Introducing......

I'm a bunny girl through and through! And no I don't mean I reside with Hugh Heffner, I don't think I could cope!

I mean I just love being around them. I have three rabbits, Tumble often nicknamed King Tumble, my first born and ruler of the kingdom. You can often find him perched on the arm of the chair, high enough up for him to survey his Kingdom. I knew when I saw him that he was meant to be part of my life, I just couldn't have walked away from him that day!

Then there is Flo, (or Florence) , nickname Princess Flo. She came ready named at the age of 4 or 5 months from a rather snotty lady who couldn't dedicate enough time to looking after her. She had one ear that flopped and another that stood proudly to attention. I used to joke she was a big Mama as she had a certain look and attitude. She was also bigger than Tumble despite the age gap of just under 1 year. Things were a little unsettled at first, but the two bonded well and I watch them now playing the song "Me and My Shadow" through and through in my head. I think if they were humans, they'd wear matching jumpers or something ;) despite having completely different personalities!

Finally came Fudge, just under a year after Flo, another rescue case.Really needed to stop there, despite thinking Fudge (or Fudgey Fudge, as I can't think of anything else), should have a girlfriend! This was to be his third home and I was adamant his forever home! Again another strikingly different personality. Quite nervous, but made several attempts to take over as Alpha male. Probably made things hard for himself as it took several months for him to be properly accepted. The other two would chase and nip him. He had torn ears and all sorts, it was heart breaking! Eventually though it did cease, but then one day not so long ago I found him in a collapsed heap. He was like a wrung out dish rag. On arriving at the veterinary hospital, their faces dropped and I was assured that he was very sick. I think I know my own bunny and I think I knew that! They pointed at a very bleak future, but gave options as to what they could do for now. X-ray, blood tests, ct scans. They got as far as the x-ray and then decided to refer him to the neurologist who diagnosed a stroke. He'd had several milder episodes, which the vets just put down to soft tissue injuries from spats with the other two, but it all started to make sense from there!

I don't give up easily and it seems I have a kindred spirit in Fudge as neither does he. Despite suggesting several times about how unfair it would be to put him through life any further, he still had a twinkle in his eye and an urge to prove everyone wrong. Fudge spent 2.5 days in hospital being re-hydrated on a drip and given painkillers, antibiotics and zantac to keep his gut motility normal. He had round the clock care from some wonderful nurses, who doted on him. He also had intervention from a holistic vet and an animal homeopathist, a little aromatherapy and a bit of physio and massage from myself. He made such a turn around that he was allowed home by Wednesday lunchtime, (he was taken in on Monday morning, with no reflexes and no ability to move). The vets at the hospital were baffled and kept saying,

 "We are so happy he has pulled around, but we just can't explain it, it's just not your usual case!".

So he came home and the other two rejected him, (as they would do in the wild). About a week and a half later, they got to Fudge quicker than I, which resulted in a torn ear and a nasty infected bite to the eye and several more trips to the vets. They have been separated ever since. Poor Fudge you can see he just wants to get on, but the other two are just too tempestuous at the moment. So back to square one :(. Hopefully in time things will settle again and we can resume happy families.

So until my next lagomorph instalment, here is a picture of Fudge. Not the greatest, but have you any idea how fidgety a rabbit is??