Neutered Bun - Help Please!

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

I know, before anyone shouts, my query is bunny related, but I know many of you have buns and I didn't know who else to ask!

I have got a pair of buns arriving for a two week stay tomorrow - baby boy and girl, brother and sister. When I was discussing the booking many weeks ago I asked the woman if she was planning on having the boy neutered and was told that he was going to be done shortly. I told her all I knew about buns and suggested that it might be safer to house the two apart until a)he was done and b)for several weeks after he's been done so that they don't have any kits. Turns out that the bun (around 5/6 month mark) has been neutered today - they arrive with me tomorrow! > What was she thinking? She wants them to stay in the same accommodation (will take the risk of bubs as she doesn't want to separate them, despite me offering to house them next to each other) as she doesn't want to upset them.

She has left a message on my answer phone saying that he has a buster collar on because he won't leave his "bits" or rather lack of them alone, he has to have some form of meds three times a day (will tell me more tomorrow) and he needs to go for a vet check on Friday, which she is expecting me to take him to. Not the usual run of the mill bunny boarding!

I'm not sure how well handled these buns are as they are the usual "child's pet". I have made their accommodation up lined with newspaper and soft shredded paper tissue, I also have some old towels to hand and have put hay in a hay rack.

I have no experience of a newly neutered buck so any advice is most welcome. I presume I will need to check his wound daily for any signs of redness, swelling and oozing? Any suggestions how to get meds down a bunny I don't know?

God what have I let myself in for and more to the point how can I tell her I am a bit "p'd" off with the situation - who in their right mind leaves a bun a day after surgery with someone they don't know! I am not good at confronting people (bit of a soft touch) but feel I must say something. HELP!

 

[Guinea-Tia-Flossie]

:o

OK, first of all you should keep them separate as the male can still make babies up to 3 weeks after he has been neutered. But TBH if he is 5-6 months old he would probably have already made his sister pregnant.

You should keep a newly neutered bunny inside for a few day as you wouldn't want them to catch a cold.

Getting medicine down them is pretty easy, if it's a liquid it can be done with a syringe or if it's baytril it should be put into their water (mix 1 part baytril into 8 parts water) and if it's a powder you sprinkle it on their food, another reason they should be separate, so you know he's getting it.

Like you are already doing, soft bedding is good! you don't want anything jabbing into his wounds. and also keep checking him everyday to make sure it's healing nicely.

Perhaps you could feel the females stomach to see if she is pregnant? If she is, you should feel either grape-like lumps if she is newly pregnant or if she is quite far along you should just feel bigger lumps or even babies moving.

What a difficult situation for you, I hope everything goes alright.

xx

 

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

Thanks for the reply. I can't believe someone would leave their newly neutered bunny a day after surgery. I have told her that in my opinion the two should be separated but she is adamant that she wants them to stay together (the vet has also told her there is a good chance if the girl isn't already expecting she probably will be) and as I am only bunny sitting them for a couple of weeks I don't feel it is up to me to make the decision to split them, I'm not the owner.

Thanks for the advice about the meds - I have only every dosed hamsters and piggies before. As you say, if it's in the form of powder to be put on food (or water for that matter), keeping them together will make this impossible. The vet knows she plans to keep them in together so I am hoping they will give her something that needs to be syringed. - hope it's a friendly bunny.

I will try to check the female out when she arrives. I have felt baby piggies before so I know what babies feel like. How long are does pregnant for? If she were to be pregnant and gave birth whilst staying with me I presume that I will need to remove the buck asap? I have read that you shouldn't disturb the bubs and if you do need to move them that you should rub your hands in litter and poo (lovely!) to take on the mother's scent. If she were to deliver babies at what point can I move them so that their owner can collect them? I do hope I won't need this information

 

[Guinea-Tia-Flossie]

I know what you mean about separating them. It's a shame the women wont listen :

Buns are pregnant for just 32 days! If she does give birth I feel you would then need to separate them as she may not want the boy bunny around. Like guineas, rabbits can get pregnant straight after they give birth, so if the buck has only just been neutered and she gives birth in your care the buck will more than likely still be able to produce babies (or kittens to give them their correct name ;D )

Domestic rabbits don't generally worry about people touching their babies. I have held other my own and other peoples litters of babies when they were new born. I have even had to move one of my own baby bunnies into the nest when she was just a few minutes old and i don't think mum was expecting her lol

Although don't touch them unless really necessary as some rabbits can be very moody about it. Making your hands smell like mum is a good idea, but just stroking her and touching her bedding should be enough, no need to rub your hands in her poo lol

If she does have babies whilst in your care...I'm afraid you'll be stuck with them for around 8 weeks ;D you can't move them from their nest as I don't think the mum will make a new one and will just abandon them. So giving them back to the owner when they are able to leave their mum would be the best option. Although i really hope this doesn't happen!

 

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

Oh crap :o :o gonna cost her a mint in boarding fees if I have to keep them for 8 weeks! Thinking about it, the pair are due to be in my largest hutch which is booked out several times during August - oh flipping heck > >

Thanks for all your help - guess it's a bit of a waiting game now. Will let you know how tomorrow goes. Some people are unbelievable >