Peanut update
August 28, 2006 l 2 Comments
I am one WORN OUT bunny momma. Peanut’s care alone requires a lot of time and energy, but there are a lot of other things going on that have me stretched in a million different directions. Classes start next week. How sad is it that I need a vacation from my summer vacation! Anyway…
We saw Dr. G this morning. He said basically what he told me before: Peanut isn’t improving, she’s adapting. And he’s right. Peanut is no better than she was two weeks ago. I’m not expecting her to be healed, I’m not even expecting significant improvement, but aside from her learning to lean on things (and therefore stay mostly upright) she’s the same as she was when she got sick almost four weeks ago.
She’s lost two pounds since the beginning of June, most of that being lost just these past few weeks! For the past two weeks she’s been eating Critical Care (with a little Ensure mixed in) three times a day, in addition to unlimited hay and whatever pellets she manages to eat (probably around a couple tablespoons a day). She’s drinking on her own, and her hydration is fine. I can’t get her to eat more than she already’s consuming, so why is she losing weight?!
He repeated what he said before about some bunnies handling this really well, and some not handling it so well, and that there may come a time when I have to make a decision about her quality of life. Like I haven’t been thinking about that every minute of every day for the past two months… He said that an x-ray or MRI will likely do little to help us prognostically.
I asked him about keeping her on antibiotics for longer than two weeks, in case the infection was still there. He said given that her initial infection cleared up (or appeared to) with a relatively common antibiotic, if this was another infection, putting her on one of the most powerful antibiotics available (Doxy) in combo with Orbax, should have produced some change, however small. If that were the case, he’d keep them on her longer. In this situation, he’s concerned that keeping her on Doxy any longer could really mess up her GI system, and he doesn’t think it’s helping.
He wants to see her in 30 days for a weight check. That’s all.
I’m tired. I’m frustrated. I’m stretched thin, both emotionally and financially. So when I recapped the visit with mom, I started to cry. It can’t keep going on like this. There’s no light at the end of the tunnel. The vet has offered *nothing* that would give me hope to see my rabbit better. I know, I know, even good vets can get it wrong. He’s one of the leading rabbit vets in the area. Other vets love him, patients love him, die-hard-knowledgeable rabbit people love him. So why can’t he help us??? Why isn’t he doing more?
*sigh*
Happy Birthday, Beeper!
August 25, 2006 l 3 Comments
Ms. Attitude? Oh yes.
And 17 years young…
too sweet
August 21, 2006 l Comments Off
Christine (or rather, Christine’s bunnies – Bella and Onzlo) gave Peanut a ‘Get Well’ card yesterday.
It’s tough being loved.
How are the other furry members of your family? I trust PJ is getting along with everyone.
For the most part, yes. The cats are still separated and we haven’t been able to keep them together for more than thirty minutes at a time. PJ is a high energy cat and the cats still aren’t tolerant of his mock charging and chasing, even if it is all in good fun. I recognize that the girls expend most of their energy playing with each other, and PJ is really wanting that, so hopefully things will smooth over as time goes on. Most of his time with the girls is spent getting him to chase an interactive toy, like a feather on a pole. It channels his energy and allows the other cats to see that for the time being he’s not interesting in play tackling them.
Ironically, the two cats who couldn’t stand PJ have been the most tolerant of him. Steph even slow blinked at him the last time he was out playing, and he responded in kind. This is very good progress. Scully, on the other hand, does her best to avoid her son. He enjoys chasing her and she enjoys doing all she can to avoid him. I’m not sure how long she thinks she can keep that up, but I’m not going to force introductions until she’s ready. In the meantime, we try to keep PJ focused on things other than antagonizing his poor mother.
the time does fly
August 19, 2006 l 3 Comments
Happy 1st Birthday!
to the mousey boys 
Peanut is doing well today. She’s not having the greatest success with staying upright, but she is eating hay and drinking water on her own. In addition, she’s eating three meals of Critical Care throughout the day, and she’s already begun to put weight on. No more choking incidents and no signs that our scare earlier this week will develop into anything.
One of the things that’s been frustrating to me has been the dearth of information regarding the care of partially disabled rabbits. Sure, there are a lot of sites out there for paralyzed rabbits, and a few for head tilt bunnies, but they’re short on practical tips for living with a balance-challenged bunny. Here are some things that I’ve learned:
Learn what is, and isn’t, helpful touch. For instance, if you touch Peanut on her right side, she will fall right over. She responds to the touch by leaning into it and losing her balance completely. Conversely, touching her left side will cause her to lean into the pressure and by doing so, she will stand straight.
Provide a means to “brace” their legs. Rabbits that are struggling to maintain balance and frequently falling over will flail their back legs in an attempt to find something solid to push against. Of course, if there’s nothing against their back, they’ll just push themselves until they flip over and start the whole thing again. Giving Peanut a rolled up towel and placing it near the edge of the pen gives her a place to nestle, her back to the pen (crib bumper protecting her from the metal) and her feet against the towel. She sleeps soundly and securely in that position. In the same way, Peanut enjoys our naps together, where she leans up against my body and presses her legs against my arms.
Fleece is your friend. Peanut, like most disabled rabbits, can’t make it to the litterbox 90% of the time, so keeping her clean and dry is of utmost importance. Here’s what I’ve found works for us: puppy pads (disposables are okay, but washable ones are better, both for absorption and for the environment), then a layer of microfleece, and on top, a layer of faux sheepskin. Sheepskin wicks away moisture, and fleece provides an extra barrier for urine.
Both the microfleece and faux sheepskin can be found in the fabric section of your local craft store or Wal-Mart. On top of that I usually add small towels and fleece blankets for the bunnies to snuggle on. They’re the first to get dirty, but they’re easy to wash, and they keep the pen clean.
Several times throughout the day I’ll “spot clean” by picking up pooties, and all of the bedding gets changed daily. I suggest you check out cloth diapering sites for information and tips on laundering for maximum absorbance. It seems like a lot of extra work, but once you get into the rhythm, it doesn’t take long at all. I have two back-up sets of bedding to make cleaning the pen more efficient.
Butt baths. Unless you have an unnaturally fastidious disabled bunny, you will have to deal with this at some point. More likely it will be many, many times over the course of their illness. Two BIG reasons why you can’t ignore a messy bottom: fly strike and urine scald. The first is a truly horrifying condition that can happen to even the most well-attended bunny, all it takes is a dirty bum and one fly. You can read more about it here.
When Peanut manages to get soft poop in her fur (illnesses and some medicines can cause stomach upsets – see below), the only solution is to wrap her in a towel and wash her bottom with a washcloth, warm water, and a little bit of pet-friendly shampoo. Towel-dry, and give lots of kisses and praise for suffering such an indignity.
Urine scald is not so serious, but it is very painful. We’ve had to deal with this once already. I followed the dry bath procedure outlined on this site, and then spread cream over Peanut’s exposed skin (her fur was already short from clipping) I prefer all-natural products like Weleda Calendula Cream, which is gentle and non-toxic. Afterwards your bunny will be clean, dry, and much more comfortable.
The Poop Factor. While diarrhea and runny poops are not normal (and require immediate vet attention), soft poops are to be expected. They’re called cecotrophs and they are necessary to help a rabbit absorb as many nutrients as possible from their food and also help maintain proper bacteria balance in the gut. That’s right, they eat them. Healthy rabbits do, at least. Disabled rabbits may find it difficult if not impossible to coordinate such an activity, and if they have some modicum of mobility they will often get fresh cecotrophs smeared into their fur.
It’s advantageous to catch those soft poops before they’re smashed because disabled or not, the rabbit still needs to eat them. If you’re squeamish about feeding your rabbit crap (literally) put on some gloves or get a friend to do it. Just tell yourself, it’s for their health. Your rabbit won’t care and will likely be pleased to receive such a treat.
There are many other things you’ll learn as you deal with a disabled or chronically ill bunny. The most important thing is taking the time to know your rabbit. Know when they’re happy, when they’re feeling sick, when they’re in pain. Because someday down the road you may find yourself in the unenviable position of knowing when to say “no more”. It’s not something we like to think about, but knowing your rabbit may be the difference between the right decision and a haunting one.
I’ve had people express wonder over the lengths I’ve gone to care for Peanut, because after all, she’s “just a rabbit”. Peanut does require an extraordinary level of care and at times it’s physically and emotionally draining. My dad remarked that with the money I’ve spent on vet bills, I could have made a down payment on a car. I thanked him for rubbing that in, but said that a car wouldn’t perk up just because I walked into a room, or snuggle next to me and fall soundly asleep.
It’s certainly not glamorous, but it is rewarding, and for whatever reason, God has brought this sweet, special, albeit sickly bunny into my life, so I trust that things will work out in the end. I have always said that I will fight for as long as the animal is willing to, and that I’ll respect their choice to go no further. Peanut has made it clear she is nowhere near ready to give up, and neither am I.
just got back from the emergency vets
August 16, 2006 l 5 Comments
And Peanut is resting comfortably. She gave me a good scare, though…
She aspirated a mouthful of pellets tonight. I don’t know how, exactly. I was giving her dinner the usual way: she laid on the floor on her right side, bracing herself against my leg, and ate pellets out of the palm of my hand. It takes awhile to finish them all, but since she’s so determined to eat on her own I do my best to help however I can.
But she must have tilted her head just the right way, or maybe started to roll over, because she breathed in and began to choke and spit out the pellets that were in her mouth. Then she really started coughing (an awful sound) and spewed mucous and pellet mush out her nose. Yes, OUT her nose. Words cannot describe how I felt at that moment, such an awful sensation in the pit of my stomach.
I grabbed the nearest blanket and began to wipe the mucous away from her nose. I tried to hold her at an angle, but that only freaked her out more, and so I cradled her while calling for my mom. I told her to grab the bulb syringe and the phone; I cleared out Peanut’s nose with the syringe and called the emergency vets to let them know we were coming in. It was 10:20 pm.
On the way to the vet, Peanut had two more “attacks” – difficulty breathing coupled with tons of clear, watery mucous coming out of her nose. I syringed and wiped and begged her to keep breathing. At one point she opened her mouth wide and I thought for sure I was going to lose her. I lost a very young foster kitten to aspiration-pneumonia, and I’ve never been able to forget it. Peanut’s breathing was fast and rattley. I frequently checked the color of her gums, and I prayed that God would keep her safe. I couldn’t lose her, not like this.
Made it to the clinic and handed her over to the nurse, telling her that Peanut needed to be held firmly and carefully because of her tilt. The adrenaline was wearing off now, and my hands shook as I filled out the paperwork. We were led into an exam room, and a few minutes later Peanut was returned, wrapped in a towel and breathing much more peacefully. The nurse took a history and told us the vet would be right in.
Dr. Anderson (“Or Kelly”, she said) was extremely nice, and immediately dispelled all my fears about dealing with a non-rabbit savvy vet. She said the rattling sounds were mostly upper respiratory, and that aspirated materials in the lungs don’t immediately show up on an X-ray. That’s likely something we’ll want to do after 12-24 hours, and at that point determine what kind of treatment Peanut may or may not need. She asked all the right questions about the medication Peanut is currently on, her condition, etc. Dr. Anderson wanted to give Peanut some Metacam to combat any inflammation, but I shared my concern that the (oral) Metacam was what made her stop eating the first time around. So we opted for the injection instead. Peanut has also dropped down to 4 pounds, 1.5 ounces, so Dr. A sent us home with some Critical Care.
Total cost for the visit: $14.26, the cost of the Metacam. I was nearly moved to tears. I thanked her profusely and we headed home. It was just past 12 am. Once we settled in, I gave Peanut the rest of her meds, ear drops, and eye wash (plus some parsley, as a special treat). We’ll start the Critical Care in the morning. Right now she’s sleeping, which is what I should be doing.
G’night all!
Peanut saw the vet
August 14, 2006 l 1 Comment
I had a notepad on which I wrote down all of the suggested meds, etc. and completely forgot to bring it with me. Oy. But it turned out alright, for the most part. The first thing Dr. G said was “We need to pull out all the stops.”
He prescribed antibiotics (Doxycicline/Orbifloxacin combo) and Panacur. He also prescribed ear drops to dissolve excess wax and make sure that an infection doesn’t take root in the “gunk” that builds up because she can’t clean her ears. He didn’t recommend Metacam she has a great appetite and we don’t want to run the risk of upsetting her stomach and having to force feed. Honestly, the first time we had go through that I thought Peanut was ready to give up for good.
He mentioned that she’d be on meds for the next thirty days, and she’ll have another check-up in a week. But when I got the meds, it was only the Panacur that was prescribed for thirty days. The antibiotics were for two weeks. When we go back for a check-up I’m going to ask (read: insist) that she be on antibiotics for at least another two weeks. I’m not one to overmedicate (hate taking abx myself) but to me, “pulling out all the stops” means “let’s stop this thing dead in it’s tracks”. I can be a mean momma bear when I need to.
He checked her eyes (they look great). Said putting Terramycin (an antibiotic oinment) on the skin around her right eye couldn’t hurt (I already have some on hand), but it’s likely to get rubbed off. He recommended I rinse her eye with saline and dab it dry with a cotton ball at least once a day. Hopefully it will get better as she does.
Dr. G was very encouraged by her appetite and attitude. We’ll keep her on Meclizine since it seems to help control her nausea. I didn’t get a chance to call that other vet (I’ve barely had time to sleep) but I’ll call her this afternoon and see if she’d recommend anything else for Peanut.
cleaning duties
August 13, 2006 l 1 Comment
We had to wash Peanut’s bottom tonight and shave off even more fur. I nicked her with the clippers. It didn’t even bleed, but I felt really bad. The skin around her right eye (the “down” eye) is very red and inflamed looking. The eye itself looks okay, but I think the constant wetness and contact with the bedding are irritating the skin. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable that must be.
My whole family is rooting for Peanut. My dad asks “How’s my bunny doing today?” and my mom loves cradling her when we have to clean her up. The advice I’ve gotten from other rabbit owners has been immensely useful. One Etherbun member recommended their vet and gave me the phone number; the vet is just under 2 hours north of where I live. I’ll be calling her along with my own vet to get some better ideas for treatment.
At breakfast and dinner I cradle her in my lap and let her eat pellets out of my hand. She eats a full portion and then proceeds to wash her face and wherever else she can reach. It’s pretty odd to see a rabbit grooming herself while she lays on her back, but she seems satisfied cleaning her own poopy butt for once, so whatever makes her happy. Veggies are usually given when she’s back on the floor of the pen, laying on her side and bracing her legs against mine. She wolfs down parsley faster than Rex. She eats hay throughout the day. This morning she even managed to sit up and drink a good amount of water from the bottle. Her back legs were spread wide, her front legs askew, but it worked and she was very proud of herself.
I cherish moments like that. I hate to see any animal suffering, but when it’s your own pet that’s ill it hits doubly hard. I just want her to be better. And how can I not be moved by her effort to do even the simplest things? She’s far from being ready to give up.
Peanut update
August 12, 2006 l Comments Off
The Meclizine does not appear to be making much of a difference. Even with an upped dosage there has been no improvement. Peanut has barely been able to stay upright. Still eating and drinking (thankfully), but very frustrated by the fact that she can’t do anything.
I cradled her just so she’d have the chance to wash her face without falling over. I also cleaned her ears, which she can’t do, and wiped off her face (her “down” eye is weepy and closed most of the time, but doesn’t appear to be infected) I should add that she’s clean and dry, has lots of soft bedding, and bumpers to keep her from banging on the edge of the pen.
Everything I have read and heard from knowledgeable rabbit people suggests that she wasn’t on antibiotics long enough the first time around, and that this could very well be the inner ear infection manifesting itself again. I’m not even sure how to feel about that.
I’m angry that the vet never once suggested she might need to be on antibiotics for longer than two weeks. I’m angry at myself for not figuring that out sooner. I’m very, very sad for my poor bunny who can’t even walk across the pen and yet trusts me completely to take care of her.
I need to pick up meds for Martin (the mouse) on Monday, and I’ll be doing my best to get her in for an appointment. She still has an appetite (likely thanks to the Meclizine, which lessens nausea) but I have to hold her and give her water-soaked pellets by the handful. Hay and veggies are a little easier to eat when you’re lying on your side.
It’s been a long day.
