This is a long and complicated situation, but I'll try to keep it as brief as possible.
C and D have been together for nearly 6 years. C has had three previous bonded friends she divorced. She's blind. D has only ever known C and, in whatever way, has managed to stay bonded with her (ish) and they are, in their own way, highly dependent on each other. Both are now nearly eight.
C relies heavily on her sense of smell, so, often, when I handle him, and put him back, she fights him, thinking it's somebun else. This has led to many rebondings, especially after things like nail clipping. I handle the least amount of time possible, and if I hold him, I hold her first. This mostly works.
D has needed medication for arthritis (Metacam) and breathing issues (Piriton) for a while. He takes them voluntarily and it's easy and perfect because I don't have to handle him on a twice daily basis (thus increasing the chance of the bond completely breaking down). He has deteriorated significantly. Last summer I decided separating him for nebulising was not smart, so I've never done that. Now he needs Corvental and he took it voluntarily for a short while, but is now refusing. I can force it in twice daily, however, there is the risk, everytime, they may divorce and, due to work, I'm not going to be able to rebond properly until a weekend- thus potentially leaving them both alone, at least in the short term, maybe for good (she is very quirky like that).
So, I have to decide whether or not to give him the Corvental. Due to having to give him 1.3mls of it, I can't easily hide it in anything, like I have before.
Where he currently is, it's not ideal for giving meds. I can theoretically move them elsewhere, halving theirs and Crystal and Butterfly's space (Crystal is end stage heart disease and this feels 'wrong'). That will make it easier to give meds, but reduce the quality of life of all four.
When D dies, Candyfloss will be alone. There are no bunnies here she can bond with and, due to finances, I'm not cool with taking on another bunny. I could move her down so she can see the others (D and C are currently entirely separate due to her liking to fight him with foreign smells) but that will be into the smaller space, although, at this time, that may be more feasible. I can't bring her inside because she doesnt tolerate the heat, even when the temperatures are comparable. I can't and won't rehome because she'd have to go back to the RSPCA and because she is a dental bunny they would PTS her. I don't think it'd be in her best interests anyway, as a decrepid and blind bunny- new smells, new people, new space, that's not appropriate, in my opinion.
i just don't know what to do with them.
I'm thinking of not giving Dusk the Corvental, but asking the vets for steroids (because we are pretty much endstage with no other options medication wise).
I just want them to have the best quality of life they can, even if it's a shorter one because I can't (or decide not to) medicate. But, I don't want to sign his death warrant prematurely.
Very rarely do I get entirely stuck and unable to work out what to do. Normally, I just know.
Does anyone have any insight or ideas?
C and D have been together for nearly 6 years. C has had three previous bonded friends she divorced. She's blind. D has only ever known C and, in whatever way, has managed to stay bonded with her (ish) and they are, in their own way, highly dependent on each other. Both are now nearly eight.
C relies heavily on her sense of smell, so, often, when I handle him, and put him back, she fights him, thinking it's somebun else. This has led to many rebondings, especially after things like nail clipping. I handle the least amount of time possible, and if I hold him, I hold her first. This mostly works.
D has needed medication for arthritis (Metacam) and breathing issues (Piriton) for a while. He takes them voluntarily and it's easy and perfect because I don't have to handle him on a twice daily basis (thus increasing the chance of the bond completely breaking down). He has deteriorated significantly. Last summer I decided separating him for nebulising was not smart, so I've never done that. Now he needs Corvental and he took it voluntarily for a short while, but is now refusing. I can force it in twice daily, however, there is the risk, everytime, they may divorce and, due to work, I'm not going to be able to rebond properly until a weekend- thus potentially leaving them both alone, at least in the short term, maybe for good (she is very quirky like that).
So, I have to decide whether or not to give him the Corvental. Due to having to give him 1.3mls of it, I can't easily hide it in anything, like I have before.
Where he currently is, it's not ideal for giving meds. I can theoretically move them elsewhere, halving theirs and Crystal and Butterfly's space (Crystal is end stage heart disease and this feels 'wrong'). That will make it easier to give meds, but reduce the quality of life of all four.
When D dies, Candyfloss will be alone. There are no bunnies here she can bond with and, due to finances, I'm not cool with taking on another bunny. I could move her down so she can see the others (D and C are currently entirely separate due to her liking to fight him with foreign smells) but that will be into the smaller space, although, at this time, that may be more feasible. I can't bring her inside because she doesnt tolerate the heat, even when the temperatures are comparable. I can't and won't rehome because she'd have to go back to the RSPCA and because she is a dental bunny they would PTS her. I don't think it'd be in her best interests anyway, as a decrepid and blind bunny- new smells, new people, new space, that's not appropriate, in my opinion.
i just don't know what to do with them.
I'm thinking of not giving Dusk the Corvental, but asking the vets for steroids (because we are pretty much endstage with no other options medication wise).
I just want them to have the best quality of life they can, even if it's a shorter one because I can't (or decide not to) medicate. But, I don't want to sign his death warrant prematurely.
Very rarely do I get entirely stuck and unable to work out what to do. Normally, I just know.
Does anyone have any insight or ideas?
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