Broken Bond?

[virdilak]

One of my rabbits, Zaichyk, came home from the vet yesterday after severe GI stasis. While she was gone, my other rabbit Vincent slept in their shared cage. While we’ve only had Vinnie a few months, he and Zai bonded quickly and got along really well. After Zai came home, Vinnie was moved to a separate cage next to the shared cage (that he lived in pre-bonding) so we could better monitor Zai’s food intake and litterbox usage. They were allowed to hang out together out of the cages as normal.

 At first, everything seemed fine – Vinnie was grooming Zai intently, they were clumping together and chewing on carrot together. However, as the evening went on, Vinnie started trying to assert dominance over Zai, resulting in thrashing about the cage as he chased her around. Not wanting her to hurt herself or derail her recovery, Vin was moved to his cage and they had separate out times for the rest of the night. This morning we tried letting them hang out together while eating their morning greens, which lasted peacefully for a few minutes before Vinnie once again lunged at Zai and chasing her. My previous suspicions were confirmed when he dropped a tuft of her fur from his mouth.

So, now I’m assuming we’re back to step 1 on the bonding – except at no time in their initial meeting or during the previous bonding process was there chasing and fur-tearing, so it’s more like we’re at negative steps now. Is this a thing that happens? I’m distressed that this event and whole process might cease of reverse Zai’s recovery.

 

Advice?

 

(this is my first post – I end up here every time I have a rabbit question anyway, figured I might as well go right to the source)

[tanlover14]

This happens very often when one bunny is sick – the bunnies will need to re-establish a bond and pecking order as your other rabbit seems to be taking advantage of the fact that the other is sick to become the “top honcho” in the pair.

What steps did you take to bond them the first time? Neutral territory, small introductions. Stress bonding has helped my group of six A TON when I notice that they are battling about something. Did you stress bond the first time around?

[virdilak]

I had their cages adjacent and let them interact in open space of the living room (where the cages are) bit by bit. Now that Vin is used to the space, that’s not going to work so well I’m afraid.

 

Zai goes back to the vet on the 12th for some bloodwork followup – I’m wondering if I should have him come with with them in one carrier for the shared stress experience, assuming they haven’t gone back to normal or at least friendlier terms before then. Should I wait until Zai is well enough to be off supplemental syringe feeding before trying some neutral space interaction, or would sooner be better than later?

[tanlover14]

I think sooner rather than later. I think the carrier to the vets is a great idea I wouldn’t be too harsh or cause too much stress until he’s back to normal but controlled bonding would be fine.

[virdilak]

We put both rabbits in a small space together for 20-30 minutes, and I’m not 100% clear on if progress was made or not. Zai kept requesting grooming, and Vinnie did give her some grooming for short periods of time, but he also nipped at her a few times (once holding onto her fur, but not really trying to mount her from what I could tell) and thumped at her once. There was no strong hostility – most of the time they ignored each other – and him being willing to groom her seems like a positive step but the biting was still occurring. I haven’t done this before from this point so I’m not sure what’s normal or signs of things not working out.

We have taken the hutch from the previously shared cage (Vinnie’s favorite thing in the world) and moved it into his cage in hopes that he’ll feel better about things in general if he has his comfort space back. He ran into it right away and is contentedly inside leaning his head against it as he is wont to do, so if nothing else he’s likely feeling more secure.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I would keep doing bonding sessions. It sounds like they need to re-establish their hierarchy.

[virdilak]

Another mouthful of ripped out fur has convinced me that it’s time to step up the bonding efforts through shared mental trauma; tomorrow is car ride time. My question now is should both rabbits be in the same carrier or each in their own next to each other? Will the stress of the strange situation make it less likely that there will be aggressive biting? I really don’t want to have too much of a risk of attacks/inability to flee in a close space, but I want to do what I can to get these two back friends again. This is really heartbreaking.

 

Edit: After researching some more, I think I will try the cardboard box method of car transport. As long as I can stop bullying should it start, I will feel better.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I think most people put them in a basket or box in the back seat of the car. Having someone else drive, of course, while you sit in the back, ready to intervene. I used a small laundry basket for my two.

[virdilak]

I ended up using the carrier since we didn’t have any boxes I felt confident in using. They were only in the car for a short while, 20 minutes or a half hour, but they were both well behaved during. Of course tonight when we let them out together there was another chase. This is all one sided, as Zai has never tried to retaliate on Vin, and Vin does still groom her sometimes. Is the chasing/fur pulling not really fighting proper, and thus should be let to run its course? I don’t want to put undue stress on Zai. I’m thinking at this point more car rides or washer top time is in order, and maybe a spray bottle to zap Vinnie when he gets aggressive.

[Sophie, Lola, and Bailey]

I’m having the same problem with my buns. Lola is sick, and now she and Bailey are not getting along. I’m keeping them separated until Lola is feeling better. I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do, but I just don’t want to make Lola worse by stressing her. Especially since she is in pain and is not herself at the moment. I’m sorry I don’t have more solid advice. I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this. I know how hard it is seeing two former best friends fighting, so I know what you’re going through.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Make sure that after the stress car/washer rides, you separate them. If you put them together in the house right after stressing them, they may take out their stress on the other bun. Let them have a break after their stress bonding session.

[virdilak]

Yesterday or the night before last Vinnie apparently decided he was done being mad at Zaichyk (or maybe he was tired of getting hit with the squirt gun) as they are now hanging out together more with less or no aggressive action. They spent several hours in the same cage last night and both went to the vet for Zai’s follow up today. Still no lunging or chasing, so here’s hoping that continues. I’m not comfortable letting them move back in together for good yet, but I no longer have to sit on the floor with them watching every move they make when they’re out together. If things continue without problem, hopefully they can try overnights and will back to normal by next week. Figure its better to give it some time to make sure things are okay rather than risk a bad setback in progress by pushing it.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Glad to hear they are getting along better.

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