I lost Melanie last night following a battle with a facial abscess. She had not been eating and, despite having been nursed and syringe fed, she had a massive heart attack at the vet last night and died instantly.
This leaves Prince alone. He is eating but looks thoroughly miserable. They had been bonded 5 years.
I want to bond him with Preya who lost her boyfriend Piccolo a couple of months ago. There's no doubt that she's ready to re-bond but how will I know when Prince is ready?
Preya has been active and her normal self since Piccolo died but, knowing Prince, I don't think he will be like that.
I just want him to be ok and make the loss of Melanie as easy for him as possible - I'm torn because part of me thinks that bonding soon will bring him round more quickly but I also don't want to do it before he's ready and risk stressing him out. I'm also worried that trying to introduce them too soon will harm the likelihood of them bonding if they end up fighting because he's not ready.
Any opinions?
Unfortunately Prince did not get to see Melanie's body. I realise I should have brought her home for him to see but at the time I was so shocked and upset I just wanted to get out of there so I left her body at the vets to be sent for cremation. I get the feeling though that he knows she's not coming back - she was very poorly before I took her to the vet and he'd been distancing himself from her. I think he was preparing himself for the worst. Also he had been leaving half the food I put in - like he was saving it for her (I've had other bonded rabbits who have left food for an ill rabbit) but this morning I noticed he'd eaten nearly all of it himself.
This leaves Prince alone. He is eating but looks thoroughly miserable. They had been bonded 5 years.
I want to bond him with Preya who lost her boyfriend Piccolo a couple of months ago. There's no doubt that she's ready to re-bond but how will I know when Prince is ready?
Preya has been active and her normal self since Piccolo died but, knowing Prince, I don't think he will be like that.
I just want him to be ok and make the loss of Melanie as easy for him as possible - I'm torn because part of me thinks that bonding soon will bring him round more quickly but I also don't want to do it before he's ready and risk stressing him out. I'm also worried that trying to introduce them too soon will harm the likelihood of them bonding if they end up fighting because he's not ready.
Any opinions?
Unfortunately Prince did not get to see Melanie's body. I realise I should have brought her home for him to see but at the time I was so shocked and upset I just wanted to get out of there so I left her body at the vets to be sent for cremation. I get the feeling though that he knows she's not coming back - she was very poorly before I took her to the vet and he'd been distancing himself from her. I think he was preparing himself for the worst. Also he had been leaving half the food I put in - like he was saving it for her (I've had other bonded rabbits who have left food for an ill rabbit) but this morning I noticed he'd eaten nearly all of it himself.