Should I get a second rabbit?

QAI have a five-year-old male rabbit that recently lost his female companion to cancer. I’m wondering about getting another rabbit, but am unsure how to do this and whether it should be another female. What do you think about it? Every rabbit needs at least one companion and it is never too late to introduce another rabbit.

There have been recent surveys that show, quite convincingly, that males rarely bond well with another male. Even if all goes well initially, fighting often starts at around puberty, and this can be vicious, resulting in a breakdown of any previous relationship.

Overwhelmingly male to female bonding works best, but you will need help to ensure that the new rabbit is accepted, because even though rabbits are among the most social of animals they are also territorial.

I assume that your rabbit has been neutered, but if that is not the case it needs to be done before introducing a new companion.

A rabbit rescue centre is a very good source of advice. They will be able to suggest a possible companion, and a rescue rabbit will already be vaccinated and neutered.

Some centres will board a solitary rabbit to supervise the bonding process. This needs to be done carefully and with patience, but with good advice and support it can be undertaken at home.

There are phases to the bonding process, where separated rabbits encounter each other for the first time.

Gradual toleration then leads to mutual acceptance. This can take from days to several weeks.

For detailed advice visit rabbitwelfare. co.uk/ownersip/bonding-rabbits.

Q

My seven-year-old neutered female cat has recently been diagnosed with pancreatitis and my vet has started symptomatic treatment. She is optimistic because the cat is eating and doesn’t need hospitalisation at present. Is this common?

APancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is fairly common in cats but, frustratingly, the cause is not completely understood.

The pancreas has two main functions – production of insulin to regulate blood sugar, and the production of digestive enzymes to the small intestine via the pancreatic duct.

With severe inflammation these enzymes are released and damage the pancreas itself and surrounding tissue.

Pancreatitis is often associated with inflammation of the liver and intestines, a condition called triaditis.

Usually middle-aged cats are more likely to develop the disease and the signs are non-specific and quite variable. These could include vomiting, poor appetite or absence of appetite, loss in weight, and non-specific signs of pain, such as hiding away, sleeping more and grooming less.

Non-specific signs can be a challenge to diagnose, and a cat’s reluctance to exhibit pain, a throwback to life in the wild, needs a vigilant owner to detect anything abnormal.

For diagnosis, the cat’s history is important and this is where an observant owner and early consultation offers the best chance of a cure. A physical examination and blood tests are invariably necessary, possibly with the addition of an ultrasound examination.

Treatment is supportive with anti-nausea drugs and pain relief. Severe cases may require hospitalisation, fluids intravenously and tube feeding.