solo or joint visit to vet

[Griffski]

Hi - one of my 18 month old bunnies has to have his first dental treatment next week for a spur on his back teeth (despite my best efforts to get him eating more hay/grass/readigrass (he is also stasis bunny), which have succeeded, despite cutting back on pellets, to the extent the vet has designated him porky.. sigh). He is one of a pair bond and i have always taken them to the vet together. He will be in all day and i'm wondering if it is best to bring them both to the surgery or leave her at home. They both get very stressed on the short drive to the vet surgery and i;m not sure if it's fair to put her through it when she requires no treatment. On the other hand i don;t want the bond to be disrupted .. they had a fight a few weeks back but otherwise are wonderfully happy together.
Also, i thought i would keep them indoors overnight to monitor him more closely post general anaesthetic, but he is way happier outdoors (they have been outside since april) and i'm wondering if keeping him inside might just add to his stress. Their outdoor system has tunnels so i'd worry a little if he retreated into one (not his normal practice) and i couldn;t check on him.
Would very much appreciate advice from those with other bonded pairs and with insight into what care he may need post dental.
many thanks !

 

[daphnephoebe]

I'd definitely take both to the vets so they can support each other. The experience generally helps strengthen bonds as you may have difficulty putting them back together if separated over night.

In regards to moving inside over night, I'd probably have them in for a few hours after getting home and see how they get on. If he appears to be nibbling at food okay I'd move him outside and just check on him every few hours. If he's needing syringe feeding I'd keep them in overnight in a room that can have the windows left open wide all night to try to keep temperature in the room the same as outside.

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[Griffski]

thanks for the advice daphnephoebe -last thing i want is them losing the bond... i'll take them both to the vet and monitor him inside to start off with and see how it goes. not really sure what to expect.

 

[MightyMax]

Hi - one of my 18 month old bunnies has to have his first dental treatment next week for a spur on his back teeth (despite my best efforts to get him eating more hay/grass/readigrass (he is also stasis bunny), which have succeeded, despite cutting back on pellets, to the extent the vet has designated him porky.. sigh). He is one of a pair bond and i have always taken them to the vet together. He will be in all day and i'm wondering if it is best to bring them both to the surgery or leave her at home. They both get very stressed on the short drive to the vet surgery and i;m not sure if it's fair to put her through it when she requires no treatment. On the other hand i don;t want the bond to be disrupted .. they had a fight a few weeks back but otherwise are wonderfully happy together.
Also, i thought i would keep them indoors overnight to monitor him more closely post general anaesthetic, but he is way happier outdoors (they have been outside since april) and i'm wondering if keeping him inside might just add to his stress. Their outdoor system has tunnels so i'd worry a little if he retreated into one (not his normal practice) and i couldn;t check on him.
Would very much appreciate advice from those with other bonded pairs and with insight into what care he may need post dental.
many thanks !

Try and keep them together. There's been instances where I've split a bonded pair for vet treatment, but I've known it's the best thing and there's been no bonding break up issue. You need to keep them supporting one another

Post dental - most vets don't give pain relief (in my experience) so keep a careful eye on him. If he can get into tunnels and you can't block him off, then be cautious if he's groggy or not eating well straight away. It's still warm enough to bring them in for a night then put them out again.

Good luck xx

 

[Griffski]

Try and keep them together. There's been instances where I've split a bonded pair for vet treatment, but I've known it's the best thing and there's been no bonding break up issue. You need to keep them supporting one another

Post dental - most vets don't give pain relief (in my experience) so keep a careful eye on him. If he can get into tunnels and you can't block him off, then be cautious if he's groggy or not eating well straight away. It's still warm enough to bring them in for a night then put them out again.

Good luck xx

thanks MightyMAx - i'm lucky to have a rabbit-savvy vet who gives pain pain relief so hopefully he will get home with some metacam (then i just have to try to find his mouth to administer it .. he is one furry bunny and doesn;t like human contact ). i think i'll keep them in for the night just to be on safe side but put them out in the morning if he's on the mend - i think it will help him to be where he is more himself. i'm worried for him ... he has a history of mild stasis so am hoping he eats something soon post op. he's a wonderful wee soul .. am hoping he bounces back fast.

 

[MightyMax]

thanks MightyMAx - i'm lucky to have a rabbit-savvy vet who gives pain pain relief so hopefully he will get home with some metacam (then i just have to try to find his mouth to administer it .. he is one furry bunny and doesn;t like human contact ). i think i'll keep them in for the night just to be on safe side but put them out in the morning if he's on the mend - i think it will help him to be where he is more himself. i'm worried for him ... he has a history of mild stasis so am hoping he eats something soon post op. he's a wonderful wee soul .. am hoping he bounces back fast.

If he doesn't eat tonight, Griffski, then I would syringe feed him a bit of organic baby food (Ella's Kitchen is good ) with perhaps a bit of recovery food or ground up pellets.

You don't want to precipitate stasis!

 

[Griffski]

If he doesn't eat tonight, Griffski, then I would syringe feed him a bit of organic baby food (Ella's Kitchen is good ) with perhaps a bit of recovery food or ground up pellets.

You don't want to precipitate stasis!

thanks MightyMax - it's all happening on tuesday so that gives me time to get organised - thanks for the advice