Thumper, we have decided, as you may or may not have read, has taken an aversion to the noise of the wind at night. This is the only explanation we can think of as to why she seems to get colic/stasis after a windy night. So we have been bringing them both into the utility room when the forecast has been for high winds.
This last week they have been indoors, an unheated and cool room, for about 4 nights. They have been going back into the shed/run during the day, just coming into the house at about 8.30pm. Last night the forecast was for little or no wind, so out they went in the morning, where they belong and frankly are most happy, and stayed there.
However, the temperature dropped. I knew it was going to drop but thought they'd be fine in their fur coats, hay on the floor, straw in the bed chamber of the hutch and 3 heat pads, and of course each other.
Went out to check them this morning and do the usual cleaning, only to find Thumper shaking like a leaf all over. Literally. She wasn't stretching herself out and pressing her tummy to the floor though, and was moving about, but still refused her morning pellets, but I still didn't think it was colic somehow. Booked to see the vet though just in case but there's only one vet on given that it's Sunday and she was snowed under, including an emergency which had just come in, until 1pm.
I don't give metacam anymore as have been advised against it, so gave her a dose of ranitadine (sorry if that's spelled wrong) instead. Also heated a snugglesafe and put that in, in the corner where Thumper seemed to be favouring. She went straight onto it, snuggled down and didn't move!
After tidying up the litter trays, I did the breakfast. Thumper came over for that quite enthusiastically - obviously not colic then! Had a couple of mouthfuls but then went back to the heat pad. Mmm. I scooped the food into a food bowl and gave it to her so she could eat while sat on the heat pad - and eat she did!
She's cold! In fact, she's frozen! (behind her ears, the fluffy bit, is warm, but she's obviously still feeling cold)
What have I done?!
In an effort to stop them (Thumper) being frightened and stressed by the wind to the point it literally makes her ill (3 times we've been to the vet this month alone), I've now made her like being indoors to the point that she got cold last night.
I can't do right for doing wrong .
We have 2 choices for tonight.
a) Stick a shed load of hay down for them to snuggle into and make sure a heat pad and extra hay goes into what appears to be Thumper's favoured corner and hope for the best; or
b) Bring them in.
I'm torn.
I can't have them as indoor bunnies in the winter, they've got to live outside as they're bored brainless indoors - there's nothing for them to do.
I've driving myself nuts here.
Oh, and the "oh ruddy hell" side of it, we're supposed to be getting very high winds again tomorrow, in excess of 50mph. Ordinarily I'd have brought them in but now I'm like :? what do I do? :?
This last week they have been indoors, an unheated and cool room, for about 4 nights. They have been going back into the shed/run during the day, just coming into the house at about 8.30pm. Last night the forecast was for little or no wind, so out they went in the morning, where they belong and frankly are most happy, and stayed there.
However, the temperature dropped. I knew it was going to drop but thought they'd be fine in their fur coats, hay on the floor, straw in the bed chamber of the hutch and 3 heat pads, and of course each other.
Went out to check them this morning and do the usual cleaning, only to find Thumper shaking like a leaf all over. Literally. She wasn't stretching herself out and pressing her tummy to the floor though, and was moving about, but still refused her morning pellets, but I still didn't think it was colic somehow. Booked to see the vet though just in case but there's only one vet on given that it's Sunday and she was snowed under, including an emergency which had just come in, until 1pm.
I don't give metacam anymore as have been advised against it, so gave her a dose of ranitadine (sorry if that's spelled wrong) instead. Also heated a snugglesafe and put that in, in the corner where Thumper seemed to be favouring. She went straight onto it, snuggled down and didn't move!
After tidying up the litter trays, I did the breakfast. Thumper came over for that quite enthusiastically - obviously not colic then! Had a couple of mouthfuls but then went back to the heat pad. Mmm. I scooped the food into a food bowl and gave it to her so she could eat while sat on the heat pad - and eat she did!
She's cold! In fact, she's frozen! (behind her ears, the fluffy bit, is warm, but she's obviously still feeling cold)
What have I done?!
In an effort to stop them (Thumper) being frightened and stressed by the wind to the point it literally makes her ill (3 times we've been to the vet this month alone), I've now made her like being indoors to the point that she got cold last night.
I can't do right for doing wrong .
We have 2 choices for tonight.
a) Stick a shed load of hay down for them to snuggle into and make sure a heat pad and extra hay goes into what appears to be Thumper's favoured corner and hope for the best; or
b) Bring them in.
I'm torn.
I can't have them as indoor bunnies in the winter, they've got to live outside as they're bored brainless indoors - there's nothing for them to do.
I've driving myself nuts here.
Oh, and the "oh ruddy hell" side of it, we're supposed to be getting very high winds again tomorrow, in excess of 50mph. Ordinarily I'd have brought them in but now I'm like :? what do I do? :?