feedback
September 30, 2007 l 4 Comments
Welcome to the new internet home of the Domestic Zoo! This is my first attempt at hosting and modifying my own blog, and your thoughts are always welcome. What do you like? What don’t you like? What would you change? Improve? Add?
Still in the works…
- photo page
- raw feeding information, tutorial and links
- Care of the Disabled Bunny / Peanut’s Place
regarding Rex
September 29, 2007 l 3 Comments
I coaxed Rex to eat some parsely tonight; he made only a meager attempt to eat his dinner. I think that, in the end, giving him the chance to see Peanut one last time will have been better than simply taking her away, but he is taking it hard and my mama heart aches for him.
He was visibly shaken when he first saw her, and wouldn’t actually get near enough to touch her, simply examining her and then stepping back. The only thing that’s gotten him to come out of their cardboard hideaway tonight has been the blanket that was in Peanut’s crate. He was sleeping on it when I left for work.
Haley (on RO) recommended getting a stuffed animal for him to snuggle with. I don’t know if it will help, but I’ll look for one tomorrow. This is the first time Rex has been alone in over five years…
Dear Peanut
September 28, 2007 l 3 Comments
It seems appropriate that you died in autumn, when the trees are giving us one last vibrant show before succumbing to the cold dark of winter. After living with head tilt for over a year, shortly before leaving us you faced the world once more right side up. You were such a brave girl, Peanut. I hope you know that you inspired many people and will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to know you.
Before you left, Rex gave you one last kiss. At the vet’s office I held you in my arms and told you it was okay – you could go now. Stephen made you a beautiful box. We laid you in it wrapped in your favorite tie-dye blanket, a photo of you and Rex, a flower, and a prayer:
Heavenly Father, Creator of all things, thank you for having entrusted us with a loyal pet. We know that not even a sparrow falls without your knowledge, so we know that you are here with us today.Lord Almighty God, this animal brought sunshine to us and was a vital part of our lives. Her passing has created a void in our hearts that cannot be filled. We do not question the will of God, but ask Him to be merciful in our loss.
Thank you for letting her teach us unselfish love. Thank you for the memories that we can recall to brighten our days for the rest of our lives.
Although Peanut will be missed very much, we give thanks to you for allowing us to have so many wonderful years with her. Thank you for this and for all thy blessing, Lord. In gratitude, we return our pet to you.
Amen.
We placed you in a clearing, under the protection of a beautiful tree, and marked the spot with a statue of a lop bunny. On your box Hannah wrote, “Here lies Peanut. A loving pet and friend.” Your family will miss you so much, baby girl. Especially Rex. He took such good care of you this past year; I promise you now that we’ll take extra good care of him.
There’s no more pain, Peanut. You’re free. Please run and play, and don’t worry about us. You have given us so much and you will always have a home in our hearts.
Love,
Mom
We’ll be bringing Peanut in at 2:30 EST. Dr G, who saw Peanut through months of illness last summer, will be there at the end along with my brother and myself.
I am so very sad for Peanut, and for Rex. A piece of my heart will go with her today.
It’s hitting me a little harder now
September 27, 2007 l 5 Comments
This is really Peanut’s last night with us.
I fed Rex a few minutes ago, and he didn’t come over to eat right away, instead staying by Peanut and washing her face. I do believe that he knows how frail she is. I just wonder how he’ll feel tomorrow.
Peanut today:
We’ll be bringing Peanut in tomorrow. It seems so sudden: Tuesday we found out she was ill and Friday she’ll be gone. Yet not once have I doubted that this is the right decision. I am a person of deep faith, and I believe that the overwhelming peace and assurance I have felt can only be from God.
My family has been AMAZING. Dad and Stephen built a little wooden box today, Hannah decorated it, and Mom is just being all-around supportive. I told Mom today, “It’s sad, but it’s not devastating.”
The spirit of the bunny that I have loved for so many years is now bound by a tired and broken body. It’s time to set Peanut free.
I woke up twice early this morning to Peanut rolling around wildly. I think maybe her inner ear is causing some vertigo. It took me several minutes to calm her down each time.
I’m hoping and praying that she makes it through today; I’m gone during the day at school, and my younger brother is gone tonight. Tomorrow we’ll all be home together.
I’ve decided not to bring Rex to the vet’s with us. As much as I hate to seperate them at the end, he gets very, very stressed by car rides and having him there when Peanut is put to sleep could be harder on him than it needs to be. We will be bringing her body back with us and allow him to have time with her. I’ve asked my brother and dad to build a small box and I’m still trying to decide what we should include in it.
Peanut update
September 26, 2007 l 1 Comment
Thanks everyone.
On GCM, a member with experience in hospice care said that patients will frequently experience several good days right before the end. I think that’s what Peanut’s recovery signified.
Her condition is fairly rapidly declining. She is weak and she is tired. Her appetite is there, but it’s waning. And the hardest part is knowing that a natural death would be prolonged and painful. She does not have the option of simply letting go before it gets bad. That weight lies soley upon myself as her human – the hardest decision a pet mommy or daddy will ever have to make.
It will likely be tomorrow or Friday, depending on her condition. When I spoke with the vet today she said that we could bring her the moment we felt it was time. I told the vet that I felt completely at peace with this path, and I do. It hurts a lot but all doubts have gone. And that peace has enabled me to think ahead, to make arrangements, and to spend as much meaningful time with her as I can.
Peanut’s molar roots are growing downward into her jaw. Normally the vet would recommend surgery so that they could file her molars down to the gumline. But we also discovered that Peanut has a cardiac arrhythmia, either from age or infection, and more than likely would not be able to handle anesthesia. On top of that, her x-rays show that her left inner ear is enlarged to almost twice the normal size. Ear swab and cytology didn’t reveal any bactera, though it’s possible there is an infection deep in the inner ear.
She was very weak at the vets last night; they gave her some subcutaneous fluids and recommended that I start feeding her Critical Care. Other than that, there is nothing this vets office can do for her.
The vet referred us to Angell Memorial in Boston for a myriad of tests and procedures that may ultimately yield nothing. She’d be far away from home, away from her family, away from Rex, surrounded by strange people and undergoing multiple procedures. I can’t do that to her. I just can’t.
But that really only leaves one option…
Love her until she says ‘no more’.
I’ll be calling the vet back today to see what kind of palliative care she recommends and how long we can expect before Peanut’s teeth become a serious issue (she’s still eating ravenously, just mushy foods) I’ve already spoken with my family and they, knowing and loving Peanut, feel that this is the right decision.
That doesn’t make it any easier.
oh the joys of living in a zoo
September 24, 2007 l 1 Comment
Peanut’s teeth are bothering her. I can’t figure out if it’s the alignment of her jaw (she’s been adjusting for a tilt for over a year) or if it’s molar spurs, a common rabbit ailment. Either way, hard foods are difficult for her to chew and even eating soft foods her teeth are making a grinding noise, like a kid grinding their teeth in their sleep.
Both of the rabbits are going in for their annual exam tomorrow, and since Peanut still has a ravenous appetite, I’m not too worried about any immediate health problems. I trimmed Rex’s nails for the occasion. Afterward he ran around the room in a fit, throwing in the air anything he could get his mouth on. The ungrateful lil’ twerp.
Now PJ is running around the room, batting rock hard bunny poopies around on the tile floor. Nice to know that messiness can serve a purpose
