Dijon's missing testicle

Happy news... for our family, the carpets, the walls, but especially for Mabel...

Today the bunnies have spent the day at the vets... 'exploratory surgery', and the vet found Dijon's missing testicle! Now, you may recall that when the bunnies went to the vet for neutering last year, Dijon was found to have one generously proportioned testicle, and one minuscule, fat-covered, one. Well, that turned out not to be the case, and we've had a few issues with Dijon's adolescent hormones.

He has been so intense in his 'romancing' Mabel, for the past fortnight the cage has been shaking like a heart-stopping fun-fair ride as he mounts her everytime he is excited about anything. Poor Mabel has taken to cowering in her litter tray and squealing as he approaches... also the spraying has continued, so we (us and the vet) decided last week it was time to have a look, just in case.

Apparently she snipped open where she thought she'd taken it out before - last time his big one turned out to be all fat with a teeny weeny one inside. She had pulled it as far as possible, had a good look around, but no more to be seen. Again this time, nothing there. So she opened up his abdomen and there it was, a long, thin, 'abnormal' one, hiding in the inguinal canal!

The vet had mixed feelings - she was also very happy to have found it, glad she had done it, relieved that it was abnormal and therefore not really her fault missing it, but her biggest regret was forgetting to take a photo!!

Now we have to hope he doesn't have any problems with the wound - he's been cleaning it a lot, but just hope he doesn't cause problems. He was bit dozy at first but has eaten well, drunk loads, and is now busy destroying his cardboard tube.

Dirty Dog

We've just returned from a day visiting relatives down by the south coast. They own a greyhound, We were, apparently,  covered in doggy smells... Mabel took one sniff, thumped and wouldn't come near us. Dijon sniffed us all over, then chinned us all over, he seemed to like it, then this evening he made extra sure that no other creature was going to claim his territory by doing 86 (yes, I counted) poos over the carpet. Nice. And that was after we'd all had a bath and change of clothes!

Let's hope the doggy smell has worn off by tomorrow!

Fancy a Nibble?

The naughty NAUGHTY bunnies – they're in the, er, doghouse today -

"Ooh!" said Freddie this morning, "the bunnies are eating ALL the bureau!".

I'm not sure what possessed him to watch for so long, I can't really hold him responsible, but a large chunk all along the bottom of one door is now missing! 

We have to hope they've forgotten when they come in the living room later... but who am I kidding? Bunnies always go back for more, don't they?!!

Dijon's spraying

I was with the vet for nearly 40mins discussing Dijon's mounting and spraying. She had a good feel around and could find no lumps (sadly no "oops I must have missed a testicle", thus putting and end to this spraying nightmare.)

She clipped his claws, then started to doubt herself and had another feel, this time with him 'dangling' so that anything there would drop down. On one side she could feel slightly more fat, and started to wonder if she should just do a small operation, a little incision on that side, under anaesthetic, just to check for any testicular tissue hidden in the fat. Poor woman said that, if she did find anything, it would be the first time, and she began to doubt her whole career, but said she takes pride in her work and wants to make all her animals happy...

She recalled that when she did the castration back in September, she found that one testicle was actually much smaller than it had appeared, being inside a lot of fat, and she had a big dig around to make sure it was all out. The fact that she double-checked at the time makes me (and her) think that it's unlikely anything's been left, and more likely just his nature... And so we've left it that we'll see how he goes, if he calms down, and re-evaluate in a few months if he hasn't - or if he's really bothering Mabel.

Top and Tail

We have booked an appointment to get Dijon's bits checked out. 4 months since castration, and he is spending more time that ever trying to mount Mabel, is 'hmm-hmm'ing so loudly we can hear it from the next room, and this evening he sprayed full force when out in the dining room, sending wee all over the carpet, piano stool, piano (as high as the keys) and cupboard next to it. Fortunately he just missed me.

Unfortunately I had spent most of yesterday morning cleaning his spray stains off the carpet with the Vax. I suppose I'd provided a blank canvas.

As I type, he is going in circles trying to mount Mabel. We have noticed that he tends to pester her when we approach - if he's excited to see us then he redirects his excitement onto Mabel.

However, she may be getting her own back... we've noticed that several of his whiskers on one side appear to have been chopped off - badly, they even have split ends. Could it be Mabel...?

Break Out

We had decided to delay expanding Mabel and Dijon's play area into the front of our through living room - mainly because Dijon has been doing the occasional spray outside of his cage, but also because we need to reinforce the bunny-proofing to suit our 2 teenage bunnies (barriers had been removed as Nelly became older and less adventurous).

But this morning, Mabel became impatient. She shook the fence (2 panels of our chicken-wire outdoor rabbit run, linked together with chains). She pulled so hard with her teeth and claws that they fell down, leaving a gap in the middle. Both made their escape, then they split, each to a naughty corner obviously bunny-signposted by buns gone before. So there was no way of catching either because I had to be watching both at the same time! (This escape was obviously planned in advance - choose a time when only one bunny-slave is at home).

Lots of stretched out periscoping, and lots of excited thumping, then they both showed too much interest in the television/hi-fi/juicy cable corner, so I had to try my hardest to herd them back. Dijon was very obliging - he knows the ringing of the cage bells and went straight back for his slice of pear, but Mabel preferred the taste of freedom and had to be ushered back.

She is now tugging at the towels in her cage very crossly!

Time Out

What an amazing day! The bunnies have been with us for 5 months today, and  they have spent almost the whole day out of their cage, with very little destruction to show for it. They really were surprisingly well-behaved.

It began at 8:30 when they were given breakfast. Rather than closing the door to their cage, we left it open. Mabel hopped out almost immediately, leaving Dijon to much at his leisure, but she soon returned as she didn't like the music we were playing. She is a bit funny about music, and more often than not will retreat under the towel in her cage until the music ends. Dijon did try rounding her out of the cage, but she refused until the music was switched off.

So from 8:30 until 5:30 - when it was tea time - they stayed out. There were a minimal number of poos from Dijon, no spraying, no wallpaper stripping, carpet lifting, or book ripping. No leaps onto the piano, no chair/table leg gnawing, no curtain ripping.

But there were bunny cuddles, bunnies sleeping, bunnies grooming each other, children and bunnies playing together.

Was there no damage at all? No, there was a little, all caused by Dijon. He can't help himself... First, he ate the rubber end from a zip, and gnawed around the edge of the lid to the tub storing the Burgess. Not only did his gnaw it, he ate all the slivers he nibbled off. Not a single shaving of yellow plastic was to be found. Well, at least he has shown some intelligence - knowing where the Burgess is hidden is quite a step for him.

Mabel, on the other hand, was impeccably behaved and showed no desire to do anything other than look longingly at the piano keyboard.

On Your Knees and Spray

Just as we think the bunnies have settled, one of them goes and does something so hideously rude...

Since Christmas, Mabel and Dijon do seem to have become more settled, and they have been much more willing to have a prolonged stroke. Even Mabel has hunkered down for a nose rub when touched between the ears or on the snout, and that is not like her at all. We have had some seriously long strokes of late - up to 10 minutes!

Well, although Dijon is quite to poopmeister, it did seem that his spraying had abated, but last night he shamed himself. It was time for the bunnies to return home after a good run, and as usual they returned home without any protestations. However, as whilst the towel in the cage was being straightened to make it more comfortable for him, he sprayed in his female carer's face. Bull's Eye!

Surely by now, so many weeks after his snip, he should have stopped spraying!?

Shame on him.

Fame, Fame, Fatal Fame

Mabel has been chosen by the RWF to be the face of their latest vaccination campaign.
 

Dijon has been rather persistent in his pursuit of Mabel, despite having been snipped a few weeks ago. Every time he approaches, Mabel starts squeaking like a very stressed guinea pig. At first we wondered if she was hurt, but there have been no signs of injury. However, it is clear that Mabel has matured.

She has changed from a sweet young girl to a feisty teenager. Her shape has changed, too. No longer is she a svelte bunny, but she has slightly broader shoulders and her face has filled out. She's not nearly as chunky as Dijon.
 

Mabel has been squealing when Dijon comes close. Along with this, she is constantly trying to get away from him. We're concerned about this as it's one of the signs of pregnancy. 

If she is expecting, then it means Dijon did the business AFTER his operation!

Matters became quite frantic this evening when Mabel started nesting. She was hopping about the living room, frenetically picking up any small strands of hay she could find. We have our fingers crossed that it is a phantom pregnancy.

Mabel's spay day

Well, all has gone well for Mabel - I collected them at 4.30pm. 

The nurse asked where I'd put my other pet carrier - I explained that they'd shared one for comfort/company and she was surprised... apparently, despite being in such a scary environment, as I'd handed over the carrier this morning, Dijon had instantly resumed his attempts at mounting Mabel, so they couldn't even be put in the same cage at the surgery - so a pointless trip for Dijon! I couldn't believe he would try again in the waiting room, in the presence of so many scary dogs, but sure enough he did. Mabel was too drowsy to even notice, but fortunately he stopped once in the car.

Needless to say, they were put straight into separate cages. He is very cross - when we let him out this evening, he ran around with his tail up very high, pooing everywhere and thumping! Mabel sat in her cage (door shut of course) and just made her strange whimpering/chattering noise every time he came close to the cage.

She hadn't eaten anything I'd offered, so I've just given her some pellets mixed with water, which she licked from a teaspoon, so I'm happier now. Unlike Dijon, who is still sitting bolt upright just watching her. Well, things could have been very different if he'd had some consideration!!