non-bonded bunnies to the vet?

[Beka27]

well, i made Max’s first vet appt for the 19th.  i’m still bonding everyday in the meantime.  if they are not fully bonded (which i don’t think they will be by then) should i still take them both in together?  i know that taking one bun to the vet without the other spells disaster for BONDED pairs… but would it undo any progress we had made to that point?  i’d have a separate carrier of course.

[Sarita]

Actually if they aren’t that’s a great opportunity to put them together for bonding so I would take them both in together.

Actually taking one bonded pair into the vet without the other does not always spell disaster – it depends how how new the bond is. I’ve taken Twizzler in without Toffee many many times and there is never any problems – granted they came to me bonded in April 2003 but I’ve had no problem with one going to the vet and the other staying home. I’ve also had friends have to separate their rabbits for vet appointments before too and they’ve never had any problems.

[MarkBun]

Actually, not only would I bring them both to the vets but I would also take them in the same carrier. The ONLY place that Maryann and Dono didn’t fight was in the carrier in the car. If you hear them begin to start up, all you have to do is shake the carrier and it will stop them. When they get to the vets, they will be in major unknown space and when you put them both on the exam table, you’d be amazed how much they huddle together (at least my pair did).

A trip to the vets is an excellent bonding opportunity (like Sarita said).

[Beka27]

so i’ll have to get a larger carrier. should it be much larger, or just large enough that they can both sit in it comfortably? thanks for the input. her last nail trim was the 23rd, so i’ll maybe call back, see if they can squeeze that in for her.

[Sarita]

Just large enough so they both fit in comfortably – make sure you get the top opening one too.

[JK]

Why do you need to take them both, unless of course Meadow needs to go to the vet herself??? Why is that a disaster to take one?  I don’t get it!  Because one will miss the other? If it’s not a surgery situation why does it matter?

[Sarita]

Knowltons, I think she just wants to take them both together this time to help speed up the bonding process. It’s the perfect opportunity for that.

[Beka27]

in bonded couples the new smells from the vet on the other bun can break up a couple, or make the one at home reject them. i’m just worried that if in the next week i make some major progress with them, and i take Max by himself, Meadow will reject him… again. she gets stressed enough in the car and at the vet, so i think it could work as that day’s bonding acitivity, plus i’m going to have her nails trimmed so it won’t be a wasted trip for her.

[JK]

Ah that makes sense! You are such a great bunny mom. Do the men in your house just love Max to death?

[Sarita]

Beka this can happen in newly bonded couples (but not couples bonded a long time). I had 2 neutered males that I had bonded and one got sick and I had to take him to the vet every day for about a week and the other bunny started attacking him – not 100% sure if it was the vet smell or the fact that Mango was sick and weak or perhaps both. I forgot about this situation until now.

I would say that’s more the case in newly bonded couples moreso than bunnies with a strong long bond.

[Beka27]

well that’s good to know… but wouldn’t two fully bonded bunnies be less stressed being together at the vet anyways… assuming they are a fully, long time bonded, couple? of course, it doesn’t apply to us right now, just good to know tho.

[MarkBun]

I bring both my buns to the vet all the time when one needs something. I now have it so that they both get their yearly physical at the same time.

[Sarita]

I will take in my pairs together for a well check too but if it’s for illness I just take in the sick one mainly because I usually drop off in the morning and pick up in the evening and I don’t want to stress out both rabbits if I don’t have too.

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