Lots happening – and Boston is sneezing …

[Boston's Mama]

So since my boys were neutered Oakleys behaviour seems to have gotten more bunny aggressive not less… which I wasn’t expecting. I mean I know the bunny hormonal craze has passed as he stopped peeing everywhere ( they both started this after the neuter for about 2 weeks) and all other behaviours calmed – but he hates Boston even more than before.
I did attempt bonding ( lots of prebonding since march and then face to face in bathtub about 6weeks I think it was after neuter but they fought viscously ) but gave up on that.
Things settled after that into side by side living … but over time Oakleys aggression ( thumping which scared Boston as he can’t see well, lunging at his own bars ( they are spaced abit apart and have seperate pens too so he can’t get to Boston at all of course )
I did not forsee a issue with this as they are not getting bonded anymore.
I thought side by side living would at least provide bunny to bunny interaction even if not bonded and be good for them in some way.
But it seems to be getting more agro from Oakleys side as time passes- and Boston seems more wary.

Then next part – not sure if it’s related.
The past 2 days Boston started sneezing , about 5 spells a day of 6-8 sneezes in a row. I haven’t changed hay , on same bag , no new wash powders or blankets.
There is no discharge from eyes or nose and no wet or mats on feet from wiping.

I can only find a couple of possible causes:
:The hay could be too dusty – I’ll try tomorrow de dusting it as much as I can
:he got a new stuffie – I’ve removed it tonight to see if that makes a difference
:or is it the bunny aggressive neighbour stressing him that he can tell hates him but can’t see him due to eye sight

I can’t move Oakley out of the room because it’s open plan end bunnies are in and other end is bedrooms ( other half and kids have hay fever so cannot put Oakley in the rooms )

[Wick & Fable]

The stress from neutering and Boston may have triggered a dormant infection. Many rabbits have dormant respiratory infections, but their immune system is strong enough to combat it, showing no symptoms. When stressed, it becomes vulnerable.

As for the bonding, I have no advice unfortunately. No experience. My only thought is to do a complete visual separation if possible so they both can become secure in their own territories first.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Boston's Mama]

Oh the bonding I’ve given up on – def too scary of a experience to ever try again
But I was hoping they could live next to each other
I should also mention the neuter was ages ago now- like 3 months ago

The dormant infection triggered by stress from Oakleys agro was what I’m thinking too… I’m really hoping it’s not and it’s a easier fix if it’s dusty hay or the toy…. completely separating the boys is not an option here.
I’ve removed the toy – I’ll de dust the hay further – and I’ll see what happens then. Any discharge and I’ll take him straight to vet ( not rabbit savvy though as he away till next week) otherwise I’ll do vet in 5 days even if no discharge when my rabbit savvy vet is back if we haven’t stopped the sneezing by then

[Q8bunny]

Hmm… I could only speculate, but I do hope Boston feels better. You might want to introduce echinacea (fresh, dried, or tablets) into his diet to help boost his immune system. (((Boston))).

[Boston's Mama]

I haven’t heard of that for bunnies for , thanks for the tip

[Boston's Mama]

Before *

[sarahthegemini]

If you can’t separate the boys into different rooms what about a blanket barrier or something so they can’t see each other?

[Boston's Mama]

I’m going to try having the couch between them , I’m not sure that will fix it though as Boston can’t see Oakley anyway with his eye sight ( I have to be about 20cm away for him to see me so no way he will have clear view of Oakley )
I know Oakleys sounds freak Boston out – like Oakley stomps at night at him and Boston freaks. Oakley is a really loud stomper too so I can hear him at the other end of the house even – if he does one that isn’t very loud he moves somewhere he can be louder ( littertray for example gives a louder thump than on his blanket does) and does it again until he is satisfied it’s loud enough ( funny but not funny for Boston obviously )

[Boston's Mama]

Only other place I have to move one is the internal garage – but it’s drafty and not suitable

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Oakley and Boston’s Mama on 8/11/2017 6:40 AM

I’m going to try having the couch between them , I’m not sure that will fix it though as Boston can’t see Oakley anyway with his eye sight ( I have to be about 20cm away for him to see me so no way he will have clear view of Oakley )
I know Oakleys sounds freak Boston out – like Oakley stomps at night at him and Boston freaks. Oakley is a really loud stomper too so I can hear him at the other end of the house even – if he does one that isn’t very loud he moves somewhere he can be louder ( littertray for example gives a louder thump than on his blanket does) and does it again until he is satisfied it’s loud enough ( funny but not funny for Boston obviously )

That’s a tough one. Would some sort of background noise (radio for example) help drown out some of Oakley’s thumping? 

[Wick & Fable]

^ perhaps a cheap white noise machine?

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[sarahthegemini]

That would be great ^ ^

I know it’s not the same situation but my Peanut is quite a sound sensitive bun and having TV on in the background really helps him feel more at ease. Or at least it did. He’s much better now but he used to freak out/jump at the slightest thing, me getting off of the sofa for example unless there was something permanently noisy to drown out other sounds.

[Boston's Mama]

Already have that in place due to bossys vision

[Boston's Mama]

Sneezing worsened – 40 odd in a row. No discharge still.

I’ve got him into a vet for 5hours time

Will update when back

[LBJ10]

Having a visual barrier may help calm Oakley down. Perhaps he won’t be triggered so much and, in turn, make so much noise? I do like the background noise idea, but if you’re already doing that then I’m not sure what else to suggest unfortunately. Hopefully Oakley and Boston will both become desensitized with time. Some bunnies take longer than others to adjust to things. I know it seems like it has been a long time though.

I do hope Boston is OK. You’ll have to keep us updated.

[Boston's Mama]

Just back from vet, been over everything – our set , what we have tried ( couch between them in past , tv on all the time ect) when through Bostons vision issues and impact that will be playing, how long this been going on , how it esculated over time , Boston has a good check up etc etc

Bostons hearing seems heightened because of the vision being reduced. He’s more alert to sound and that is likely why seperating them to other sides of the lounge has made no difference.
Boston was so much more relaxed on way to vet and at vet than he has been all week – and Oakley started the second we entered the door home again thumping and pacing and chinning….

[Rookie]

so sorry to hear. can’t even imagine making that decision. what about the sneezing? was that stress induced too?

[Boston's Mama]

It’s a infection , like one that was dormant but triggered by the stress.
He’s on antibiotics as luckily we seem to have caught it early ( his lungs sound clear so Upper resp at this stage )
He’s on a 7 day course of deprim and will reassess before the 7days up to see if he needs longer or if we switch to baytril

[Rookie]

oh okay. Sprocket seems to be sneezing too but he had a sneeze here and there so I am hoping it is nothing…reading what the bar is in your case it gives me a sense of when to worry…he has a vet appointment Wednesday so hoping until then it stays the same or better.

[Boston's Mama]

I kind of use this as a guide( only for sneezing though – any other symptom on top of the sneezing and it changes things though )
The odd sneeze is fine ,

sneezing a few in a row a couple of times a day with no discharge is likely allergy and need to look for likely causes.

Multiple sneezing in rows and often needs looked at – if there is also discharge its straight to vet

[Rookie]

yes of course. he had the odd sneeze. I think he had 2 in a row today. some of them are not real sneezes though. just a big nose sigh with a deep breath. does it when he relaxes and stretched out or when sitting and contemplating life. lol . no discharge. I only ever see his nose slightly moist is when running around but I would think that’s from the temperature difference between his breath and the air. he then does a cleaning session and all taken care of. I try and boop his nose often to monitor that.

[Boston's Mama]

Tough night – boys can’t see each other at all and things were even worse
Oakley stomped all night and Boston freaked and sneezed all night on other side of the room.
They are sleeping right now thank goodness so hopefully Boston can get some rest from the stress to help him get better today
*yaaaawwwwwwnnnn*

[LBJ10]

Aww, poor thing. Would melatonin help any? My vet has me give Wooly a 1mg tablet when he’s stressed.

[Boston's Mama]

I asked about that but vet didn’t think it was a good idea as it would just be a temp fix not a permanent fix

[sarahthegemini]

It’s a tough situation to be in. Is it the hay itself that your children have allergies too? Sorry if you’ve said and I’ve missed it.

[Boston's Mama]

Yep other half and kids have hay fever , they have treatment for it but still can’t handle the hay at all

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Oakley and Boston’s Mama on 8/13/2017 6:13 AM

Yep other half and kids have hay fever , they have treatment for it but still can’t handle the hay at all

Bugger, I assume that’s all hay types then. I have hay fever myself but it’s very mild. Is your living room big? What about a permanent partition/essentially creating two rooms out of one. Probably not realistic but trying to think of a solution Or how about putting one bun in the garage as a temporary measure so that both Boston and Oakley can forget each other and then slowly bringing the garage bun back in? I’m thinking if it was the fight during bonding that sort of sparked this, perhaps they need a reset?

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