Patient in question is Ferry, male, 4ish, and part of a bonded pair (HI!, culprit on the left).
Ferry was diagnosed with bladder sludge and subsequently treated on Oct-13. According to the vet, the treatment went as well as could be expected. Things looked good enough a few days later. Today, not so much: calcium deposit in the kidney is worse and there's a bladder stone visible on the X-ray.
We've given him low-calcium foods, hay and veggies for the past few weeks, along with medication (Feluro, Novacam, EC, hydrochlorinethiazide) and subcutaneous fluids. The only thing we haven't done is swap our tap water (8,15°dH which we boil before serving) for low-calcium Spa Reine spring water. Looking at the X-rays, he seems worse off. At the same time, he's active, pees, poops, begs for treats and is at least from the outside a happy, healthy rabbit.
The vet today said we can either operate and get the stone removed and see where it goes (they can't do anything about the calcification in the kidney) or put him down. We don't want to put him down, he's our sweetheart but more importantly his wifes sweetheart. We want to keep him around for as long as it's human(e)ly possible. We're getting a second opinion with at least one other rabbit-specialized vet, but part of me worries and/or knows it's a fools hope.
Is it?
by Patee126