Fixed doe got beat up by unfixed male

Question
QUESTION: Hi ;)
My, this site was a nice find!!
l will get straight to the point as l'm sure you  are swamped with questions!
I have four rabbits who have lived together for many years and they were raised one by one for  years inside of the house. ALL house free and kittylitter trained and each one excepted each new addition as it was done gently over time. Now they live out side year around in a large back yard pen backing on to the house where we can watch them closely.
So "spring fever" has hit my fixed male and  doe, inspite of them all peachy keen last spring, where there was  a  bit of chasing each other around and  fixed and unfixed all trying to dominte and  false hormones,but this spring, they are being nut bars!
Pumkin has been chasing the fixed  male all over the out door pen with tail cocked just asking for it, l am sure she included the UNfixed male too, and got nailed, l think her teasing got her in a heap of trouble and he beat her up good, her eye is sealed shut with pus , her back is covered wih thick scabs,missing tons of patches of fur, and even though l gentaly washed the pus out of her eye with warm water, it is now 80% open, and still making pus.

Do l REALLY need to take her to the vets, or can l treat her at home, l have cleaned hr up and she is snug as a bug in the house in a cage on my counter with food and blankets, till she heals.
I used to be a vets assistant and there is little l can't do, so tell me, do you think l can take care of this my self  and if so, what would you suggest l do to her eye, just  gently warm water wash it, the top of the lid wants to bleed so l have to stay away from that, its been biten almost through shes very scabed, l think time will heal this without sticking things in her or meds down her throat, l would put ointment in her eye if you suggest so, but is any of that nessesary..bunnys dont have tear ducts, if l dont have to l would rather not...Shes already so shook up.

Also, how long do l need to keep Pumkin away from Snickers?And why this spring when never before, will they go right back at each other now for ever more?
Thank you so much for taking the time toread this  search out the answers to my questions, an get back to me , l REALLY appriciate it :)
Thanks Pumkins Momma
ANSWER: Aww poor Pumkin..

Well it is spring time and they know it.  I am not sure how or why but even the fixed ones do go crazy.  

Ok I will tell you that I really think you should take her to the vet.  If you decide not to I will tell you what I would do.  This is what I would do for my brood or herd and not my loveable cuddly bunny best friend.  I wouldn't put cream directly in the eye.  However I would probably use penicillin cream to help infections stay away.  Try putting it on the spots that aren't right over her eye.  I don't really know if it would burn her eye or not but I know it would certainly irritate her.  Then I would just keep it cleaned up with warm water.  If she shows any signs of infection, fever etc, you know what to look for.. if she shows any of those signs then she needs to go to the doctor.

When it comes time to bring them back together you are probably going to have to start in neutral territory.  It might also help if you get the buck fixed also.  Fixed bucks are usually so docile.  Its the does that tend to be hormonal.  

There are many web sites that will help you with bonding.  I am going to give you a couple because it is far easier than typing it all out.  This is an incredible site and even has a hotline you can call for assistance.

http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/behavior/bonding-tips.html

Keep an eye on your other bunnies... spring is in the air.

I hope Pumpkin feels better soon and if you need anything else please let me know.

Thank you

Pam

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks SO much Pam for your very prompt responce :)

I have re washed Pumkins eyes she is very content l had a good look at her in dirrect light as she sat calmly  on the washer under bright light, and her wounds are many and some quite large, he really beat on her. I can not phathom how l  missed that fight. Of course things happen as soon as you to turn your back right!
At any rate, my point l'm trying to make, is, ALL of her scabs are infact that,dry har scabs, thick ones, if l were to pluck one she would definately bleed.
She must be a VERY fast healer,  unless l'm a complete idiot,because she was stuck under the deck for a whole week, and when l finally freed her, (she got  snowed in and we were on a cruise and it froze over, the other bunnies were smart and slept under the tree and  fort.  When l finally freed her, she was in mint conditon, she has only been free maybe five days and once she got free she  went all spring fever on me...Can't imagine she healed that fast!
So your adice to put penicillin on her, is that still required if they are not pusy,  and scabbed over well?

Also, how many days should l wash her eye wth warm water if it remain pusy, l was thinking as long as it starts looking better, leave it, but if it remains the same for said days, then maybe time for some eye polysporn of some kind??? If so, how many days  staying the same before l do take her to the vets.Is there an eye ointment l can buy over the counter for her without going to the vets,not alot of differance between human meds and animal,  

One last question, how long will he attack her, will they be able to get past this spring fever thing, like, l can leave her in the house for as long as it takes, the weather is warming up here so her coat loss being inside for too long will be ok its not like l'm going to put her back out in sub zero tempuratures.

Still  will they be able to get past this spring fever , l think she will always fear him they were so close before! I do want to put her back out  soon so she doesnt lose her coat but if not just tell me what ever you know lol, l sound lke l'm talking around in circles , l sure hope you understand what l mean lol
Thanks again, and of course l will write a report for you :)
Pumkin's Momma

Answer
As long as the scabs are healing I wouldn't touch them, its the pus that makes me think of infection.  If her eye has is really full of pus you can try cleaning it with Bosch & Lomb Eye Wash ... it has Boric Acid in it and that's good to wash out the eye with.  If after several days it still is full of pus you can try to see if one of your old vet friends or even just your regular vet will just give you some Terramacyin Ophthamic Ointment.  It is safe for eyes an honestly if you can get your hands on it, it is something all rabbit owners should keep on hand.  It works great even if they just poke their eye on the sharp hay or fence.

I am not sure about polysporin but honestly as long as its not going in her mouth or she can't lick it I don't think it would hurt.

Being literally stuck for 5 days might have caused her a lot of stress.  I honestly don't know how she survived that long without food.  What a tough little bunny you have there.  I think she will make it through this.  Don't worry about keeping her inside.  Even if she does throw a full molt as long as she is not completely bald and it is not below freezing outside she will be fine.  

The trauma from this fight might make it very difficult for you to re-bond them.  She is going to be very frightened of him and may try to fight with him.  They may very well get over it, but he put her in her place and told her.. I am king of this forest... basically and if she is the dominant kind then the only solution will probably be neutering him.  Dominant females whether spayed or not will almost always have issues with non-neutered males.  

When you put them back together make sure it is an area where neither of them have been before.  Use an off-limit room of your house.  Give them plenty of space.  If they mount and nip that is ok.  What you want to watch for is real fighting.  If they are going for the face or genitals and have their ears back they are serious.  If this happens you separate them immediately and try to hold them side by side.  I love the car ride game.  Get someone to drive and put them in a carrier together.  One where you can easily access if they do start to fight.  The movement and action from the car ride might keep them so busy they forget they were enemies.  Sometimes before going into neutral territory that is what I will do.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Pumkin had serious trauma and she most likely won't forget it.  Bless her little heart.  She may never want to be with the mister again.  You can work with them and hopefully they will work out their issues.  Whatever you do, don't leave them alone together until you absolutely know that they aren't going to fight.

When you have time read through that website I gave you. It is really great and has such great tips on bonding and re-bonding.

I hope I answered all of your questions.  If I missed something please let me know.

Thank you so much

Pam