The Tails of Simon

[AngelnSnuffy]

As far as getting him a friend, I would wait til he's neutered. You think you're annoyed now at his lack of litter habits?:shock: Will get much worse if he smells a female. Then, if you get her, you can do bonding sessions. Have you read about bonding at all yet?

 

[Orchid]

AngelnSnuffy wrote:

As far as getting him a friend, I would wait til he's neutered. You think you're annoyed now at his lack of litter habits?:shock: Will get much worse if he smells a female. Then, if you get her, you can do bonding sessions. Have you read about bonding at all yet?

No I haven't. Just what things I have seen on the forum. I figured when I knew we would go ahead I would look and see whats what.

I don't think I could deal with worse lol...he seems kinda bad about things now.

I know it takes at least 2 months after the neuter for him to be ok around an unaltered female. I know you have to be careful and watch closely. I figured when it was time I would do like nic panel playpens in the living room and put them each in one. Perhaps rent a shampooer for the carpet a day before and not let Simon back in till we brought home a new bun. Also that not all buns will bond. Boy boy bonding is harder but not unheard of. I think it wouldn't work with Simon though. He very much thinks he is king of the castle you know.

He has been a brat today again. Chewing the door frames, the carpet, books, anything he can wrap his teeth around. I finally had to cage him because he just got so relentless about it all. No matter how many no's he heard he just kept on going. I hate caging him honestly. There is no need when I am right here, but with a morning like this...no coffee n whatnot...just not up for chasing him this morning.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Wow, bad Simon. Sometimes I clap my hands and that makes them stop what they're doing, that may help, but he seems intent on being bad.

I hope he starts to behave soon for you.

 

[Orchid]

AngelnSnuffy wrote:

Wow, bad Simon. Sometimes I clap my hands and that makes them stop what they're doing, that may help, but he seems intent on being bad.

I hope he starts to behave soon for you.

Yeah that doesn't work. Sometimes if I clap he will stop, raise his head, wait a second and than go right back to what he is doing.
Pretty much anything I try doesn't work. He knows though when he shouldn't be doing something. He will run when I come close to stop him, but doesn't run when I come to say sit and pet him. It is really like he KNOWS he is being bad.

Tried to put pine cones where he was chewing the carpet, he just rolls them out of the way.

The flopping in pee has stopped though since I opened the house back up to him. Which I think is awesome.

I guess most of this will continue until he is fixed...can't wait for that lol!

I wish he 'knew still' that chewing carpets, dvds, door frames etc were bad for him. Wish I could find something he liked. Everything to date I have gotten for him, he doesn't care much about. Hoping those new toys I bought he will like. They look pretty cool, can't wait for them to get here!

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Best thing to do is Bunny Proof the best you can and get things up out of his reach. Less stress and worry for you.

Not bragging, at all, but Snuff doesn't chew wires and they're all over the living room:shock:. All my husband's crap from the laptop and ps2:?.

I hope he's a ton better after neutering, is he about ready to have that done?

 

[Orchid]

Simon is being an evil bratt from hell tonight.
I am wondering how much worse he can get. He is digging and chewing at everything. Like throwing a tantrum. He was pacing his cage early, running the length of it so I thought, let him out and run get some of that energy out. Not happening.
All he wants to do is jump into my lap, pee on the blanket and then chew the crap out of it. I put my face close to his to nuzzle like I always do and tell him to calm down and he bit my nose. He has never bit that hard before. He comes up to lick me and if I move my hand to pet him he pulls away. He has been eating his poop tonight again. I don't think he is eating enough of his hay, nor pellets and not drinking enough. I tried adding a kick to the water and he doesn't care, wet down the hay and he checked it out for a minute and than ignores it. Gave him some pumpkin a couple times today and I don't see any improvement with his poop. I can't even pick him up anymore.
This is becoming beyond stressful...
He is running around like a little speed racer crazy bun...doing laps down the hallway, behind the couch, circling around to jump on the couch.
Well he is taking a good long drink right now..thats a good thing.

Things are getting worse.


I had filled out an application to adopt a rescue bun...The lady got back to me tonight and said I was good to go would I like to come meet the bun. I said I didn't know what to think because Simon has gotten so much worse and I can't see him doing anything but what he is doing right this minute...trying to hump my arm. Telling him no is working at least for the moment.

I feel all sorts of torn about it all. I would like to get her if Simon digged her...but from what people have told me here on the forum and talking to some other people it seems like it would be a big mistake. I told her this and she said she understands. She told me she is a vet and does spay and neuters. The cost is only 90. She works in a vet hospital in Durham. Don't know what to think of it all. She does rabbit rescue, is a vet and has the cheapest neuter price I have seen.
I was thinking of calling them tomorrow and trying to get a break down of price, what they do, meds etc etc.
Still don't know what to think of that one bun..she is a pretty pretty girl. Than again I think I am just a sucker for lionheads.

Anyway...came on here for a reason...

Brought Simon home on Feb 12 2008 when he was 7 weeks old.

That would make him 12 weeks and 3 days old today. (March 21 2008)

I need to borrow money from someone and get his neuter taken care of. This can not continue this way.

 

[Little Bay Poo]

I'm sorry to hear Simon is acting out like that . He's so young too! Maybe he's going through a kind of "rabbit adolescence."

The neuter will at least take care of the peeing part, which I think is a HUGE benefit. I can deal with a slightly angry or hyper bun, but the peeing everywhere and on you...I don't know how you do it!

I would wait a little while after the neuter (maybe 1 to 2 months) before you looked for a female for him. I think 2 months is the time that it takes for the hormones to get to their final adjusted level, and hopefully his aggressive behaviors will diminish over this time too. Hope everything works out for you!

 

[Orchid]

New Hope Animal Hospital

(The Vet) - Been there about a year. Runs three different rescues and the small animals seen are only by her. (Jaime - tech)


$38 for exam
$16.75 for fecal float
$ ?? for the ecoli and clostridum test (needs to ask the doc.)

Neuter -
$90 -
bloodwork is 15-20
$100 for a full panel
$15 for pain meds.
Metacam
Iso florine


Made an appointment for Saturday the 29th at 11am for just an exam, to meet the vet and see what she has to say about Simons issues.

 

[Orchid]

Little Bay Poo wrote:

I'm sorry to hear Simon is acting out like that . He's so young too! Maybe he's going through a kind of "rabbit adolescence."

The neuter will at least take care of the peeing part, which I think is a HUGE benefit. I can deal with a slightly angry or hyper bun, but the peeing everywhere and on you...I don't know how you do it!

I would wait a little while after the neuter (maybe 1 to 2 months) before you looked for a female for him. I think 2 months is the time that it takes for the hormones to get to their final adjusted level, and hopefully his aggressive behaviors will diminish over this time too. Hope everything works out for you!

Yeah he is I suppose...just stinks how much worse he gets everyday.
See I would rather deal with a peeing bun than an angry one lol.
Simon can get pretty hyper at times, turning into speed racer!

What I hate is that his free time is getting more and more restricted because of how bad he is getting. He will sit there and jump the playpens, chew the wall...with me sitting right there and a thousand no's and gently pushing his head down to try to say, hey, I am the big bun here, knock it off ...sort of thing doesn't work.
He has started spending his time pacing his cage or trying to chew the NIC's apart (cage).

Thanks LBP...I hope so too.
I set up an appointment with a new vet in our area who does the neuters for much cheaper than anyone else in the area. Bit of a drive for me, but it would mean getting him fixed in 2 weeks instead 2-3 months.
We will see what happens. For the moment I am going to just have the exam, she what she says about Simon, see if I like her and the place, talk over what they do etc and move on from there. If I get a bad vibe about it all I won't continue...

 

[Orchid]

Simon didn't whoof down his pumpkin today like he normally does. He did go and munch it a little while after I put it out for him though.
He seems so restless today. More of the same like it has been the last few days.
Peeing, biting, running, etc....
Earlier he kept jumping up on my lap, would come close, but it was like he didn't know if he wanted to be near me or not. Didn't seem to want any rubs and just kept biting at the blanket. Seems more nervous? lately...more on edge.
On the flip side of all that...it ALMOST seemed like he wanted to play with his toys this morning. He seemed a little bit interested in his blue ball...I would roll it and he would chase, snif and than walk away. He spent a little time chewing on the pine cones too. Seemed like he was going to pick up the baby keys and than decided not to.
He's been hanging out on his shelf since I said it was nap time...

 

[RexyRex]

Oh boy, you've got a firecracker on your hands! He's like my girl, destructive as all get out! Just Monday she somehow got over the barricade where all of the computer wires are and chewed through about $400 worth of cables. BF was NOT happy. Wish I could give you some advice but I just as lost as you are as for what to do. I will tell you this, she has gotten better since we adopted Gixxer in Oct. Monday night was really a fluke since she's not tried anything like that in months. Gixxer is such a laid back bunny and I think that it's rubbed off a bit on Alaska. She still has her moments though!

As for the vet, I checked with all of the rabbit-savvy vets in the Charlotte area and they were quoting me $300-$500 for a spay:shock2:! The last place I called was on the southside so about 1hr away from me, but they were quoting only $230 and I really liked the vet, she got on the phone and talked to me instead of having the receptionist just quote me a price that was listed on a piece of paper. Good luck with the vet! I hope you get a good vibe from them like I did. A & G's vet is awesome and the fact that she was the most affordable for a spay was icing on the cake.



BTW....I love love love Simon's ears & the pics of him wearing hats are adorable. Hmmm....Durham isn't that far from Charlotte. I might have to bunnynap that little hellian:whistling

 

[Orchid]

Can we fast forward?

Simon has turned into the pee master 2000. Last night it got pretty bad. Playing catch me if you can as he not just peed, but sprayed the pee every where! he must have honestly peed on the couch at least 5 times in 10 minutes and kept on going.
This morning was no better. My loveseat is soaked in vinegar now because of the amount of pee he left. I don't even know how many times he went...
I gave up finally and put him back in his cage. Just can't do this anymore, just keeps getting worse and worse.
So I decided for now...the kitchen has to be the only play area till he gets fixed. I think he can deal with it for 3 weeks. I feel like there is no other choice for now as it has just gotten so so bad.

We go to this new vet on Saturday and I am rather excited about it! I have been talking to her through email and she really seems nice, informed and to care about the animals more than the mighty dollar. I hope I like her as much in person!
We are going to start with an exam, probably to the blood work for the neuter, and a gram stain. She said about getting a gram stain: "Clostridium is fairly easy to identify with this method, and can save the cost of sending out cultures. If we see abnormal bacteria, we can treat with an antibiotic. Yeast overgrowth can cause problems as well, and that should be visible on a stained sample as well. It may not give us the answers we are looking for, but it is at least a 'reasonable' place to start."

I feel really good about this. I feel like we will find out if Simon has anymore issues or if he is just a funny bun that needs something extra than a normal bun. I wouldn't mind having to give vitamins or meds every day for the rest of his life if that is what it took.

I emptied out two litter pans and leave them out now for him. He likes to go to the one with a litter water, bat his paws around, clean his face, hang out in there and then will go to the one empty of every thing, poop in it and than either flop or just hang out there for a really long time. He is paying his toys more attention which I think is great.
He has been biter harder as well. He has bruised me, lina and ajd now. He gets crazy about marking everything. Little more edgy than the little boy I brought home at 7 weeks old.

His poops are worlds better now that he has been drinking more it would seem. He never touches the water that is plain. He drinks down the white grape juice fast. This morning the bowl was bone dry. The small poops are still there, but not as small as they had been nor is the poop brittle. Though I worry it is too moist or more moist than it should be. The new vet asked me to bring in, in seperate bags the poops from within 24 hours of our visit.
I have stopped giving the spring mix and pumpkin. I let him try raisans and he likes them well enough. Though he is bonkers for banana. I slip him a piece every now and again..small tiny piece. I feel bad as we eat so many in this house and he always smells them. Yet I know I need to not do that. I want his diet to be as plain as possible and get rid of any diet reasons for our issues.
Now that I see the water intake makes a difference I have stopped all the pumpkin and spring mix. If the new vet says we should or whatever I will look at those foods again, but for now I want to wipe out everything but pellets and hay.

Simon will be 13 weeks old tomorrow. He will be almost 14 by our next vet appointment. I am hoping one of a few things. Either he is fine and we need to mess with his diet to fix the issue, he needs a med for a short time, there is nothing wrong at all (which would be the best). Hoping we will have a green light to set up the neuter. If she says cool, than I will set an appointment for 2 weeks later. I will need about 110 bucks! So glad it won't cost an arm and a leg.
One would think more vets would care about having animals in general getting fixed than charging so much for it. If it was cheaper more people would be inclined. I hate how money makes the world go round.
Going to rent one of those vacuums from Home Depot the day he goes in. Going to shampoo the carpets while he is gone. Hoping that will really clean the floors and wipe out all scenting and traces of his pee. Perhaps helping his litter habits and prevent him going anywhere else. Wonder if I can try to use that thing on the couches. God they need it now!!

I can't wait to get him fixed....wish I could do it tomorrow lol!
I already miss hanging out with him..

 

[Orchid]

RexyRex wrote:

Oh boy, you've got a firecracker on your hands! He's like my girl, destructive as all get out! Just Monday she somehow got over the barricade where all of the computer wires are and chewed through about $400 worth of cables. BF was NOT happy. Wish I could give you some advice but I just as lost as you are as for what to do. I will tell you this, she has gotten better since we adopted Gixxer in Oct. Monday night was really a fluke since she's not tried anything like that in months. Gixxer is such a laid back bunny and I think that it's rubbed off a bit on Alaska. She still has her moments though!

As for the vet, I checked with all of the rabbit-savvy vets in the Charlotte area and they were quoting me $300-$500 for a spay:shock2:! The last place I called was on the southside so about 1hr away from me, but they were quoting only $230 and I really liked the vet, she got on the phone and talked to me instead of having the receptionist just quote me a price that was listed on a piece of paper. Good luck with the vet! I hope you get a good vibe from them like I did. A & G's vet is awesome and the fact that she was the most affordable for a spay was icing on the cake.



BTW....I love love love Simon's ears & the pics of him wearing hats are adorable. Hmmm....Durham isn't that far from Charlotte. I might have to bunnynap that little hellian:whistling

OOOOOOOOOOO....I would have been ticked about the wires...sorry to hear that

I wish you good luck with the spay. I don't get why they charge so much honestly. Like only rich people can afford animals...just not fair or right if you ask me. One would have thought a vet would care more about th animals and the population and helping then the almightly dollar...but such is life.
I asked the vet I am looking at now how much a spay is and they said 145. So much better than the prices I had been seeing in my area.

lol...it seems like everyone wants to bunnap him

I jokingly call him my little tyrant...

Take care

 

[Little Bay Poo]

It's great that you're going through all possible explanations with the vet of why Simon is acting this way. He sounds like one really out of control bun! I hope you find a reason for his aggressive behaviors and are able to fix it. You are a really patient person to go through all of this with him!

One interesting thing I noticed with my two bunnies was that before they were neutered they used to drink A LOT of water. After being neutered they both stopped drinking so much. Now they only drink about 1/3 of what they used to, and obviously can't produce as much pee which means less accidents (they do still have an accident here and there). I'm not sure if this is a normal change but I find it to be rather interesting.

 

[Orchid]

Thought I would pop in and update a little. Simon was being a stinker about not eating on Thursday but it seems we are back to normal now. He is even drinking his water without the white grape juice in it. He sounded like he had gas tonight...I don't know how to quite explain it but I think when he is calmer is when he has gas. I heard some loud gurgles too though. I am wondering if either the pellet or hay could be giving him the gas...like if it is one type of hay that could do that. It is a question to ask the vet. She feels a lot of his behavior will disappear after the neuter and thinks most if not all of it is due to his having nutters now.
She said don't expect him to be as sweet as he was as a baby either, but he will probably, more than likely go back to some of being that way.
He seems on his way there tonight..lol
All I could think was...Theres my Simon!!!! He was being so sweet. No biting, no humping no anything but sweet sweet Simon. Maybe he is just thrilled I have stopped trying to throw mushy green stuff down his throat lol.
He let me pick him up and sat there letting me love him for the longest time. So many ear, nose and head rubs and he just sat snuggled into my shoulder.
It was a welcome relief from his normal behavior of late.
Every day the nueter comes closer the more nervous I get. Part of starts thinking don't do it, what if something goes wrong, what if he dies because of it..it wouldn't have been worth it. I would rather deal with pee forever than lose Simon.
I know the bloodwork will help eas a lot of those fears...but I am still nervous. There are still things that can go wrong..and they always tend to happen to me.

He was being good to everyone tonight...today in general..He didn't pee, bite or run from Lina, Anthony or me at all. I love it when he is like this. Whenever he sees you walk by he runs to the gate and I always stop for at least a moment to say hello and give a quick head rub.
This whole not eating event made me nervous to move any of his stuff around again.
I think either way Simon enjoys running around free, but likes having his "home" to retire to when he needs to feel safe, or sleep. I really hope one day we don't have to gate anything and he could maybe even snuggle with me in my bed at night.
I think the idea of that is beyond awesome...one day maybe.

And some pictures...


Simon playing King Of The Mountain

Simon after trying to get some CC down him

and here you can see some of his new area

 

[Orchid]

I am been feeling so down the last few days again despite how much I did this week, how early I have gotten up, taking a shower every day, trying to think better and having even felt better at the end of the day.
I wonder if Simon does indeed pick up on how I feel and if that is the reason he has been so sweet the last few days. I know it could be he just doesn't feel up to par either after not wanting to eat the other day, but could that be because of me too?
I wonder....but either way he has been such a dear and a comfort to be around lately. He will snuggle right into my shoulder and just sit there letting me love him for as long as I want...unless my daughter comes bounding down the way and than he will jump away. He is starting to get used to her thumping down the hall though.
It looks like he has eaten a lot if his hay lately...doing better with his pellets and he has slacked off on drinking it would seem today, but it is much cooler than it was a few days ago. Perhaps he doesn't need as much water with days like these.

I myself have not done much at all today. Didn't take my shower, still sitting in my bathrobe. It is now almost 5:30pm and I just feel wretched today..Keep thinking about how things are going here with my landlord and property manager and I just do not feel secure in living here. I feel like I am going to have to find a place to move to already and all sorts of concerns kick in with that. I will not move into another place like this again. It will have to be a house and they will have to allow buns...period. If they don't, I won't even look at the place.
Thinking I might look to the Chapel Hill area after all. Don't know why I have been so agaisnt moving there but there seems little point in staying in Raleigh much. I have no outside life from here, friends have faded away, died, lost, or just contact is gone. Jason is still in NY so no concerns with a nightlife. Simons vet in is CH...other things are there as well...

I keep picturing having a house where I could have all sorts of things for Lina and Simon...Like a fence with a bun safe garden where they could both play. So many things to dream of. I wonder how far away they are. I wish I could have bought a home...

 

[Orchid]

Simon ate all his pellets today and ate a lot of hay! I was so impressed with him.
I let him out of his room and he was SUCH a GOOD BOY! He didn't pee or poop in the living room or kitchen once! WOOT!
He ran back to his room a few times and I wonder if it was to check his things were still there or to pee n whatnot. Either way I am most happy with him. He has been being so sweet still. I am wondering how much effect this move just had on him. Perhaps being in his own room made the difference? Like he gets that is HIS place, his space. He only seems to pee in one corner and I have kept ot covered with pee mats to try to protect the carpet. The last few days I have folded them smaller and smaller and though there was some pee on the carpet most of it was on the mat. So tonight I folded it up and took it away altogether! I am hoping he will use just the litter pan with only a few mistakes on the carpet.

He was running and jumping his heart out in the living room. He would come dashing out from behind the loveseat, book straight into his room and come dashing right out to behind the love seat again.
I worry about him being under there but there is not much I can do to stop him. I just make sure to remind Lina to not recline them while he is in there, but there is god knows how much he could chew through under there.
I don't want to leave him just in his room all the time either. I don't think it is very fair when he loves to run and jump so much. I do think him having his own room must have something to do with why he is acting so much better. It has to be it.

He let loose last night though and peed all over my chest while he sat snuggled under my neck. He was there for like an hour though, I should have known he would have sooner or later. Its ok though...A new shirt and bit of soap later all was well.

I love my Simon...

 

[Orchid]

Just wanted to say hello...

Simon is doing well. We have not got him neutered yet as money is a concern at this time, but still hoping it is not too far off.
He is eating and drinking well, and we are managing to keep him cool so far in this wonky weather we have been having.
Since his move into the other room, he has gotten sweeter and does not pee or poop when he comes out to run.
Over all he is doing very well I think...he has gotten so big though! I wonder if he hasn't gone over 4 lbs. His head looks so small compared to his body.
I have taken away his alfalfa hay and he of course does NOT like that, but I offer him cubed every now and again, though he doens't seem to eat them really.

Sorry I haven't been here, but I have been spending my days crocheting things from the time I wake until pretty much bed. Trying to earn some cash...
Exciting enough I had my first non friend sale the other day. I just hope it will be a start to people wanting more and more.

I hope everyone is doing well and everyones buns are healthy and happy!
Best wishes to everyone...much love from all of us here.

Em

 

[juliew19673]

Hey Em, just came across your blog and realize you and Iare going through some similiar probs.. Baxter! was just neutored last Wednesday as he turned into the sprayinator over night one evening (bed, walls, ME!)... Its only been 4 days since the neutor, but he's a little more calm, but will have to see once he's fully healed if this has stopped that..

I too was looking at neutoring cost of $350 in my area, but luckily one of the moderators on here turned me onto a place that was only $65 and about a 30 minute drive. I also have recently found out about a site called IMOM.com (I believe) and there you can post to get donations or the site may actually give you the $$ to help cover costs for rescues. Have you tried contacting your local ASPCA in your area as I bet there is an orginization that will get you a discount for spaying/neutoring.. Good luckwith your bun - I love his ears! such a rascal and good for you for taking and puting up with him (little minxes they can be..)..

 

[Orchid]

juliew19673 wrote:

Hey Em, just came across your blog and realize you and Iare going through some similiar probs.. Baxter! was just neutored last Wednesday as he turned into the sprayinator over night one evening (bed, walls, ME!)... Its only been 4 days since the neutor, but he's a little more calm, but will have to see once he's fully healed if this has stopped that..

I too was looking at neutoring cost of $350 in my area, but luckily one of the moderators on here turned me onto a place that was only $65 and about a 30 minute drive. I also have recently found out about a site called IMOM.com (I believe) and there you can post to get donations or the site may actually give you the $$ to help cover costs for rescues. Have you tried contacting your local ASPCA in your area as I bet there is an orginization that will get you a discount for spaying/neutoring.. Good luckwith your bun - I love his ears! such a rascal and good for you for taking and puting up with him (little minxes they can be..)..

Hello...

Simon has actually been worlds better about the peeing thing since he went into his own room. Since the kitchen is open..and the living room right off of it, I wonder if he wasn't acting like the whole area was his and he just kept marking it. Since he has his "own" space, room...he has been lots better.
The aspca here...you can buy what they call a cat voucher (50) and the one place will take it and the cost would than be around 80. But its with a vet I do not like and I found a new Vet with the cost at 90 total. End ups cheaper anyway.
I will have to look into the imom site. Thanks for mentioning it. Though Simon is not a rescue...but we will see.

Yeah..thanks. he has a lot of control over his ears now. Puts them up and down as he pleases, but every now and again he has only one up.
Eh...Simon wouldn't fit here if he wasn't a pain and a sweet heart
He fits our family rather well.

Take care and thanks again.