Took a video of Harry getting his medicine tonight because I realized I’d want it when he’s gone
Took a video of Harry getting his medicine tonight because I realized I’d want it when he’s gone
byu/Sewing_girl_101 inBunnies
by Sewing_girl_101
Bunny
5 Comments
My favorite part is when he burrows into me. I guess it’s a comfort thing because of the medicine, because he only ever burrows after the medicine. He just chills with me beforehand. His brother’s abcess is back and I don’t have the money to treat it again, and honestly removing it again isn’t likely to be that helpful. It’ll prolong his lifespan but at this rate he’d need a surgery every 2 weeks at $300 a pop, so he’d be living from surgery to surgery. Harry’s haven’t returned yet but it’s likely only a matter of time. I’m having to make the decision to move to palliative care because they’re going to be miserable if they just keep having to get surgeries and be confined due to injury risks soon after.
If (more like when) Harry’s mouth abscess returns, I may do one final surgery, but it will be so hard on him. He’ll basically need to have this open wound that needs flushing, debriding, and packing twice a day. I’ll have to make that call when we get there because I’m not sure currently if he’d be okay with another surgery after how hard this one has been on him. He has returned to not eating his lettuce, but he is still otherwise eating normally. But he isn’t as playful, he just wants to be held and comforted, and that’s no life for any creature. If I can afford it when that time comes, I’ll get him neutered so I can transition he and T-Shirt (his brother) to free roam bunnies. I picked up a free pen recently that’s similar to an x pen and we’ll use that to transition them, as well as get them reacquainted since it’s been so long and there’s a high chance of aggression.
I’m going to start home-hunting for the other two week after next once finals are over. I’ll be using that time to get them check-ups to get the all-clear (god forbid I don’t) and then going from there.
I love these rabbits with ever fiber of my being, and when Harry inevitably passes whether it be two months or two years from now, I know I’ll be grateful to have this video. I’m always grateful to have these when my babies leave me
I guess I’m just rambling now. Somehow, the possibility of this not being treatable never crossed my mind. At least, not after their initial vet appointment. I was scared they wouldn’t pull through when I initially got them, but the first vet said he had mites and URI, and that these were easily treatable. They just needed to be contained for four months to treat the mites and given oral antibiotics. It was like okay, no big deal, I can make this work. Then I found out I can give them IM and treat the mites in a month rather than four, and it was extremely effective. Then one of them apparently had a terrible eye infection that didn’t go away with the first round of antibiotics, and then T-shirt had an abcess and Harry apparently had a bad ear infection that was missed by the first vet, but all of these just seemed treatable. T-shirt’s abscess just needed surgery, right? I guess I didn’t fully understand how rabbit abcesses worked, and my vet explained it to me but was so hopeful that the grim reality never set in. He just needed one surgery. Then two. Now he needs a third and we know it isn’t cureable now. Then Harry needed one, but we caught it early, but then whoops it spread because he got stabbed with a piece of hay, which is apparently not uncommon. Now we’re here. Now it isn’t so treatable. I’ve been crushed as the reality has set in further and further, as Harry has been refusing his lettuce again, as T-shirt’s “new” abcesses grow. It was all just a case of mites, they said… Now I’m faced between forcing this rabbit to suffer more for the very slim chance we can make him live a little longer or just accepting that the abcesses will eventually take him. Because of the location, there’s no chance it’ll drain out as can be the case for some oral abcesses. These have seeded all over his body and will eventually eat to the bone. So it’s like, horrible death one or horrible death two? How do I know which one will be the most comfortable? What if he gets that surgery and it saves him, or what if he gets it and he spends his final weeks in pain, fear, and confusion? Why is this so hard?
Regardless of what happens I’m so thankful for these buns to have found you. You may not be able to change the outcome of their physical ailments but you’ve given and continue to give so much love and improved their quality of life incredibly. However long they live, that giving has been invaluable.
Pain, grief, and death are such complicated and visceral aspects of life. To face so much of this and keep going and keep loving is an incredible feat. If you aren’t familiar with it I would recommend Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’ last book “On Grief and Grieving”. It is especially helpful for those who feel they cannot turn away from suffering and loss and offers some tools, comfort, and acknowledgement to help process some of the most intense experiences we ever go through as loving mortal creatures.
I hope the love you’ve shared is well reciprocated throughout your life.
Harry looks so comfy and save in your arms 🥹
Feel you. I had a bun in a similar situation with the abcess Can only offer love and hugs. May he live out his days with the love you give him. 🤗❤❤
I rescued my bun from a bad situation. Poor baby didn’t have hay the first four years of her life so I knew going into it she’d have jacked up teeth. I’ve had her for 4.5 years now and I wouldn’t change it. It doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion. I had to go to a specialist for her teeth because she’s at the end stage of dental disease. When she had her abscess, the vet recommended putting her on penicillin shots. She’s had those once a week for over a year now and the abscess is gone. That’s why I’m glad I got that second opinion. I know it’s not cheap, every time my baby gets her teeth done it’s 1000 minimum due to her needing an anesthesiologist because she’s never done well under anesthesia. She’s doing really well now and we’ve found anesthesia routine that works for her. She’s been through 3 surgeries where I thought she wouldn’t make it but she proved me wrong each time and I’m so happy that she did. I know it’s a lot, believe me we understand how they just take over your life. She also brings me such joy, as I’m sure yours do. I’m sorry this has been so rough for you. Palliative care can work, depending on what you do. That’s why possibly getting the culture could help because it could correctly target the bacteria. The however does sound ridiculous for a culture, even for an exotic vet. Whatever you decide to do I wish you luck. They are happy and loved now, which is such an accomplishment. Be proud of that.