Bonding rabbit with head-tilt

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 9sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 2 months ago by Beka27.

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- 08/29/2013 at 2:41 AM
  LunaLove408
  Participant
  14 posts
  Hello, I need help!
  
  I have a dwarf, (Luna) that is 1 1/2 years old. When Luna was about 9 months old she was diganosed with E.Cuniculii Luna now has a permanent head-tilt. She does everything normal eats, does binkeys, and shows affection, so this being said she isnt spayed, i was planning on it but then she got sick and I know rabbits with a illness dont do well under anesthesia so i am a little scared. I saw the cutest baby lionhead rabbit, (8 weeks old) doe for adoption, I gave in. Her name is Daisy, right now I have Daisy and Luna in seprate cages next to eachother. I let Daisy out running around and then Luna. I also put them in eachothers cages so they can pick up the sent of eachother. Sometimes when Daisy runs around, she goes near Lunas cage and they smell eachother, Luna has bit Daisy a few times through the cage and showed some aggression. Then other times Luna shows no attention to Daisy. I really want to get Daisy spayed. Should I wait till I spay Daisy to let them meet? I know she will pick up another scent from the vet, is it already too late since they smelled eachother? Or what if I spay them both? (I’m just scared Luna wont make it through surgery) FYI ive only had Daisy for one week . Thanks !
- 08/29/2013 at 3:24 AM
  bpash89
  Participant
  307 posts
  Well I think you should talk to your vet about getting Luna spayed and the best way to go about that considering her condition but in order to successfully bond them they will both need to be spayed. You should also keep a larger barrier between them so they cannot get close enough to bite. Bunnies can hold a grudge for a long time and it could make bonding harder in the long run. I would suggest waiting until after they are both spayed + 1 month (since Daisy is so young you will need to wait until she is about 6 months before spaying her) before beginning any type of bonding exercises because while switching cages and such doesn’t hurt anything right now, it isn’t doing anything productive either since they will both be different rabbits in the others’ eyes once they are spayed. So I think it’s really best to keep them apart and out of each other’s reach until you are ready to bond them.
- 08/29/2013 at 7:34 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I agree with bpash – talk to the vet about getting Luna spayed.
- 08/29/2013 at 8:52 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  I agree with the others… I would definitely stop any bonding exercises/interaction until Luna is spayed AT LEAST, and preferably until Daisy is spayed and has had an additional month to heal.
  
  Daisy is new to your house, and I’m sure you’re already very attached, but you might want to contact the rescue you adopted her from and discuss your options with them. You might want to consider returning her and waiting to get a second bunny until you know that Luna can be safely spayed and has healed. When that is done, Luna could be taken to the rescue to pick out her own friend. Two females (even spayed ones!) can be very, very, very hard to bond.
- 08/29/2013 at 10:37 AM
  LunaLove408
  Participant
  14 posts
  Thank you all. I did talk to the vet and he said there’s both risk factors because risk of ovarian cancer , and Luna will also be stressed after the surgery which can bring back E.cunicili symptoms. I am attached to Daisy yes, I don’t think I can get rid of her but I can def. keep them separated until spaying. Can I still let them run around the house at different times? I love them both!! And want them to get along .
- 08/29/2013 at 4:59 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  You can let them run around the house at different times as long as there is no way they can get to each other. When the time comes to bond, though, you will need a 100% neutral area, so make sure to leave a room or two that no bunny is allowed in.
- 08/29/2013 at 5:20 PM
  LunaLove408
  Participant
  14 posts
  Luna has already been in every room in my apartment. Is the bathtub okay?
- 08/29/2013 at 5:21 PM
  LunaLove408
  Participant
  14 posts
  I’m just so scared Luna won’t make it though the surgery. And if she does then she will be really stressed and it brings back symptoms of her illness
- 09/03/2013 at 6:41 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Have you decided that you are going through with the spay?
- 09/03/2013 at 9:38 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  It is possible that surgery/recovery will stress her, which may cause the EC symptoms to resurface, but if it does she would just need to receive treatment for it again. Knowing this is a possibility and being able to recognize the symptoms is half the battle. When a rabbit has EC, it’s likely that it will crop up at least a few times throughout that bunny’s lifetime. Fortunately, spaying (although invasive) is going to be a much easier procedure to undergo/recover from than a surgery later in life to try to eliminate cancer.
  
  Please update when you get a chance.
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