Sylvie was put to sleep yesterday afternoon, extremely suddenly, due to a severe liver lobe torsion. She had stopped eating the night prior, and I did all of the basic steps- critical care, water, massages. Her partner, Elwood, has gone into stasis on multiple occasions, but this was her first time. She and Elwood came to work with me where I could monitor and wait to hear back from her vet about availability. They were able to squeeze her in same day.
Less than an hour later, I received a call- I had been psyching myself out all morning and then soothing my nerves by telling myself it was very likely just stasis, she was probably eating for them, and I was being dramatic. They told me she was actively trying to die. Her values were wildly skewed and showed that she had a liver lobe torsion- something that /can/ be treated with surgery, but our vet had no confidence she would survive. They told me my feisty and opinionated rabbit, who was trying to bite me for giving her critical care not even 12 hours before, was lateral in the incubator after she had gotten her blood taken without a hint of a struggle. When I agreed that euthanasia was the only option, they let me know she started passing even as they were just administering a mild sedative for comfort.
Sylvie wasn’t even 3 years old. I have never lost a pet this young. It is jarring, and sudden, and painful. I love her dearly, and I loved her dearly since the day I met her, and I feel like I barely got to know her. I think about her funny quirks and her favorite toys, activities, how startlingly intelligent she is, how she picks up on tricks so quickly, how she binkies away when she gets in trouble.
Elwood is sleeping soundly in my room right now, and he is eating and active. I’m keeping an eye on him to make sure he’s alright, but he’s resilient and clever, which eases my worries.
Never in a thousand years did I think something so sudden and drastic would occur. Rabbits are ridiculous, and sensitive, and dramatic, and so robust until you breathe on them wrong, and all of their tiny little mechanics stop up like some over-engineered pocket watch.
Please give your buns some extra pets today.
by mothtea