Sick bunny has led to unbonding of all

[QueenTwitch]

My four bunnies were happily and successfully bonded back in February, and aside from some minor nipping, they’ve been fine ever since.

However, our smallest (who we rescued from a horrendous situation back in January, she’s a very nervous but super sweet girl) became very sick about 2 weeks ago. She spent 2 days in the vet, and when she came home, she had to be separated from the others so that we could observe her. We never found out what was wrong – she stopped eating and drinking, wasn’t passing anything and had a swollen belly and a temperature. She’d also pulled all the fur out around her bum (we assume she did that but it could have been the others for some reason).

Anyway, she has recovered now, but the others won’t let her back into their enclosure with them, they chase her and bite her and she stomps and runs away. She is scared of all of them and shakes when she sees them.

I don’t know what to do!! Any words of advice, do I have to go back to starting all over again? Or is it kinder to keep her separate, where she seems happy?

:'(

Edit: They’ve all been spayed/neutered, so she isn’t pregnant!

[Gina.Jenny]

I would keep her apart for now. The bond sounds already broken, so whether she is apart for a short while more, or much longer, you will still need to rebond, and she needs to be fully well for that, as bonding can be quite stressful

[QueenTwitch]

Thanks, Gina.Jenny. I think they’ll have to be rebonded – which I assume is possible!

[Benthebunny]

I feel they sence that she is not well? I have no idea! Usually bunnies are very senseitve and will comfort a sickly bunny. I think they sence that something is wrong, I cound be wrong, I am not even close to an expert, my best wishes to your situation.

[Author]

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