Grief & Stress.

Would it be a fair assumption to make that grief can stress a rabbit's immune system out and compromise it slightly do you think....it's just that Lexie is snuffly again today after being fine for the past few months and I think it would be a huge coincidence that the Engemycin has just 'stopped working' within days of her losing her bonded partner.

I was hoping to bond her quickly, ideally next week, but obviously I don't want to stress her out any further.

one of my boarders, her bunny developed E.C after her partner died. icouldnt help thinking the stress had brought it on, it does seem possible

I hope lexie is okay x

give lexie a big hug from me xx
Does seem a bit of coincidence

It happens in us, so I don't see why it wouldn't happen in rabbits/vertebrates. The science in humans is called Psychoneuroimmunology, (PNI) and one of the reasons Yoga is so good for people with HIV or low immune is because of it's relaxing qualities, releases stress, immune responds accordingly.

In this article, which doesn't directly correspond to Lexie's situation, they mention PNI as something that accounts for sickness responses in rabbits and vertebrates, so it's possible this is true.

Nose rubs to Lexie x

I definatly think that grief / stress can lower the immune system ...

I agree with others stress definatley lowers the immune system
Poor Lexie, here's hoping she bonds quickly and her snuffles go away.
Hoping you are coping with the loss too Sooz xx

She is being very demanding, it's odd. I basically have this little rabbit shadow that I constantly have to watch out for, when I am online she is tucked under the computer chair, when I am in the kitchen or bathroom she sits at the door....if I sit on the sofa she sits on my lap and won't let the cats or dog up.

I stroked her for well over an hour yesterday and when I stopped she would nudge me and I ignored her so she took the stone on my e-ring between her teeth and tugged it repeatedly until I started stroking her again.

If I ignore her for too long she will start to chew papers, dig on the carpet and yank wires....she has never done any of this before, always been 100% trustworthy in the house. Her litter-training, on the other hand, is now 100% perfect again!!!