Is it that time for our rabbit?

loveisdivine

We're thinking it might be time to let our rabbit go. I'' give a brief history of his health.

Born with deformed back leg, so can't clean himself. He needs to be cleaned every other day or so as he gets quite poopy. It can sometimes get quite sore down there too.

Chronic ear infections and recurring abscess behind eyes. We have tried various medications and done courses of at home penicillin injections. Most things just keep it at bay, once we start tapering off the medication it comes back with a vengence. We've done lab tests on the bacteria but it still never goes away. We have to clean his ears daily or every other day which he hates.

His tears ducts are constantly calcified, so he has extremely runny eyes and has lost most of the fur around his eyes and nose. If we don't get it off immediately it dries like cement. But we can't be cleaning him all day so there's always some that is crusted on and hard to remove.

We think he is potentially losing his sight, he doesn't move much anymore at all. When he's out of his cage he either sits still and doesn't move at all, or just turns around in a circle. He might occasionally take a few steps forward. But he used to run and jump like a rabbit should. So he wasn't always like this.

This weekend his 3rd eyelid prolapsed, I believe its called cherry eye. We're off to the vets tonight but given his history I suspect its the recurring abscess that has caused it to prolapse.

I did bring up quality of life last time we were at the vets, but she thought because he was still eating (although had lost some weight) that we should continue with the injections and other medications. That was a couple of months ago.

I just think its time. Vet has said before that his issues will never go away completely. It feels like its getting too much. I hate seeing him just sitting there, with no spark anymore. He's also 8 years old so not exactly young either.

lashes34

Aw OP, that sounds very tough and ye are doing an amazing job caring for him.

I would be inclined to agree that he has little quality of life but I think its still a really difficult thing to call. Only you and your vet can say but its better to do it before hes in serious pain.

Do you trust your vet is thinking in his best interests and not thinking of the money you are spending?

Good luck.

Capercaillie

A difficult decision. If you think your rabbit is rabbit not happy and is not able to do the things a normal bunny should be able to do, it might be best to PTS.

Had to get my loyal little dog PTS last year. He was happy up until he last week, but then his sparkle went. When he didn't want to go for walks we knew it was time.

loveisdivine

Yeah it's a tough one. I don't want to be walking into the vets basically asking them to PTS. But at the same time I feel like we know him best.

I do trust them, there has been times where they have been quite blunt (albeit nicely) about an animal needing to be PTS. So I don't think they'd drag it out needlessly. They just seem to be quite focused on the eating issue, like if he's still eating then we should just keep going regardless of anything else.

I also feel like I should be honest and say I'm not sure we can cope with all her care requirements either. We have a lot of animals and care for a number of waifs and strays too. So obviously it requires a lot of resources both monetary and time wise. But I would have no problem at all with all the care he needs if I thought it was making a difference to his life and it seems like it isn't anymore.

You're right though, if we left it til a point where he was really in pain then I'd feel rubbish about it then too.

loveisdivine

Just to update, the vet was well ahead of us this time.

The eye had actually gotten worse over the 24 hours and was bulging more and much redder. So once she’d examined it thoroughly she said given his history and ongoing issues it was probably time to let him go.

We’re very sad but it was definitely the right thing to do. It would have all been too much for him. Just a shame things had been so difficult over the last few years.

wing52

loveisdivine wrote: »

Just to update, the vet was well ahead of us this time.

The eye had actually gotten worse over the 24 hours and was bulging more and much redder. So once she’d examined it thoroughly she said given his history and ongoing issues it was probably time to let him go.

We’re very sad but it was definitely the right thing to do. It would have all been too much for him. Just a shame things had been so difficult over the last few years.

Brave post, that. Good to see you have bun's welfare in hand.