Introducing the Buns

StarlightSerenity · 10-30-2015, 11:12 AM

The last few weeks have been both incredibly happy and incredibly sad. My partner and I got two 12 week old Mini Lop bunnies. Brothers, one mind and one my partners. I named my bun Alfie and my partner named his Thor. Was great seeing them playing together and Alfie kept hiding behind his brother whenever anything scared him. Thor would binky around the spare bedroom, zooming from one side of the room to the other.

Two weeks after getting them though, Thor became lethargic, he stopped exploring, stopped hopping about and spent most of his time scrunched up looking sorry for himself. We took him to the vets on Wednesday (exotic bunny savvy vet) who hospitalised him for fluids and medication to get his gut moving. After a blood test the vet was almost certain that he had E. Cuniculi, something I hadn't even heard of. It's a parasite that can effect the brain and kidneys. He was put on medication for that straight away and slowly but surely was improving. The vet and nurses fell in love with him and his brother (who was staying with him at the vets). On Friday the vets said we could go and pick him up as he had gut sounds and he was doing mostly solid poos. However when we got to the vet he had a load of very runny poos and we decided to leave him at the vets for another night for more fluids etc. On Saturday all was fine until 3pm. We got a phone call from the vet - Thor had gone down hill in the last hour, had no gut sounds and had stopped moving. An x-ray that although he didn't have a blockage in his gut there was a massive build up of gas. He wouldn't have survived the operation in the state he was in. We went to see him, had big cuddles and had to make the decision to either put him to sleep then or give him another couple of hours. We gave him the time but at 7pm he passed away.

Both of us have been heartbroken since the loss of Thor. Alfie is on precautionary medication for EC but touch wood he has been healthy and has taken the loss of his brother very well. We now face the daunting task of bonding him with a female bun but that will have to wait until he's been neutered in January.

Anyway, pictures!

peasypea · 10-30-2015, 11:58 AM

Aww beautiful! I love bunnies. I'm due to start helping out at a bunny rescue near me soon, I'm going to learn how to do all the medications and things that they need for the owners day off. I'm a vet student and I really want to get into exotics so I can do rabbits and small furries.

Bunnies unfortunately are prone to horrible gut stasis and it can go wrong so quickly, its so sad. They really are a high maintenance pet! So sorry to hear of your loss, its always horrible to lose a pet, especially like that. I hope Alfie is fine and I'm sure you are giving him lots of cuddles! x

racinghamster · 10-31-2015, 09:19 AM

Losing Thor must have been incredible hard for you and for his brother StarlightSerenity, I`m so sorry to read of your sad loss. They are both gorgeous and I can imagine the laugh they bring with their antics. I wish you well with the bonding, I`m sure Alfie will find his forever friend soon. x

Edited to ask: Did they come from a pet store or rescue/rehome?

JBH316 · 11-01-2015, 01:06 AM

Oh that is awful news

I'm glad that Alfie is coping well by himself.

My friends bunny had e. cuniculi - he was one of the lucky ones and managed to pull through. He was left with quite a bad head tilt but coped well with it.

Sleep tight little man

StarlightSerenity · 11-11-2015, 11:40 AM

Thanks everyone!

RC - They were actually from a pet store... Pets Corner. Not something I would usually even consider or recommend but the pet store that we got them from were amazing from day one. If any pet store could be considered perfect in it's sale of animals, these guys are. At least my local branch is. I can go into more detail of my experiences with them if you'd like

Alfie is coping very well without his brother. He's turning into a bit of a daddies boy though... Little sod lol.

We're going to meet a 16 week old doe on Saturday who we may end up adopting, depending how she and Alfie get on. Alfie will be neutered in Jan so still a while until they can live together but we may end up getting her in the next couple of weeks, fingers crossed!

StarlightSerenity · 11-11-2015, 11:41 AM

Thanks everyone!

RC - They were actually from a pet store... Pets Corner. Not something I would usually even consider or recommend but the pet store that we got them from were amazing from day one. If any pet store could be considered perfect in it's sale of animals, these guys are. At least my local branch is. I can go into more detail of my experiences with them if you'd like

Alfie is coping very well without his brother. He's turning into a bit of a daddies boy though... Little sod lol.

We're going to meet a 16 week old doe on Saturday who we may end up adopting, depending how she and Alfie get on. Alfie will be neutered in Jan so still a while until they can live together but we may end up getting her in the next couple of weeks, fingers crossed!

**DrKMcK** · 11-11-2015, 09:03 PM

Oh wow Starlight. So happy and so sad. They looked so beautiful together. So soft looking. That sounds like a real rough time for you and your partner. I'm glad you're getting to see the doe. Hope it works out well for them. Maybe the little girl will be a Mama's girl.

StarlightSerenity · 11-12-2015, 01:17 AM

Thanks DrKMcK

Some pics of Alfie from the last couple of days

**kyrilliondaemon** · 11-12-2015, 05:17 PM

Those are lovely pictures

racinghamster · 11-15-2015, 02:01 AM

Looks like Alfie is right at home there washing his wee nose! Such a shame your other bunny took ill but these things happen. I`m sure Alfie will love his new friend when the time comes and you will have many years of fun and laughs with them. x