We have 3 mini lops (and a Californian, but she isn’t part of this story). They are 2 girls (Mopsy and Marble) and a boy (Thumper), all siblings, but were separated at the shelter where we got them and have been a part of our family for about a year and a half. We had adopted Marble and Thumper first and were fairly easy to bond and have been a couple ever since. A month later we picked up Mopsy because she was still at the shelter. The two girls fought fiercely for over a year, but were finally able to get all 3 bonded fairly close, but they still couldn’t be together all the time because the girls would occasionally squabble now and then.

About a month again, thumper got a case of GI Statis. Luckily my wife and I caught it within 8 hours of the onset and were able to get him to our vet office. Well he was given some pretty powerful meds and got his system working again. We thought everything was fine… then a day later we tried to put him and Marble back together. This was the original couple, inseparable for over a year… and Marble attacked Thumper.

We were shocked, this was her Thump, and she acted like she had never seen this bunny before in her life. Well, after some frustration we figured out what happened. The medicine had changed his scent, and to her, Thumper was an entirely different bunny. It was heart wrenching to see this, and even more for Thumper because he had no idea what was going on. He got sick and all the sudden everything was different. Well we determined it had to be the scent, so we kept them separated. In the meantime, we worked on the bond between Marble and Mopsy. Surprisingly, it seemed Marble now turned to Mopsy for companionship and suddenly the two sisters were able to be together all the time.

After a week we started bringing Thumper together with the girls again. They were pretty much together in the same room the entire time, but separated by fencing. After a week of chasing and some small fights, the breakthrough emerged. It was quick change from uncertainty to the trio back to its old self again, grooming each other and relaxing together. The most amazing thing is that the stronger bond between Mopsy and Marble also stayed intact. The three bunnies have been together night and day now for two weeks without one single incident.

A month ago, we couldn’t believe Thumper was at the vet in a serious situation. Today it seems like the best $250 we have ever spent.

Marble – Brown, Thumper – white nose, Mopsy – brown nose