Chapter Fourteen

Dr. Mac makes me nervous, being Maggie’s grandmother and all. Especially after Maggie thinks I was snooping around their office cash box. I’m glad that Sunita is here, too.

“Thanks for getting your mom’s signature on the consent form,” Dr. Mac says.

“Sure,” I say.

“Hello there, Cuddles,” she says. Then she asks me to take Cuddles out of her cage.

I put Cuddles on the exam table, which is covered with a towel.

“I like the way you carry her, Jules. Rabbits like to be supported and held close like that.”

Soon Dr. Mac puts me at ease, too. She is great with Cuddles. She begins her exam, looking at Cuddles’s eyes and in her ears as she talks.

“Cuddles’s eyes are bright and clear. No discharge or inflamed eye tissue. Her fur is soft and shiny. Both are a good signs she’s healthy. I see no skin irritations or fur mites.” Dr. Mac looks up and tells me, “Rabbits shed their fur a few times each year, so be sure to brush her periodically.”

“I did last night,” I say.

“Great,” says Dr. Mac. She uses a small light to look in Cuddles’s ears. “No ear mites, dirt, or waxy buildup,” she says.

“What if her ears do get wax?” I ask.

“As long as there is no dark crusty material, which could indicate mites, she should be fine. If her ears are just a little dirty, you can use gauze or cotton dipped in warm water to gently wipe them out. Rabbits are very good at grooming themselves most of the time.”

She checks Cuddles’s nose and chin next. “Her nose is clear, that’s good,” she says. “Some rabbits are prone to snuffles and other respiratory infections, so keep an eye out for sneezing and a runny nose. And don’t use clay cat litter in her litter box. Some rabbits like to eat it, and that can really harm them. I see you’re using shredded newspaper. Just be sure it’s soy-based ink. That’s fine.”

“That’s what Mr. Hart used,” I say.

“Mr. Hart, the middle school science teacher?” Dr. Mac asks. “I thought Cuddles looked familiar.”

“Her name used to be Chewie,” I say. “Mr. Hart is letting my family and me adopt her because she doesn’t like living in a classroom with so many students.”

“I see,” Dr. Mac says. “I think we might already have a file on Cuddles, formerly known as Chewie. Sunita, let’s check after the exam and we can combine the two files.”

“Okay,” Sunita says.

Dr. Mac tells me about how rabbits have a scent gland under their chins, then she pulls Cuddles’s upper and lower lips back to check her teeth and gums. “Her teeth look good, too,” she says. “Be sure she gets lots of timothy hay every day and hard things to chew because rabbits’ teeth are constantly growing, and they need to chew to wear them down. If her teeth get too long, it could cause serious problems, like making it difficult for her to eat. So far, everything looks a-okay.”

Sunita smiles. Cuddles does not seem to mind being examined by Dr. Mac, and I am glad the vet is so thorough. Next she looks at each of Cuddles’s paws and legs. “I’m glad you put a sheet of wood covered with changeable cardboard in the bottom of her cage,” Dr. Mac says, “and you’re using a litter box instead of just a wire-bottomed cage with a litter pan below.”

“Mr. Hart set it up that way,” I say.

“Good idea to keep using that technique, especially if Cuddles likes to use her litter box,” she says. “Rabbits are prone to sore feet and possible infection if they have to sit on wire caging all day.”

I’m glad Mr. Hart put the wood in the bottom of her cage.

“Cuddles’s nails are a little long,” Dr. Mac says. “Sunita, clippers, please.”

Sunita hands her the small clippers, and Dr. Mac trims the nails on one of Cuddles’s front feet. “Rabbits in the wild wear down their nails naturally, but pet rabbits need their nails trimmed periodically so they don’t get too long, become ingrown, or cause injury if they catch on something.”

“How often should I trim her nails?” I ask.

“Oh, about once a month should do it. Come closer, I’ll show you how.” Dr. Mac shows me how to hold each paw to extend the nails. “Just trim the white part of the nail, like I’m doing,” Dr. Mac says. “Not the pink part. That’s the quick, and it contains the nerve and blood supply.”

“Okay, your turn, Jules.” Dr. Mac hands me the clippers and nods as I give it a try.

“I used to help trim the cats’ nails at the shelter in Pittsburgh,” I say.

“That’s it,” she says. “Looks like you know what you’re doing. Best to trim just a little each time, like you’re doing.”

Dr. Mac checks Cuddles all over. “Feeling for any lumps or bumps,” she says. Then she turns her over on her arm and looks at her belly, scent glands near her bottom, and genital area. “All clean, no urine burn or caked-on feces.”

I’m surprised that Cuddles is behaving so well. I guess Dr. Mac really does know animals!

Dr. Mac weighs her next and pets her. “Cuddles, you are one sweet little rabbit, and you have a clean bill of health.” She looks up at me and smiles. “Do you have any questions, Jules?”

“What happens when she is spayed? Will it hurt her?”

“We’ll use a combination of premedication and gas anesthesia so she will be relaxed and won’t be in any discomfort during the surgery. We’ll shave her abdomen and wash her with a skin disinfectant. Afterward she’ll feel a little tender while she heals and may want to hide away a bit more than usual. Just make sure that she begins to eat and drink within twenty-four hours. Rabbits have a sensitive digestive system and need to keep a balance of good bacteria in it. So they need to eat and digest right away.”

“When will her surgery be? And will she have to stay here overnight?” I ask.

“I can do the surgery Friday. Can you bring her here Friday morning before you go to school?”

“Yes,” I say, petting Cuddles. I hope Dad or Josh or Mom can come with me.

“I can perform her surgery in the morning. She’ll be a little groggy afterward, but post-op we will keep her warm and comfortable and she will be fine in a few hours. As long as you can create a calm, quiet atmosphere for her to recuperate in at home, she can go home with you later Friday afternoon.”

“Is it okay for her to eat before the surgery?”

“Yes, give her food and water as usual. Rabbits cannot vomit like other animals.”

“They can’t?” I ask.

Even Sunita looks surprised.

“That’s right,” Dr. Mac says. “Because rabbits can’t vomit, there is no reason to withhold food and water. Remember, it’s important to watch her after surgery to make sure that she is eating, drinking, and eliminating.”

“Are you sure she’ll be okay?” I ask. All of a sudden, Cuddles looks so small and vulnerable sitting there on the big towel atop the metal exam table.

Dr. Mac nods. “I know it’s hard not to worry, but I’ve spayed rabbits many times, always with a good outcome. Cuddles should be just fine in a day or two.”

Sunita says, “She’s in good hands with Dr. Mac.”

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll bring her in Friday morning before school.”

Sunita walks with me as I bring Cuddles’s cage back to the waiting room, where Josh and David are hanging out.

“All done?” Josh asks. “Everything okay with Cuddles?”

“Yes,” I say. “Thanks again, Sunita.”

“You’re welcome,” she says.

“You guys going?” David asks. “I’ll walk with you.”

“Wait for me, too,” Sunita says. “I just have to hang up this flyer for Stream Cleanup Day. Are you going?”

“Oh yeah,” David says. “I wouldn’t miss it. Plus, they’re planning a barbecue lunch afterward. Hello, roasted hot dogs. I’ll be there.”

“Bye, Dr. Mac,” Sunita calls out. “We’re all leaving.”

Dr. Mac comes out of the Dolittle Room to say good-bye. “Thanks, Sunita, thanks, David. The kittens look great. You too, Josh. Thanks.”

I wish I could have helped out with the kittens, too. “Hey, Josh,” David says as we exit the clinic. “Do you want to bike to the stables with me on Saturday morning before Stream Cleanup? I’m sure we can find you an extra pair of boots there, too, if you need them.”

“Great,” Josh says. “Thanks. Count me in.”

Sunita’s mom is there to pick her up. She waves good-bye.

I can’t even wave because I’m using both hands to carry Cuddles, so I just say, “Bye.”

“You know, Josh,” David says, as we walk down the street, “I could ask my mom if you could stay over Friday night and if we could set up my tent in the backyard. Have a little campout, toast some marshmallows, or whatever.”

“That’d be cool,” Josh says.

“Okay, then, let me ask my mom, and I’ll let you know at school tomorrow,” David says.

“Thanks for letting me tag along to Dr. Mac’s,” Josh says.

“Sure,” says David. “See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow,” Josh replies.

Great, just great. Josh has a friend and is getting invited all over the place. And he’s helping Dr. Mac. He’s probably already a full-fledged Vet Volunteer as far as I know. And me? I can’t even volunteer at the shelter. No one is inviting me anywhere. Maggie hates me and doesn’t want me anywhere near the clinic. She probably doesn’t want me at Stream Cleanup Day, either. Not only that, but Brenna probably only invited me to Stream Cleanup Day so she could see my “adorable brother.”

At least I have Cuddles. When I get home, I’m going to make her the best bunny castle ever, with cardboard boxes, tubes, and ramps.

• • • • •

After dinner, Sophie shows me the cardboard house she decorated with markers.

“Look,” she says. “I drew carrots and a rainbow and me! And here is Cuddles hopping. And I drew her sleeping. See, her eyes are closed. And here she is pooping. Ha. Ha. Ha. See the poop?”

“Nice job, Sophie,” I say. It’s true that Cuddles poops a lot. Luckily, she uses her litter box, so the cleanup is easy. I cut doors and windows in the box and add a round hole to poke through the long cardboard tube I found earlier in the store. Josh and Sophie bring me more empty boxes from our move.

When Mom is out of the room, Josh empties a container of oatmeal into a plastic bag and brings me the empty cylindrical oats container. “Here’s another tunnel or hidey hole,” he says. I begin assembly in our room with Cuddles watching curiously from her cage.

Josh hangs out in our room, giving me all kinds of advice. “Put that ramp on the other side.”

An hour later, Cuddles has the best Cuddles Castle ever, if I do say so myself. And she loves it. She’s out of her cage, sniffing and exploring her many-roomed, odd-looking cardboard castle. It has plenty of openings, ramps, tunnels, hidey holes, and peekaboo windows.

“She’s peeking out the window.” Sophie giggles. “Look, look, now she’s on top of her castle!”

Cuddles is so cute hopping all over and around her castle, through the tunnels and windows, and poking her head in and out. Josh is stretched out on the floor, encouraging and petting her. Cuddles is too happy and curious to sit still for much petting. Sophie lies on my bed laughing and clapping. I sit on the floor nearby to make sure Cuddles does not chew on any books or cords or anything bad, but she is so busy, she forgets all about chewing the wrong things. Leah at the shelter was right about bored bunnies. I’m glad she gave me so many ideas for easy, safe activities to keep Cuddles active and happy. Plus, Cuddles is so much funnier and friskier than she used to be.

“Funny bunny, funny bunny!” Sophie laughs.

Mom knocks on the door and pokes her head in. “Sounds like I’m missing all the fun,” she says. “What’s all the giggling about?” She looks at Sophie laughing at Cuddles’s silliness. Mom is smiling now, too, standing inside the closed door so Cuddles doesn’t escape. “My, what a snazzy dream house she has.”

“Yeah,” Josh says. “Jules has a future in bunny architecture.”

“I think you’re right,” Mom says. “And speaking of your future, does anyone have any homework?”

“Just a little,” Josh says. “I’ll do it in here.”

“Me too,” Sophie and I say in unison.

And we do, while Cuddles hops around exploring. She finally flops down on her side next to me and lets me pet her. Mom has already left, and I wish she could see how sweet Cuddles is when she’s had plenty of exercise, but I don’t want to disturb or move her. So I just pet her and I’m so happy that she’s content. Tomorrow I’ll look for a phone book and some other things to keep her occupied. But for now—all is well. Mom seems to like Cuddles. Just a few more days and she will be convinced that Cuddles can stay. Maybe moving to Ambler will turn out okay after all.