Just got bunny home after GA...

[tiredteddy]

Hi, we've just bought our make mini-lop home from the vet after being castrated. The vet said he had eaten and drunk and had weed and pooed. They explained how important it is that he keep eating or he'd become ill. Been told to keep him indoors tonight. I haven't seen him eat but have seen him have a drink. I'm worried about the little chap

[tiredteddy]

Anyone got any experience of this?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Does he seem alert?
Have you got painkillers for him?

I have no rabbit experience but my young guinea-pig boar was castrated in July (he weighs 3lb so probably the same size as your mini-lop)

We were asked to bring a water bottle and a tub of his favourite snacks for after surgery.He doesn't drink (ever) so along with the bottle I took cucumber,peppers,red topped cos, parsley, watermelon.

We put him in his Pighouse (he had two females in quarentine accomodation) so we thought he'd like to chat but this was the height of summer.

We put hay in loo roll tubes and gave him white towels and a cream fleece to sleep on (to spot any leakage)

He'd had a painkiller injection so we had three days worth of liquid medicine + a syringe to administer and he scoffed it down

Keep an eye on the rabbits droppings, if you give him some of his favourite treats he'll appreciate them. Dandelion leaves? Grass? (Fresh hand scissor cut )

He'll be a bit meh but they wouldn't have released him if he wasn't safe to go home.

Good Luck.

[fiverabbits]

How is he now ? Is he warm ?
I find the warmer they are the quicker they recover. Keep an eye on the wound as the male we had neutered 2 weeks ago managed to open up part of his, we had to take him back for re sticking.

[tiredteddy]

Thanks for answering. He seemed really quiet and very still when we brought him home and I was worried. Think the car journey didn't help. We've been told to keep him indoors tonight and maybe tomorrow. He's had some of his fav Swiss chard now half a big leaf and is drinking. I'm sure he is warm and has perked up a little. We have no painkillers just told to go back if not eating he has had the injection in his tummy and they said that was enough.

[fiverabbits]

I find that the painkillers make them a bit dopey and less inclined to eat. My male neutered 2 weeks ago recovered quite fast and didn't have any extra painkiller but the female done at the same was slower and didn't seem back to normal for at least another day. Is he you only rabbit ?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Male guineas are probably wusses more highly sensitive to pain

Good sign that he's eating and drinking. It is a shock to a little animal's system to go through surgery.
He'll be a bit woolley and tender for a couple of days.

[tiredteddy]

He is not our only rabbit we have a girl too a little younger so they are separated now for 6 weeks. They can see each other through the wire and often sit side by side there. I'm also swapping them between the hutches so they remember each other's smells etc. He is eating ok I think but still a little dopey.

[fiverabbits]

Are you having the girl neutered ?

[tiredteddy]

Yes we plan too but she is not old enough yet. That is why they are separated for now... Trying to do everything possible to keep them knowing each other so they can be reintroduced as soon as possible. Will get her neutered after christmas. Little boy bunny much brighter this afternoon. Lots of poohs now so know he is eating and his digestive system is moving.

[fiverabbits]

That's good to hear that they will both be neutered and then living as a pair. I have two male/female pairs and two separate males and one male who I have fostered for the last 14 months who is going to live with his Daddy soon. All neutered and five of them are on their second homes.

[tiredteddy]

How lovely! You definitely have more rabbit experience than me. These are our first pets. They were together until a week ago and we so happy. I hope they stay like that when all ops are done and they are back together. We've been getting them out to see each other too.

[fiverabbits]

I have had rabbits for 32 years or should I say we as they belong to the family. I think we on number 26. We have had all combinations, one, two brothers and a sister, two girls. Ozzy who lived until he was 9 years 10 months old had a friend then 3 different wives and went from a outdoor rabbit to indoors for his last 2 years. We rehomed a rabbit who had lived indoors with a dog and lived indoors here for 3 years on her own and then we moved her friend indoors to be with her. We are well known as the mad rabbit family. I could talk about rabbits all day !

[DorisIsALittleBitPartial]

Me too fiverabbits, thinking of name changing to sixrabbits! They are 3 mixed pairs, one pair in the lounge, one in the conservatory and one in the shed.
Tiredteddy, glad to hear your boy has eaten a little. He will be dopey from the meds and the whole experience of vet, GA and car will have subdued him too. Keep him warm and quiet and plenty of his favourite food close to hand. I'm glad you are planning on keeping them as a bonded pair, they are so much happier when they have a pal to cuddle and groom.

[tiredteddy]

Yes Doris def keeping them together in the long term. They are happy together and it really shows. He is even better now had lots of his fav leaves and toilet ing is back to normal amounts. Much more active this eve.

[DorisIsALittleBitPartial]

Glad to hear it, they do worry you when they are off colour
All of our pairs have been bonded and the easiest pair to bond were the two that were next to each other for two months. I hope it goes well, am sure it will .