Still not quite right...

Mabel still is not quite right. Her appetite is greatly reduced, and she seems only interested in small nibbles of dandelion leaves, the occasional blade of succulent grass, and carrot tops. The burbling and gurgling form her insides is alarming at times – unfeasibly loud, like a mad scientist's chemistry lab – but she's happy, generally comfortable, though subdued.

Previously, she would be somewhat resistant to accepting strokes, but now she will sit for hours being stroked, grinding contentedly away. She even lets us insinuate a hand between her tummy and the carpet… if we'd tried that at the beginning of the week, we'd be in for an encounter with razor blade teeth.

So it's a waiting game. Ensuring all medication is administered, encouraging eating and drinking, and goading her into some activity.

Dijon, meanwhile, is showing his displeasure. He's not accepting strokes if Mabel is close by, he sits with his back to her, and he's having a bit of a sulk. At times he wants to sit alongside her and give her a groom, but she seems to smell odious to him.

Another waiting game for her normal scent to return.

Home!

Yes, Mabel has returned home. Her right ear is a little bruised and limp, and she's feeling a little sorry for herself, but she's most definitely happy to be home with us. She's had a lot of cuddles (for her), and has been grinding, eating, drinking, and grooming; generally doing all the things she's not been able to do over the past few days.

Dijon is not overly happy to see her. A sniff here and there, but he hasn't been welcoming of her. Not surprising, really, as she probably smells of an alien environment, and he doesn't quite know what to make of it all.

The bill...? Not too bad, really. Very much less than we'd expected. See below...

We're all so happy and relieved to have her back again.

First exposure to sunlight for a few days.

A little trouble drinking from the bowl, so help offered (and accepted).

No place like home.

Grooming feels so good@

Itemised vet bill.

Update 2...

Afternoon visit complete, and Mabel has picked up considerably. She's moving and eating a lot more, and is clearly desperate to come home. The moment she saw us she came to the front of the cage and tried to hop out. She realised that this was not to be, and returned to the back a bit cross.

Fingers crossed that tomorrow she will be allowed to return home. We're all going crazy without a full quota of bunniness in the house.

Still collared.

Nothing quite as delicious as a fresh dandelion leaf.

Drip, drip, drip...

Update...

Overnight, Mabel has eaten and done a wee and a smattering of poos, though not as many as the vet would like. She is well hydrated, but her abdomen feels doughy, which is consistent with typical GI stasis.

So, given the dearth of poos and the doughy tummy, Mabel will have to spend another day/night at the surgery, with a tentative hope of returning home tomorrow. We've not been able to see her yet today, though we should be able to after 4 o'clock.

How is Dijon taking the absence of his sister? Well, he's a little bewildered (but he always is) but enjoying the inordinate amount of attention he's receiving in the form of cuddles. He doesn't seem too perturbed. Right now he's sprawled out in the shade, dozing...

More updates later today.

Live Update

Vet has called, on phone now... Mabel has made it through the night at the vet. We decided to try medication and hope – pain killers (opiates), fluids, motility drugs.

Need to take in some of her favourite things to nibble.

There was a blockage in her intestinal tract that was preventing movement. This resulted in a build up of fluid and gas, causing bloat and discomfort.

Overnight, matters have improved and the bloat has reduced, but Mabel has yet to eat anything. So it's off to the vet in a while with some nibbles and reassuring cuddles. But we still aren't out of the woods just yet. Mabel remains in a critical condition... and you know how it is with rabbits.

Mabel...

Sorry we've been neglectful and haven't posted in a while. It's the summer holidays, so we're rushed off our feet. That's the apology out the way.

Right now it's touch and go with Mabel. She's at the vet having x-rays and fluids; she's very very poorly having not eaten for over 24 hours despite our best efforts to encourage her to nibble and drink, and giving her the medicine prescribed last week. Yes, last week she stopped eating, too, and we returned from the very with some more medication for her.

Like I said, it really is touch and go.

Waiting for the phone to ring...

Birthday Girl

Today is Mabel's 5th Birthday. There is only one Birthday photo of her, because she was too busy to keep still. She said that, because it was her Birthday, today she was allowed to burrow into the sofa, and chew the beading on the cushions.

5 Today!

Some pictures of Dijon, the Birthday boy, and also some of Mabel photo bombing the Birthday portrait, then trying to steal the show.

Morning adventures

Here are the bunnies enjoying some time on 'our' side of the living room… under close supervision!!

Pavarooooarrrtti