Natalie
Warren Scout
Well I'm pleased to say that our elderly little rescue bun, Caramel, is doing relatively well, all things considered. I can't believe we've had her for nearly five months now!
She has adapted to indoor life remarkably well, and really does seem to enjoy the space. She's in a 6 meters x 4 meters, converted loft (proper staircase up, not a ladder! lol) We've kitted out her space with loads of hideaways, tunnels, a great big litter tray with hay feeder attached, chew toys, hay stuffed toys etc etc, and because she is indoors I get to spend soooooooo much more time with her than I ever would have been able to if she where outside. She has access to the entire space, all of the time. Once the weather improves she'll be able to spend time in her outside run again during the day, but she will always be brought in at night. I feel so much happier having her safely with us indoors
So now I'm enjoying being able to go up and be with her at any time of day or night. First thing in the morning I'm up there in my PJ's lol, last thing at night I have been known to fall asleep on the floor with her lol. As well as just going up to spend time with her during the day I also take stuff up there to do, like if I'm going to have a long phone chat or when I've got internet stuff to do that I can do on the iPad. She loves being pampered, hates being picked up!
For anyone who doesn't know, the reason we can't have her downstairs with us is because we have rescue dogs. And if anyone is wondering why we took on a rabbit when we had dogs, well I have to admit it definitely wasn't something we had planned to do, but when we moved house a little while back, we became aware of this poor little bun who was really not getting a good level of care so when the opportunity arose we offered to take her on.
Some of you may remember that we had quite a scare when her heart rate dropped to 80 beats per minute (should be about 230) She was kept in at the vets and had loads of tests, ECGs, ultrasounds, blood tests and x-rays. We honestly thought we were going to lose her. But she got through it and is now on diuretics (frusol) 3 x daily. The easiest way to give her the meds is on her greens, so I feed her three times a day, which she always enjoys
So yeah, so far so good, I mean, I just love her sooooooooooo much, she is totally and utterly adorabubble - although also quite a stubborn and determined little madam :lol:
Anyhoo, the good news is that my youngest daughter and her partner have now bought a house and are hoping, once the house is ready - it needs a LOT of work - to adopt a couple of rescue buns themselves. Probably a bonded pair. Soooooooooo as some of you may know, it has always been my dream to be able to get Caramel together with another rabbit/s. However, as she has been diagnosed with this heart problem, I have been advised by my vet to keep her as calm and stress free as possible. Originally the first vet we took her to when we first adopted her, felt that she was just too old to bond with another bunny so it's not made any easier with the added problem of a weak heart.
So, might any of you experienced bunny parents have any thoughts on whether it would be okay to introduce Caramel to my daughter's bunnies when she gets them, and if you do think it's possible, how to go about it? We will make sure that the new buns are completely up to date with vaccinations of course. The vet we take Caramel to now has said it might be possible and suggested that if my daughter comes over with the smell of her bunnies on her, that would be the first step, which seemed like a good idea to me.
I've just always so wanted to let Caramel be with her own kind, as much as I try to spend as much time as possible with her, I don't think I'm any match compared to her being able to be with other bunnies. I know that it's not a simple process and some might think we shouldn't try, but it would truly be the icing on the cake if Caramel could get to spend time with other bunnies again - apparently she was with another bunny originally but he passed away some years back and she's been on her own ever since.
Many thanks
Natalie and Caramel
She has adapted to indoor life remarkably well, and really does seem to enjoy the space. She's in a 6 meters x 4 meters, converted loft (proper staircase up, not a ladder! lol) We've kitted out her space with loads of hideaways, tunnels, a great big litter tray with hay feeder attached, chew toys, hay stuffed toys etc etc, and because she is indoors I get to spend soooooooo much more time with her than I ever would have been able to if she where outside. She has access to the entire space, all of the time. Once the weather improves she'll be able to spend time in her outside run again during the day, but she will always be brought in at night. I feel so much happier having her safely with us indoors
So now I'm enjoying being able to go up and be with her at any time of day or night. First thing in the morning I'm up there in my PJ's lol, last thing at night I have been known to fall asleep on the floor with her lol. As well as just going up to spend time with her during the day I also take stuff up there to do, like if I'm going to have a long phone chat or when I've got internet stuff to do that I can do on the iPad. She loves being pampered, hates being picked up!
For anyone who doesn't know, the reason we can't have her downstairs with us is because we have rescue dogs. And if anyone is wondering why we took on a rabbit when we had dogs, well I have to admit it definitely wasn't something we had planned to do, but when we moved house a little while back, we became aware of this poor little bun who was really not getting a good level of care so when the opportunity arose we offered to take her on.
Some of you may remember that we had quite a scare when her heart rate dropped to 80 beats per minute (should be about 230) She was kept in at the vets and had loads of tests, ECGs, ultrasounds, blood tests and x-rays. We honestly thought we were going to lose her. But she got through it and is now on diuretics (frusol) 3 x daily. The easiest way to give her the meds is on her greens, so I feed her three times a day, which she always enjoys
So yeah, so far so good, I mean, I just love her sooooooooooo much, she is totally and utterly adorabubble - although also quite a stubborn and determined little madam :lol:
Anyhoo, the good news is that my youngest daughter and her partner have now bought a house and are hoping, once the house is ready - it needs a LOT of work - to adopt a couple of rescue buns themselves. Probably a bonded pair. Soooooooooo as some of you may know, it has always been my dream to be able to get Caramel together with another rabbit/s. However, as she has been diagnosed with this heart problem, I have been advised by my vet to keep her as calm and stress free as possible. Originally the first vet we took her to when we first adopted her, felt that she was just too old to bond with another bunny so it's not made any easier with the added problem of a weak heart.
So, might any of you experienced bunny parents have any thoughts on whether it would be okay to introduce Caramel to my daughter's bunnies when she gets them, and if you do think it's possible, how to go about it? We will make sure that the new buns are completely up to date with vaccinations of course. The vet we take Caramel to now has said it might be possible and suggested that if my daughter comes over with the smell of her bunnies on her, that would be the first step, which seemed like a good idea to me.
I've just always so wanted to let Caramel be with her own kind, as much as I try to spend as much time as possible with her, I don't think I'm any match compared to her being able to be with other bunnies. I know that it's not a simple process and some might think we shouldn't try, but it would truly be the icing on the cake if Caramel could get to spend time with other bunnies again - apparently she was with another bunny originally but he passed away some years back and she's been on her own ever since.
Many thanks
Natalie and Caramel