Fiver's Recovery Blog

maherwoman · Oct 2, 2007

Now, something I should point out...the sound is slightly off...behind, if you will.

He didn't react until I tapped on his cage.

I hope that makes sense...I've watched the video, and am actually disappointed at the fact that it was a bit messed up, soundwise.

rabb1tmad · Oct 3, 2007

I can't see videos when I use this laptop because for some reason this version of windows is pants!

Anyways, I just thought I'd chip in and suggest that maybe because of his history he can only see shadows now. So when he is in a particularly dark area he can't quite make out the shadows and this may be the case if something, like you finger, were to move past him too quickly. Just a suggestion.

It's pretty obvious to everyone that you won't mind if he's blind anyway, you love him so much already and who can blame you

maherwoman · Oct 7, 2007

Well, guys...Fiver's first vet appointment is tomorrow evening...keep your paws crossed he gets a clean enough bill of health that we can schedule for his neuter!

I'm going to have them check his eyesight while we're there, so the dr will let me know about that, which is good.

And as soon as we get home, and he's back in his home and comfy, I'll let ya'll know what the vet said!

A few updates:

1. I've been trying to post pictures, but every time I've tried (which has been five or six times now), Firefox closes on it's own, and I have to start over. It's happened enough times now, I'm just going to wait for the new version to come out in about a week. Danny said that he's seen on some forums about Firefox that lots of people have had this issue with the latest version, so it could just be that.

Don't worry, though...I'm DYING to show you how he's doing!

2. We've started switching his food over to Oxbow 15/23. If the vet says we can start slowly switching him to the Bunny Basics T, we'll do that. But I suspect the vet will recommend him staying on alfalfa food for a bit. We'll go on the dr's recommendations.

3. I started to get worried in not seeing Fiver consuming much pellet food at all, but then decided to mix in some oats like we did to stimulate SweetPea's pellet food consumption, and it seemed to work just a little. Another thing that Danny reminded me of...every bun we've brought home abstained from the pellet food almost completely for the first week they were home, and given that today marks a week (yay!) for our boy, it makes sense. I've seen him eating the food, so he's making progress!

4. Our boy is a poo flinger! I swear that every move this boy makes, some three or four poops go scattering to the floor! And it's not that he's flinging them AS he's creating them...they're from him marking the cage with his poops (scent thing) when he first came home...and they're just FLYIN! HAHA!!

5. On those lines...I officially got sprayed by my boy just over 24hrs of him being home...so Monday night. :shock: I was in the process of doing something with his food bowl, and saw him BINKY! And next thing I new...my arm was rather warm...with pee...and I was a bit surprised!! Here I (for some silly reason) thought he would do it sitting still....NOPE!! He was MORE THAN HAPPY when he did it, all mid-binky and feet flicking behind him!! Hehe!! So, guys, just over 24hrs of having a boy, I got christened! Hehe!!

6. The girls are being REALLLLY wonderful about the new addition. His cage is on top of Flower's (as a sort of quaranteen type thing, and also to help prevent them from getting sprayed by Fiver), so they aren't right next to him (thankfully). The only change we've noticed so far is that SweetPea has been more animated than she was before he arrived. Hehe!

So, that's about all from here for now! I'll let you guys know what the vet says, and what's going on with my little boy!

Hugs and love,

Rosie (& the Herd)

maherwoman · Oct 7, 2007

Oh...I forgot to mention...

We've noticed that Fiver thumps when the house is quiet for more than about five minuites. Whether during the day, or while we're sleeping, that poor guy gets so freaked out if he can't hear anything.

So, in thinking that it's connected to vision problems, we're going to get a little radio to put next to his cage, and tune into some soothing, nice music for him.

I also wanted to post some really fantastic blind bunny tips I got recently over a mailing list I'm on. I asked her before posting this...she was all too happy to help!

This is thanks to Jodi from the Disabled Bunnies list:

It is good to finally see a dialogue pertaining to blindness in
bunnies. This can be just as challening for a caregiver as other
physical changes in a bunny. Ideas about stimulating appetite and
activity will be so helpful to everyone, so I am glad to see all the
imput! Keep it coming.

My main points to enhance blind buns life are:

- Keep the environment exactly the same.

- Consider a smaller area if there are is alot of furniture or obstacles.

- Make that area wonderful, full of fun safe things to do.

- Offer fragrant herbs to stimulate the appetite.

- Get bun a gentle friend.

- Keep all buns well groomed, blind bunnies can become grooming
obsessed, thus possible G.I. slowdowns.

- Provide calming soft music when you are away. This not only masks
strange noises but is comforting in your abscense.

- Spend extra touch time with your blind bunny, even if she has a
friend- The physical contact lifts the spirit and will also keep you
in tune with bun's health status.

- Consider lowering any objects the once sighted bunny climbed on, even
if bun still has limited sight. Depth perception will be non-existant.

- The exception is a familiar cage with ramps. If bunny is used to that
set-up, it is a perfect way to get bun to exercise.

- Watch the calories. Blind bunnies can put on weight.

- and dont fret about bun's blindness, animals adjust way better than
we think they do. Bunny will feel your calmness and acceptance and
will thrive.

No matter what is ever going on with my bunnies, when I approach them
I do my best to slow my breath and movements and imagine a supportive
glow of love all around us. And of course, I coo in their glorious ears

Jodi