2008 at 11:46 AM
  kimberleyanddarren
  Participant
  2520 posts
  I am so sorry for your loss, its very hard to lose someone who is much loved.
  
  Death is nothing at all,
  I have only slipped away
  into the next room.
  
  I am I,
  and you are you;
  whatever we were to each other,
  that, we still are.
  
  Call me by my old familiar name,
  speak to me in the easy way
  which you always used,
  put no difference in your tone,
  wear no forced air
  of solemnity or sorrow.
  
  Laugh as we always laughed
  at the little jokes we shared together.
  Let my name be
  the household name it always was.
  Let it be spoken without effect,
  without the trace of a shadow on it.
  
  Life means all
  that it ever meant.
  It is the same as it ever was.
  Why should I be out of mind
  because I am out of sight?
- 02/21/2009 at 1:23 PM
  lottin_uk
  Participant
  33 posts
  Hello folks
  
  have been meaning to have a catch up on this site for ages! but we are busy organising our wedding at the mo, so its hectic!
  
  Jack settled in instantly, i’m very pleased to say! From the first moment we took him into the house he and Lilly were very “Interested” in each other! I had forgot how bad the smell is when there are all those hormones floating around! The day of his neutering was pretty awful – we were both worried all day at work as we weren’t sure how Jack would take to the aneasthetic. Luckily he was 100% when he came home from the Vet – his usual cheeky monkey self!!
  
  My first moment of bonding with Jack was amazing. My h2b was away with work, and i was having a PJ night in front of the telly. i lay down on the floor to chat with the rabs, and jack came along and gave me a sniff and nose rubs, then he lay down, right along my front, squashing himself into me and went to sleep – it was fab!!! i lay there for ages!
  
  Jack is a very active bunny, he loves when we open all doors through the house and he can go for a long run, spin, binky and run back! His confidence has certainly spread to Lilly who was so shy and scared – always hiding behind Brucie! Now she goes into the hall and bedroom which she never did before. Jack stalks you in the kitchen as soon as you open the fridge. Brocolli is his favourite. Carrots seem to upset his belly. He is partial to a McVities Digestive biscuit or two, whenever I sit down on the sofa with a cup of tea and the biscuit barrel, he is straight up on the sofa looking for some!!! Even Lilly now comes right over – not quite brave enough to jump up on sofa (yet?!!).
  
  We’ve noticed Lilly seems a bit jealous of Jack’s attention from us, but she still is not keen on being stroked etc, and with him jumping up on your knee – what can you do?!!!! She seems to be “humping” him once a week or so, trying to make sure he knows she is THE BOSS!!! i dont really think Jack cares – he is always happy!!!!!!!
  
  Jack does indeed enjoy attention, he sometimes acts out a bit if we haven’t spent any time with him, also, whilst we’re online, with our backs to the room, he sometimes gets grumpy with us, and will climb right onto the arm of the sofa next to the computer to try and get attention, or he’ll chew something he’s not supposed to when we go out!!! Also, we have a large armchair that no-one really sits in, and he often jumps up and sits tall there with ears right up to get attention – or just to watch telly sometimes (seems to like the news???!!! Lilly prefers the Snooker?!!!)
  
  Anyway, i could chat about them forever! We are so lucky to have found Jack. Brucie’s rose is beautiful and has had a flower on it every day since it was planted – even through all the snow, was chatting to him whilst gardening today – its nice that he is there.
  
  Better go and read some other posts. will add some pics!
  
  Laura
  
  xxx
  
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- 02/21/2009 at 2:14 PM
  Sage Cat
  Participant
  1883 posts
  So sorry about your loosing Brucie!
  
  But, I am very glad to hear about jack settling in so well with Lilly. They are a really cute couple!
- 02/21/2009 at 2:15 PM
  bunnytowne
  Participant
  7538 posts
  Reading this brought tears to my eyes. Ohh poor Brucie. You did your best for him. He knows you did. what a great bunny Brucie was…
  
  I know you miss him dearly. Glad your girl perked up again with her new friend.
- 02/21/2009 at 9:06 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Nice to hear from you again. I love Lily’s pose in that finally picture. She’s very dramatic – lol ! Jack sounds like a complete charmer. Did you have to do bonding sessions with him and Lily or did they just get along?
- 02/22/2009 at 12:00 AM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Oh, how wonderful! What a great description of him and he sounds so sweet. I love the photos and I too had to laugh at Lily’s pose in the final picture. Thanks for sharing!
- 02/22/2009 at 12:54 AM
  MimzMum
  Participant
  8029 posts
  Welcome Laura and family! ^_^
  You story has touched me deeply. Thank you so much for sharing it. I too have become a rather unexpected rabbit devotee as of July of 2007, when a little dusty fawn Holland Lop was abandoned with two ruby eye white males at my husband’s workplace not far from our home in June of 07. Naturally, we wanted to rescue the bunnies, but I had no idea that little Mimzy would become the light of my heart as he has. I didn’t even dare to ask hubby if he could come home with us, and in the end, was presented with him on July 16th of that year and he has been my dearest ever since. (Much to the chagrin of my tabby cat who is also the love of my life…imagine that! lolz… Now I have three males hanging on my heart!)
  
  My sincere condolences on the loss of Brucie. He sounds like a champion bun and I am so sorry he and Lilly were separated so. It’s amazing how any creature only has to touch our lives for a brief moment to engrave our love for them on our souls forever. Bless him. (Binky free, Brucie!)
  
  Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials and your new addition! An Alaskan rabbit you say? Now that has my curiosity peaked! ^_^ I have lived in Alaska for 14 years this March but have not as yet come upon a breed named for our state. It sounds intriguing!
  
  Jack and Lilly are a handsome pair! I love the photos of them snuggled together in the pet bed and the Santa hats (that’s adorable! I can’t get my-now three-bunnies into costume at all!) and that one of Lily ‘lounging’ lopsided -no pun intended- out of the pet bed is precious!
  
  I am off to see if I can suss out the pictures of dear Brucie. Once again, welcome to BinkyBunny…or should I say welcome back? ^_^ Please post often as you can, it is thoroughly enjoyable to read your stories.
- 02/22/2009 at 5:02 AM
  GHbun
  Participant
  158 posts
  What’s a “snooker?”
- 02/22/2009 at 9:01 AM
  lottin_uk
  Participant
  33 posts
  Thanks for all the comments. Had a few family members over to visit today, Jack was right in there performing for them all! i hold a treat and say “up” he stands on back legs, then as i move treat away he waddles like a penguin, very funny, and cute. he only manages a few steps!
  
  Jerseygirl – bonding them…. well i have to say it is a story!!
  Exactly 1 week after brucie passed on, we were going to a wedding. I was at hairdresser and my boyfriend went to do the shopping. when he picked me up (hair all nice and styled) he looked at me and said “i’v seen a rabbit I like”. then we deliberated as we didnt have much time, and were worried he’d be gone by the next day. so we went to see him. I thought he was amazing, they opened his cage and he came right to front and wanted to see what was going on – A good sign! so we agreed, bought another cage, and took him home, set up the cage and put him in it, in the middle of the sitting room. then lilly started going up to the cage and sniffing him, then running round the cage, and he was going crazy inside it! unfortunately we didnt have time to bond them as we were now late for the wedding!!! so when we came home at 1am, we let Jack out and they didnt fight or anything, just sniffed around together then lay down beside eachother! easy!
  perhaps they’d done enough bonding during the day through the cage? I know that bonding Lilly and Brucie was tiring, for around 2 weeks i had to keep them in seperate cages, but we left jack and lilly alone after 3 nights! with B&L i had to swap towels over between their cages etc, and they had constant “Humping” battles, at one point they were both humping eachother at the same time!!! round and round and round! and my other half was away on business so i had 2 weeks of seperating them!!! Although Jack did like to hump here a bit too much sometimes, poor lilly, Jack didnt really know what he was doing or where to put “it”!!! in her eye, in her ear etc!
  
  Anyway, jack was neutered that week, so from then on there were no problems at all. With B&L the towel thing helped, and also i had their 2 cages sidebyside in the sitting room over night so they were still “together”. We never left them unattended when bonding though, just incase! apart from the one time, I came home from work (h2b was still away) and let them out. Then I went out to the shed to get something and came in realising I had forgot keys to our flat! oops. i rushed a locksmith over to the house – was so worried they were fighting, but no, they were asleep in front of the telly!!!!
  
  Tamera – snooker is a “sport” like pool or billiards, it is televised over here a lot.
  
  We are actually travelling to the US to get married – in NY, then a few days in LA, then out to BoraBora. It will be great but will miss my babies for 3 weeks! It always takes them a few days to even speak to us again after they have been boarded for 1 week – it will be awful after 3!!!!
  
  laura
  x
- 02/22/2009 at 9:22 AM
  lottin_uk
  Participant
  33 posts
  Also, i was going to talk about my aunt, who was one of our visitors today.
  
  she lives 250 miles away, i haven’t seen her for years. but she got a rabbit for xmas, and wanted to see ours!
  
  I’m concerned she knew so little, keeps the rabbit in a hutch all the time, and doesnt even know what sex it is. she even said she reckons it will die cos she doesn’t know how to look after it properly, she didnt know about vaccinations! nail trimming, or that they should have unlimited hay. omg
  
  i feel sad about it, she told me to email her my address so she can email with questions – i guess i will help where I can – doesnt sound good for the poor little rabbit though.
  
  On a more happy note – some more pics to share (do you find you take pics of everything they do?!!!!)
  
  Lilly in the garden, Jack opening xmas pressies and eating their rabbit advent calendar! Lilly doing her wierd lazing around 1/2 in and out of bed! lilly flopped right onto back snoozin, and Lilly helpin Dad with some DIY!!!
  
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- 02/22/2009 at 5:20 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  With your Aunt, don’t stress too much. Her having seen what they can be as pets at your place may inspire her. You can always send her on over to BinkyBunny too
  
  hehe, I have to laugh at your Lilly, she certainly has a style in her lolling about! Also, she is the same colourings as my Jersey, who I also suspect has some dwarf lop in her(known as mini in USA). I’m much more convinced now seeing Lilly’s ear shap and hock size/shape which is so like Jersey’s.
  
  Great bonding experience! Maybe Brucie helped from afar…I saw his picture in another thread – he looked just lovely!
- 02/22/2009 at 11:20 PM
  (dig)x(me)x(now)
  Participant
  2517 posts
  Jack and Lilly look like they make a great pair. It’s good to hear from you again and know your story ended happy again
- 02/23/2009 at 4:44 AM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  Those pix are the best
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