Update on Popeye

[tonyshuman]

Trios are extremely difficult, in my experience. I know Popeye will be a happy guy, whether he has a buddy or not. It sounds like Petunia needs a friend, so it's probably best to keep her and Bert together for now.

This is how our possible trio turned into two pairs. My Tony just would not accept Benjamin, although Muffin liked him. Benjamin was really lonely by himself, so we decided to find a buddy for him.

 

[Torchster]

Well, it has been a couple of weeks now, living with Popeye and his heart condition. I wish that I had more to tell. Since I've only had bunnies in general for a little over a year, and Popeye for a few weeks...there really isn't much I can tell people about this.

Since he came to me this way, I never really noticed any behavioral changes. I thought that he might have a tooth issue and that is why I took him to the doc, and we ended up with the heart condition.

The current routine is 2 different meds in the morning, and 3 different ones at night. He is pretty good at coming to me and seems to know that it is meds time. The meds I got are liquid and grape flavored so he doesn't seem to mind them. He always gets a treat afterward.

I have been giving him extra pellets, just to put a little extra weight on him. Nothing major. I don't free feed him pellets, but he gets an extra shot of pellets in the morning with his breakfast.

Its been tough to deal with the bond that broke between him a Petunia...I really wanted a happy trio.

He seems to get around the house ok. He seems to flop down and rest more than my other buns (Ok to be fair, Petunia NEVER does that in front of me). Maybe he is just more at home than my other buns...maybe he gets tired - its tough to tell. I try not to stress him to much. At the same time, I try and have him get a least a little exercise each day.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Torchster wrote:

The current routine is 2 different meds in the morning, and 3 different ones at night. He is pretty good at coming to me and seems to know that it is meds time. The meds I got are liquid and grape flavored so he doesn't seem to mind them. He always gets a treat afterward.

I have been giving him extra pellets, just to put a little extra weight on him. Nothing major. I don't free feed him pellets, but he gets an extra shot of pellets in the morning with his breakfast.

That is so cute. When my BunBun was sick, he hated to be held and didn't like the meds either, it was very hard. So, I'm so excited to hear this!:highfive:inkbouce: Never heard of the flavored meds, that is cool! See what having this forum does?! Educates everyone, it's awesome and Thank you for sharing that.

 

[Torchster]

Well, its been awhile treating Popeye. I have no idea if the meds do anything to help him or not. I took him to his normal vet and they ran some blood work to see if the meds were causing any damage, but everything seemed to be OK.

Getting the flavored meds, in suspension, I think is the only way to go for long term treatment issues. He is very good about taking his meds.

I've been moving Bert around between Popeye and Petunia. Does anyone think that is a bad idea? Should Bert just stay with Petunia. I've seen Petunia chasing around Bert and I actually took him away from Petunia and put him in with Popeye.

Let me know if you have any ideas?

 

[Maureen Las]

RandomWiktor wrote:

Animals unfortunately often react adversely to ill or weak conspecifics. Such animals are attractive to predators & spread disease to the group, so instinctively, social prey animals tend to reject ailing companions. This rejecting can sometimes be aggressive/violent, especially in the captive environment. It's a horrible thing to watch but it may not be avoidable. Personally, I would consider seperating them - maybe through a barrier where they can still easily see and smell each other so they don't get too lonely - so that Popeye isn't stressed by this behavior with his weak heart.

So sorry you and your bun are going through all of this.

If he is being pestered or his mate is aggressiveI may place them side by side but not together. Bert is probably still bonded to her and probably doesn't understand what is going on. Do what is needed to keep his stress level down and to keep him comfy.

I had a bonded pair where the male was loving with his sick girl but I know of other occasions when the mate will become aggressive or lose interest.
That is sad but RandomWiktor is correct

 

[Torchster]

I've been away for a while. Popeye is doing well. I took him for a checkup with the heart specialist. They said that his heart function has improved slightly, probably due to the medications. There really isn't any chance of any meaningful improvement with this kind of heart condition.

But he seems to be a happy bunny. He takes his meds, he is such a good boy. I'm so lucky about that.

I needed to leave town for a few days a while back and took all three of my rabbits to a rescue for some bunny sitting. They agreed to try and bond them again. It seems to be working for the most part. Petunia gets a little aggressive sometimes, but I think it might be part of the group dynmaics and I just put up with it. Its mostly a little chasing. No big deal, and a little exercise to boot. So right now I am back to usually happy trio.

 

[Sweetie]

Yeah, rabbits can be rebonded to each other. After Prince had all the care for his broken leg and after it healed, I tried rebonding him and Sweetie. It took a while, maybe 2 weeks, but they are rebonded now. To rebond them so quickly, I took them outside, which is basically neutral territory and Sweetie didn't bite Prince when he was near her. Now they play nice with each other. I left them in the same cage together for a few hours, I had to go buy more hay for them, and when I came back they were fine. No signs of any biting, chasing, etc.

I am glad that you are able to rebond your trio. Maybe Bert was trying to show Petunia that Popeye was the same rabbit as before.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

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