Rabbit - Ok I should of listened to you in the beginning

[keepitsweet]

Yesterday I was asking about Rabbits and guinea pigs and you advised me to get 2.

Well today I went to RSPCA who suggested I only needed to get one one of each, even when I pushed should I get pairs, I was told as long as I got them out every day one enough was fine. So I purchased one rabbit and one guinea pig, they are now in separate cages.

Anyway the rabbit is thumping away out there -
is it just letting me know he's unsettled on his first night?

I've been out there and have seen two hedgehogs in the garden, is he telling them he's there?

Or is he lonely and tomorrow I need to get him a friend?

Thanks

Oh, thankyou so much MrsL!

You are so so helpful.

Yes, they fitted her in yesterday, each was done by a different vet! They are home and a bit zombiefied but getting there...they've been eating fresh grass and leaves, not keen on dried food yet, and have been putting water in a bowl for them.

They seem a bit fed up though. I wonder if some form of analgesia would be in order - can't imagine having a hysetrectomy without pain relief afterwards.

The rabbit seems to be really intrigued by the guineas, and goes hunting. But any birds or anything come anywhere near, his back leg is thumped, and I really don't think he's aggressive to the guineas, but they do like to be up his backside!!! and I fear he'll do accidental damage, so I've put their runs, against each other, and he can snuffle through the mesh, but can't give them an accidental clip.

Did the vet not give you any kind of painkiller fliight? When ours got done we had some metacam to give them for a few days afterwards by syringe (what a palava that was, especially as you're not supposed to pick them up!), but I know some vets don't routinely give painkillers. It'd be worth giving them a call to ask incase they've just forgotten, especially if three different vets were involved (too many cooks!). But if they're not showing any signs of being in pain (hunching up, licking at themselves, breathing faster than normal etc) I wouldn't worry too much. It's pretty normal for them to be a bit off their dry food for a couple of days, but as long as they're willing to eat something just give them whatever they want just - they have to keep their digestive systems moving constantly or they'll go into gut statis which can be fatal. You can get dried grass with herbs in it from PAH, that might tempt them into eating if they don't want plain hay. Are their poos ok? Keep watch for any cecotropes (the soft ones that look like a bunch of grapes), as they're supposed to eat these for the nutrients. If they're runny or you see a lot of them left in the hutch, it's a sign something's not quite right.

Poor bunnies, hope they feel better soon

MrsL this seems very traumatic. As the boy rabbit is being done, do I need to get the future girl done?

Fliight I hope they are ok having had a hysterectomy my sympathies are with them.

Thankyou MrsL...Keepitsweet, you don't have to, but she might benefit from it. Short term it's not great but it could be a lot worse tbh, and I felt I'd no choice with three of them all in one hutch.
Female bunnies can be fine, but will generally be happier neutered, or so I believe.

MrsL - I just rang the vets about 2 hours ago, to ask about analgesia, and she was a bit vague (nurse) and went off to talk to the vet, who said bring them in if you are worried - but I said I'd see how they are tomorrow morning.
She also said 'did you not take some 'critical care'? I said no, she said it's quite good and they can lap it up - but I don't think it's medicine as such.

I do have metacam in the cbd for the cat, will see if I can find out about dosage...I have lifted them to check the wound and they all seem OK there.
There have been some soft poos today and will watch to see if they get eaten tonight - hope so.

the thing that worries me is that they have been a bit hunched - especially the mummy. The others have laid out doing 'flat rabbit' as we call it, but she has just huddled up so I am a bit concerned - but saying that, she's also hopped about a bit and has been lapping water a lot.
Haven't seen her weeing yet though she may have. anyway...thanks for all the info. I'll keep an eye tonight then if they look dodgy, take them in tomorrow. Grass is still the favourite thing, they really go for it!

Rabbit has been done, and in the words of the nurse, 'he was so blase about the whole thing I had to check that he'd already had the op done'.

I hope yours are recovering well now Fliight.