Surprise!!

[pryzmkess]

This has not been a good day for me and Bruno.  I’ve had two surprises, of which one was fairly massive.

The first surprise is almost funny (now, it wasn’t then) – I had just dragged myself out of bed.  Bruno normally gets pellets by 7 am, and it was 8 and my rabbit decided to do something about that.  I was standing next to the pen when I hear a sound like my bun crashing into it; I look down and Bruno is climbing the side, in the corner!!! I freak out, unsure if grabbing the bun will make the situation worse, or allowing Bruno to finish climbing will be riskier.  Before I can decide, another leap put Bruno over the top and after a few seconds of struggle, it was was over.  My bun jumped safely down to the outside of the cage and thumped a foot.  I rushed over (the jump cleared a good bit of distance), afraid that my bun was injured.  Nope, just fine, and was happily eating pellets a couple of minutes later. 

Conclusion: I need better reflexes and to start getting up earlier.  Or at least for long enough to feed Bruno.

The second surprise is the more… interesting one (the Chinese really do have a good grasp on curses).  I took Bruno to the vet today for a “New Pet Checkup.”  My vet is wonderful; she’s done a lot  of work with rabbits (despite being allergic, now that’s dedication!) and she showed me first hand how to do some of the things I’d been hesitant about, like nail clipping.  We both think that Bruno’s nails have never been trimmed and I’m pretty sure the scent glands hadn’t been cleaned, but that’s all taken care of.  My bun got a clean bill of health, save for one thing: my neutered male bunny is neither fixed nor male.

*headdesks profusely*

In retrospect, it explains the aggression that I was getting for starters.  I’d hoped that the vet wouldn’t be able to find a medical reason for it, and then I could ask for advice here.  No such luck.  Bruno goes in for surgery Thursday (Dr. S’s first open spot), and I am really nervous about it.  I have no doubts that it must be done, and that I completely trust my vet, but it is invasive surgery, and I’m worried.  I keep recalling the post from the woman whose bun had a bad reaction to the surgery and stopped eating, later dying.  I’m not sure I’m up to task of helping with Bruno’s recovery.  Ahhhhhhhhhh!  I got a fixed bun for this very reason.

*headdesks again*

I know I’m going to need support through this – thank goodness for binkybunny.com, because I can have you guys helping me!

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hi pryzmkess!   Oh my that definately sounds like quite an adventure.   

As for the mis-sexing, eek, but well even the best of them mis-sex a rabbit once in a while and yes, that sounds like it explains a lot and I’m so happy to hear you have a wonderful vet.  I know that putting your bun through surgery is really traumatic, especially when things can go wrong and there was a recent situation here where that happened but please understand that this is not something that is not going to happen to everyone.  There are things that you can do to prepare for caring for your rabbit and here are some previous disucssions that I could not do justice to.

Spay/Neuter Questions – Finding the right vet, pre & post op expectations:

https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=54&view=topic&postid=13556&forumid=6&tpage=2#13954

First-hand advice & assurance: https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=54&forumid=2&tpage=1&view=topic&postid=17164#20010

Pre & Post neuter tips: https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=54&forumid=2&tpage=1&view=topic&postid=35183#40992 

Hopefully this will help put your mind at ease and of course we are here to support you too at any time.

 

[jerseygirl]

Oh wow! Bruno! Where did you get Bruno from? You were sold a “neutered buck” that is neither of these – I’d be questioning the people you got her from!!!   Now the stress of an op – you poor thing. I’m sure she’ll do ok, and your vet seems confident.

Sounds like you have a smart cookie on your hands! Maybe clip a sheet on the top of Her new pen to prevent further escapes?

[Deleted User]

aw!!! I know the spay will be stressfull….we will all be thinking about you! But your forgetting to think about Bruno here….that poor little girl is gonna be called BRUNO for her whole life!!!! lol…just kidding, of course! I’m glad you are still getting her fixed! keep us posted!

[kralspace]

good grief, you did have a bad day! I’m glad Bruno is ok and don’t feel bad about the sex change…lol

My Pringles was sold to us as a boy, sexed as a boy, then a girl, then a boy again by different vets. I finally took ‘him’ in for the neuter and was shown that Pringles was indeed a princess and not a prince.

After all, she was named for a can of chips so that’s not too bad, but while I thought she was a he, I came home with a fixed girl I named Daisy as a companion. Fortunately the same week Pringles became officially a she, Daisy was proved to be a he. I don’t know if bunnies are just shy or sneaky about their gender.

Damn, now I’m confused.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’ll ditto Jersey-where did you get Bruno from? I’d be going back to them to yell, make a stink and force them to pay for the spay (but I’m like that!) LOL I’d definitely be pretty mad….

Anyways, of course their is risk involved in surgery but it’s small, try to remember it’s harder on you then her, and we’re all pulling for her and sending vibes for a successful spay.

A big factor in speedy recovery is pain medication, so ensure you do not leave the vet without some pain meds after the spay If you want to prepare like a worry-wort, you can pick up some pedialyte and babyfood (banana/squash/strawberry etc) to syringe feed if her appetite is down after the surgery.

She’ll do well *hugs*

[Deleted User]

lol kralspace, you totally lost me in that!!!

[pryzmkess]

I didn’t name her, though she might have ended up with something worse than Bruno. Had a cat I named Munin, once. I’m considering Chloe, because I think he’s a pretty name, and her “haircut” looks like something I’d picture on a Chloe. My roomie thinks it should remain Bruno.

Bruno came to me through Freecycle; I knew she was a risk since I wasn’t sure what I was getting. I was told she was 8 months and a spayed litter box trained male. The litter-training has held true and the vet didn’t say anything about looking old. I didn’t intend to get a rabbit from Freecycle, but when I saw the post, I was just… I don’t know. She was supposed to be my pet, I guess, because I just kept thinking about her – him, then, of course. When I saw the owner and held Bruno, she was very quiet in my arms; it’s why she gave her to me. I suspect that the previous owner didn’t know either. Bruno was in a smaller cage than I used and there were two small children around. She didn’t handle Bruno very well; picked her up so that she thrashed. But she loved her; was just ignorant about what was right. Granted, she should have learned, but not everyone does. I could pressure for money for the spay, but she has two kids and another on the way, and I’m not sure she could do it. Eh, I agreed to take on Bruno’s care, no matter what it entailed.

On a humorous note, I think that she was called Bruno because “he” was such a tough, mean bun… which is so ironic considering what the truth is. I remember the owner saying “Don’t worry, Bruno’s tough,” when I worried about how he’d get along with Thomas.

Thanks guys for all of the comments and help. I’m starting to calm down; I was just still in shock earlier. I’ll get the things recommended, just to be on the safe side. I’m taking the day after off work so that I can be at home with her.

[Deleted User]

i’m unfamaliar with “freecycle”…what is it?

[Balefulregards]

Dear me – what a day.

The spay will be more stressful ( for you) – speaking as someone who lay next to Coco’s cage watching her every move after her spay – but she is SOOOOO much more pleasant post spay and my arm is no longer her love object.

But I agree – Your vet sounds like she is seriously on the ball – which is always a HUGE plus.

As to the climbing…Tee hee. You have one smart determined girl. She waits for no human!

[bunnytowne]

You girl should be just fine.  Rarely do complications happen.    At first she may only eat apple sauce or some such her poos will get small and few.   Then she will eat vegies  then hay   then days later pellets again.

OR she may just eat like a pig the first day.  But all this is normal.  Yes we worry more than they do.

[Deleted User]

Baleful—do you have scratches/scars on your arms too??!!

[Balefulregards]

Not anymore – but for a while ( pre-spay) my arm would look like I was a blind heroin injector – with scratches and nips up and down my arm.
It was almost more embarrassing to explain I was fighting off my amorous female rabbit.

My last rabbit injury was when I was laying on my own bed – and Coco decided to use the bed as part of her Bunny 500 – leapt up – misjudged where I was and used her claws to spring off of my face.

A re-enactment:

Me – sitting up – holding my most likely bleeding cheek and eye:
“Coco! Are you Ok?!”

[MooBunnay]

hahahaha Baleful – I had a bunny land on my face once too…its not so pretty and not so easy to explain at work either

pryzmkess – for some reason my bunnies have also been climbing the cages recently! I had one actually get all the way one, and another one that totally surprised himself by hopping high enough that he got his front paws over the top of the cage, and then immediately freaked out like “I’m a bunny! I’m not supposed to be off the ground!” I guess it is just their way of telling us that if we don’t get their pellets on time they will get the pellets themselves.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Wow… that’s interesting. I’ll have you in my thoughts and hope that “Bruno’s” spay goes well!

[pryzmkess]

Posted By allenj1 on 02/01/2009 4:51 AM
i’m unfamaliar with “freecycle”…what is it?

 

Freecycle is a listserve where you can offer things for free, request to see if someone has what you need/want or pick them up for free.  You can’t charge money for what you offer.  I’ve gotten a lot of good stuff (and gotten rid of a lot of bad – it’s amazing how many people will take pure crap off your hands).  The sad part is that I see so many pets offered out there.  Chloe (her new name) was offered that way.  Most expensive free pet ever – though I knew there would be costs with getting her, since I was getting equipment from scratch.

[Deleted User]

thanks for the info about freecycle. i had never heard of it!

baleful–my arms looks like i’ve made attempts at suicide….seriously! but mine is from when boston was sick and we had to force feed her…and yes its all very hard to explain! lol

[pryzmkess]

Chloe went into the vet this morning, along with food, hay, bowl, water bottle and her favorite toy. None of this placated her well, and I got many foot thumps, growls and even a whine as I tried to put her in the carrier. Now all I can do is wait.

I hate waiting.

[Beka27]

(((((((((((((((((((CHLOE!!!))))))))))))))))))

Hugs Pryzm! She’ll get thru it fine!

[bunnytowne]

If I was a working bunny Mum I would have taken the week off after my girls spay.  lol.  So true though we get ourselves so worked up and they usually most always turn out fine in spite of all our freting about them.  I have 5 gray hairs from worry over buns and probably going to have more with Cotton taking his prednisone for a few days.

Your girl will do just fine.  It is the owner who doesnt’ do so good lol.   It will be over b4 you know it and she will get well in no time. Take it easy now.  You can always call the vet to check on her too.   

I stayed with mine due to transportation in a taxi to and fro.  So it went well for me.  I would rather hang out during these type of things. If I can of course.

She will surprise you and perk right up in a few days.

[pryzmkess]

Posted By bunnytowne on 02/05/2009 8:42 AM

If I was a working bunny Mum I would have taken the week off after my girls spay.  lol.  So true though we get ourselves so worked up and they usually most always turn out fine in spite of all our freting about them.  I have 5 gray hairs from worry over buns and probably going to have more with Cotton taking his prednisone for a few days.

Your girl will do just fine.  It is the owner who doesnt’ do so good lol.   It will be over b4 you know it and she will get well in no time. Take it easy now.  You can always call the vet to check on her too.   

I stayed with mine due to transportation in a taxi to and fro.  So it went well for me.  I would rather hang out during these type of things. If I can of course.

She will surprise you and perk right up in a few days.

 

Yeah, I know this.  I still almost cried when I dropped her off this morning.    And I did take tomorrow off, and have the weekend free so I can hover over her for the next three days.  I figure I’ll know by then whether she’ll be fine or not.

But the vet just called and it’s sounding good.  She’s out of surgery and doing well.  Irritatingly, she’d been spayed once before, but whoever did it had left an ovary behind, which was why she was still acting intact.  Poor Chloe – she’s had a rough life of it.  I’ll have to spoil her extra hard.

[xParadise]

Oh no! Poor girl has to go through this twice, unneccessarily. I don’t know how they miss an ovary. I mean, I bet they’re tiny in a little rabbit, but still, the vet should be able to realize, “Okay. One uterus, good. One ovary, hmm that’s not right, I must be missing something.” I guess that’s why it’s so important to find a rabbit savvy vet- which is seems like you have now!
I’m glad she’s doing well. And yes, extra treats when she gets home. Good luck with everything!

[Deleted User]

Soooo….you were told your already SPAYED rabbit was a male??? oh goodness! what a mess! poor baby! glad to hear she is doing well so far!

[pryzmkess]

xParadise: Thanks for the good wishes. She’ll be fine, once she starts eating.

Posted By allenj1 on 02/05/2009 12:03 PM
Soooo….you were told your already SPAYED rabbit was a male??? oh goodness! what a mess! poor baby! glad to hear she is doing well so far!

Well, I’ve been told sexing rabbits is hard. And she wouldn’t have any testicles, being a girl. And if they thought she was a boy, and didn’t find any external boy-parts… Yeah, I’m still not sure how it happened, but it’s fixed now.

And now I know why she was so unhappy to go to the vet today. She was thinking, “But… I’ve already done this!”

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oh my gosh!! I can only think of two ways to find out the ovary was left behind, and one would be complications-so I think that’s fantastically lucky the vet found the other ovary and her ‘second spay’ was successful!!

I’ve heard of it happening with males.

They removed one but not the other and didn’t tell the owner!! One member on here had their rabbit neutered three times I think-the first time as she was leaving she asked what they removed (Because in spay it’s not alway ovary and uterus, sometimes just ovaries) and they checked and said ‘nothing’ because they couldn’t find the testicles. So here the member is ready to take her neutered bunny home, when he’s not even neutered at all!! And then the second trip only one was successfully removed…Ok does anyone else remember this catastrophe *that turned out fine in the end* ? Or am I kooky?

[jerseygirl]

K&K, that’s bizarre! Imagine having to take them in 3 times too. I’ve heard of testicular or ovarian tissue being left behind and causing probs down the track, but whole ovaries or testicles?!

Pryz, in a way, it’s fortunate for this sexing mix up.  If you’d been sold a “spayed female” you may never have discovered this ovary and that could have caused some complications.  Glad Chloe is thru, so far so good!

[pryzmkess]

Update: Chloe is fine! She bounced back; I only gave her one dose of pain killers because she didn’t act like she was in discomfort on Saturday. Today I let her out of the cage and it’s like nothing happened. Whew! Thanks for all the advice and good wishes – I’m sure that’s why she’s doing so well.

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