RE: Vet dates lined up, questions.

Question
Hey there Dana.

I recently was able to take some pictures of my bunnies and have them hosted on my home server, available at

http://afi.homeip.net:5478/public/bunnies

There are only 2 pictures of Sabrina due to the simple fact that she insists on peeing everywhere she goes, so I don't even let her go anywhere where I could take some pictures. Later after her surgury I should be able to get some pictures.

I took them in for their "pre-surgical checkup" and both were given the A-OK for the spay and neuter. I also asked the vet about the bald spot on Sabrina's face. The vet did a scotch-tape & microscope test and didn't find any parasites, so she says she highly doubts a parasitic infection. But it doesn't seem as if the bald spot is going away. If you want to see it, it's picture "Sabrina 2" in the "Named" section.

I've been watching Tyler lately and he's beginng to shed a lot of fur lately so I've been brushing him down to get most of the hair off. But I did notice something strange. His whiskers were gone. In the pictures, if you go to "Random" and picture "DSC00014", you will see that he has NO whiskers. Yet a couple days ago, he had a full set of whiskers. Is it normal for them to disappear like this?

Thanks for all the help again.
-Rich

-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hey there Dana. Back for more.

I have finally waited the time until my rabbits were old enough to be spayed/neutered, and I have an appointment on Wednesday for a pre-surgical checkup to see if they are capable and emotionally stable to withstand surgury. I am taking them to the Michigan Humane Society, where they handle over 100 (different) rabbits each day in their vet/clinic. Now that I know they will be taken care of soon, I wanted to know a couple things. First, after surgery, how active should they be or should I let them be? And second, when will it be safe for me to put them together in the same cage and let them be together without me having to worry about "things happening"?

Then I have a question different from those. A couple days ago, Sabrina, a brown dwarf, developed a bald spot on the right side of her face (my perspective). Its about a quarter inch in diameter, it's somewhat small. She's just about 6 months, is this anything I should be concerned about?

Thanks for your help again.
Answer -
Dear Rich,

For some information on pre- and post-surgical care, please see:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/opcare.html

Before and after surgery the bunnies shouldn't be *completely* separated, since this will increase the chance that they will "unbond."  Keep them physically separated, but very close and able to sniff/touch each other, as perhaps through the grate of two adjacent pens.  

You don't mention what sexes your bunnies are, but note that a male might be more sexually aggressive immediately after the neuter, but should calm down gradually as he heals.  A female should be given a bit more time to recover, as a spay is more extensive surgery than a neuter.  If there's any danger that the bunnies might mount or otherwise physically harrass each other, then keep them physically unable to do this for at least four or five days.

Gradually reintroduce them, making sure they don't fight.  I can't stress enough how important it is that they stay in touch with each other and able to contact one another *if* they don't start to be physically rough with each other.

The bald spot could be from overgrooming by her partner, or it could be an ectoparasite (ringworm fungus?).  You can get more information about the various possibilities here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html

But you might want to call it to the vet's attention when you take them for the spay/neuter and see if the vet can give you any information.  It's easier to diagnose things like this in person.  :)

Hope that helps.  Good luck with the operations!

Dana

Answer
Dear Rich,

From the sound of things, Sabrina and Tyler are overgrooming each other. Once they're spayed/neutered this should subside.  But if it doesn't, then they may need more enrichment in their environment so they'll stop this neurotic behavior.

Being able to have more free running time in a large space will help, as will toys to distract and entertain them.  A large paper grocery bag filled with hay is fun, as is a clean, dry cardboard box (no tape or staples) with bunny-sized holes cut in so they can play in it and do some architectural modification.  Chew toys that are safe for macaws are good, but they need to be rotated so the bunnies don't get bored with them.

Who'd imagine bunnies could be so complex!  :)  (me!)

Hope that helps.

Dana