Usagi Goes to Camp Vet

Usually when we travel we have someone come to the house to take care
of Usagi and Salem. Salem's still no problem, but Usagi is grumpy and
frail at 9 years old, and has a chronic problem with poopy butt. Last
year, despite living inside, he got fly strike so he needs careful
supervision at all times, more than he can get from a daily visit from
a caregiver.

(Notes on poopy butt--yes, the vet's looked at him, no, he won't eat
hay--anything other than timothy pellets, craisins, oatmeal and dried
banana is Bunny Poison in the Grumpy Senior Bun's mind. Vet looked at
him, did a fecal scan, and suggested that the most likely causes were
either a lack of fiber or else some neurological issues resulting from
the occasional seizures Usagi's had. I've only seen one of those in
progress, but he's shown comparable post-seizure behavior twice this
spring. His hind legs are slightly affected by it--primarily the left
hind. We started sneaking Metamucil into him on the vet's
recommendation and it slowed down but did not eliminate the poopy butt
problem--so it's probably a combination of both causes)

The vet recommended boarding Usagi at the vet hospital while we were
gone to Amsterdam. So we did.

I figured either he'd be sulky and grouchy or--the more likely
scenario--he'd go right into ex-showbunny mode and make a party of it.

Needless to say, he made a party of it. Mr. Finicky Eater was
stationed in the section of the boarding area with cats, on a smooth
floored cage with a towel over it. He apparently ate in mass
quantities, managing to mooch craisins out of the vet techs. He got
lots of hugs and carries around the vet hospital, and got to explore
and hop around a little bit. The vet tech on duty when I got there
told me that they love to have bunnies around, and it sounds like he
didn't lack for attention.

Of course, when I left him, he deliberately turned his back to me, and
when I came to pick him up, he made a big show of turning his back to
me again.

Silly bunny. He appeared to have a very good time, and seems to have
gained even more fans at the vet's. Now he's eaten breakfast, and has
taken a couple of naps. He's gotten very good at napping in his
cranky senior age. But he doesn't seem as tired as he was after a
rabbit show when he was younger, so I guess it all worked out for him.

jrw

Bless his little head! Hope all goes well!

Professor, The Jump, Zolo, Wizard, & Magic Brenda



Joyce Reynolds-Ward wrote:

>Usually when we travel we have someone come to the house to take care
>of Usagi and Salem. Salem's still no problem, but Usagi is grumpy and
>frail at 9 years old, and has a chronic problem with poopy butt. Last
>year, despite living inside, he got fly strike so he needs careful
>supervision at all times, more than he can get from a daily visit from
>a caregiver.
>
>(Notes on poopy butt--yes, the vet's looked at him, no, he won't eat
>hay--anything other than timothy pellets, craisins, oatmeal and dried
>banana is Bunny Poison in the Grumpy Senior Bun's mind. Vet looked at
>him, did a fecal scan, and suggested that the most likely causes were
>either a lack of fiber or else some neurological issues resulting from
>the occasional seizures Usagi's had. I've only seen one of those in
>progress, but he's shown comparable post-seizure behavior twice this
>spring. His hind legs are slightly affected by it--primarily the left
>hind. We started sneaking Metamucil into him on the vet's
>recommendation and it slowed down but did not eliminate the poopy butt
>problem--so it's probably a combination of both causes)
>
>The vet recommended boarding Usagi at the vet hospital while we were
>gone to Amsterdam. So we did.
>
>I figured either he'd be sulky and grouchy or--the more likely
>scenario--he'd go right into ex-showbunny mode and make a party of it.
>
>Needless to say, he made a party of it. Mr. Finicky Eater was
>stationed in the section of the boarding area with cats, on a smooth
>floored cage with a towel over it. He apparently ate in mass
>quantities, managing to mooch craisins out of the vet techs. He got
>lots of hugs and carries around the vet hospital, and got to explore
>and hop around a little bit. The vet tech on duty when I got there
>told me that they love to have bunnies around, and it sounds like he
>didn't lack for attention.
>
>Of course, when I left him, he deliberately turned his back to me, and
>when I came to pick him up, he made a big show of turning his back to
>me again.
>
>Silly bunny. He appeared to have a very good time, and seems to have
>gained even more fans at the vet's. Now he's eaten breakfast, and has
>taken a couple of naps. He's gotten very good at napping in his
>cranky senior age. But he doesn't seem as tired as he was after a
>rabbit show when he was younger, so I guess it all worked out for him.
>
>jrw
>
>