The Bonded Buns The Love Story of Lily and Mister

When Lily first came to live with me, we had a little ritual where I would lay on the floor, face down, and she would hop up onto my back and give me an exotic bunny back massage, then she would lay down for a few minutes.  It was a wonderful experience and I swear it relieved all to the tedium and stress from my system.  She loved have her nose and cheeks rubbed.  When I got home from work in the summer I would take her into the backyard where she would binky like crazy, dig like crazy and occasionally manage to escape to the neighbors yard (which make me crazy). And of course there was the evening ritual that amused my neighbors the most catching her to bring her back into the house. 

As much as having a sweet little Lily leap with joy when I entered a room, I always felt that this Sweet little girl had more love to give than spending a couple of hours a day with me could use up.  She constantly attempted to befriend Sooty and Cleopatra but they ignored her.  By this time I had educated myself on the nature of bunnies and believed that it would be a good idea of selecting a mate for her. 

As luck would have it the same PetSmart that had Posted Lily as being "Free to a Good Home" a year and a half later had another such posting.  I called the number and arranged to meet the male rabbit "Misty".    When I asked if he was "altered" I was told that he was not, but that he had never shown any inclination to acknowledge his "nature".  As Lily by this time had been spayed for over a year I knew that there was no chance of my becoming a BunnyGrandmummy, so I packed "Misty" into the backseat and headed home, going over in my head all that I had read about bonding rabbits....keep them in a separate room for a few days, don't leave them alone together, be prepared for fights, I was a little bit trepidation about what the next few weeks were going to be like. 

Lily was a free range rabbit, so I could not follow the advice of the experts and keep them is separate cages.  I put Misty in a cage and set it in the living room as I installed the baby gate between rooms.  Before I could turn around Lily had come to inspect Misty, as neither one of them were showing any signs of aggression I let them be.  Lily circled the cage and Misty kept turning to see her.  They seemed interested and curious about one another but not aggressive.  I took Misty out of the cage and the behaviour continued with the circling of one another and the curiosity but no aggression....until Misty got on top of Lily (sideways I might add) and began to show his "nature".  Lily was mildly perturbed, I was a bit embarrassed (I'm not sure if it was because of what he was doing or the fact that he was doing it sideways and backwards) but I decided that "Misty" was in fact "Mister".  Lily decided that he was dirty and needed to be bathed.  I have no doubt that Mister thought he had landed in heaven.  They spent days with Mister in his cage for about a couple of weeks (which included Misters recovery from the surgery that was booked the day after his arrival).

Lily and Mister had 6 very happy years together.  On July 8, 2008 Mister moved on to the rainbow bridge.

Another Bullet Dodged

Living with Stu is a delight.  Living with a senior bunny is not always a delight.  There are good days and there are bad days.

Saturday was a good day.  Stu was chasing me around the house looking for love, circling my feet, eating, drinking, peeing, pooping.  When I was making his dinner on Sunday evening I noticed he had barely touched the previous days food,  There had been no circling my feet that day, in fact I don't think he came out from behind the Lazy Boy all day.  When I made up his evening treat of mashed banana with flax and glucocimine he had no interest him.  I had to lift him from behind the Lazy Boy chair to change his ruggies and vacuum.

You can clean all you want but I am not coming out

On Monday I came home from work at lunchtime with some carrots and carrot tops for him....he still had not made a dent on his food bowl.  He nibbled at the carrot with little interest.  When I came home last night he had made no further progress.  He had moved his position behind the Lazy Boy but aside from that was pretty much the way I had left him that morning. 

Mushed nana, Metcalm were no interest to him.  I tried to get some water by cupping water soaked crasins,  it worked for about a tablespoon.  I pulled down some blankets and pillows and forsook my princess bed to sleep on the floor next to him last night.  As soon as the vets office opened I called and made an appointment.  Called in to work with a headache.  As if hearing what was being discussed, he picked up a  piece of swisschard and downed it then went to work on a carrot.  He took some water, his meds...as if to convince me he did not have to go to the vet.  I was having none of it.

During his two days behind the Lazy Boy Stu made a poopy bum (which I guess is better news than him not making poop).  His weight is down .2 kg from 2.09 to 1.9 kg. He was dehydrated.  He got hydrated, a package of Critical Care (until he gets back to pellets and hay) and a cream cuz the poopy bum is getting dry from baths and urine scald .  They took a urine sample, and some blood work to see if there is an underlying issue.

Im eating Im eating I dont need to go to the vet

I will be keeping a close eye on him for the nest couple of days.  I have to go away Friday night.  Usually my brother comes in and feeds Stu when I have to leave but I think I will leave him with Dr. Munn. 

Now that the trauma is winding down there has been some leaky eyes. Times like this make it all to clear to me that my time with Stu is limited. But for the moment I am feeling like we have dodged a bullet.

Valentines Day is Comming

When I was a child we exchanged Valentines cards at school.  Things are probably the same today, but I don't have a child so I cannot be sure.  Before Valentines day I would bring a list home that had the names of all of my classmates.  I would be made to sit at the kitchen table and write the name of each of the children's names int the TO: space on one of the cards ripped apart at the perforation point.  There was no telling Mom that I hated so and so and did not want to give them a card.  I would give one to each child and one to the teacher.  My only recourse was to pick the ugliest card and give it to the kid I did not like....Porky the Pig, Uglyy Monkey, the People of Scooby Doo.  The prettiest card went to my best friend and all others fell in between, but Mom would check the list to make sure that there was one for everyone To Donna M From Donna H, To Donna A From Donna H, To Kim M from Donna H, To Kim P From Donna H, to Mary From Donna H......Donna and Kim were the popular names the year I was born.

The sugar rush would have been supplied by Moms....although in retrospect we never took that into account....the cupcakes and cookies and rice krispy squares magically appeared as most mother supplied things do. 

These days Donna M, Donna A, Kim P and Him M are likely receiving valentines cards from Husbands and kids.  Being as Donna H is not, I carry on the tradition.  I perforate a box of 48 valentines day cards and decide who in my office is getting the Baby Cub or the Fawn.  I have to admit that the few people in my office that I really and truly do not like I don't include on my list. But the ones who are on the fence are given an ugly monkey.