Time to say goodbye to Zebedee

We've done everything for him, seen different vets, a specialist even, treated for EC (which was at no point thought to be the problem), infection, had xrays taken, used physio, given high doses of metacam. There are no breaks and it all comes down to being a neurological problem of some kind - big or small, they don't know, but it's ongoing since the winter/spring, so seems big.

He has no quality of life. The last few days he hasn't even left his house even though the door is wide open - there was a time he'd have been breaking the door down and trying to make a break from his run as well. He won't go up and down the levels in his house. He's only 3, but as a giant bun, he's nearing the life expectancy.

I bath him to keep him clean and he gets given the loveliest things to eat, lots of cuddles and everything he needs. He isn't drinking as much as he once did, and more and more he is just peeing where he is lay, although he does use his tray some of the time - he is such a clean bun and would never do this usually. He is still eating (although not as much as he once did) and his tummy is all fine, but he's just not happy. When he does try to drag himself round (which he's become quite good at), he hurts his legs as they graze.

I am someone who places quality of life over quantity and who doesn't keep animals alive for selfish reasons. A year ago on Saturday coming, one of our horses was PTS due to ongoing illness. We have talked about this and have decided we will give it one more push -see the vet again, chat to them about anything we can do that we have missed etc - and then have him PTS. I am not sitting watching my bunny struggle to get around, be reluctant to leave his house and mope about the place just because it would hurt me too much to do the right thing by him. Hoping to see the vet tomorrow.

I am sorry

You know your bun best and know whether it is his time to go. I realise this doesn't make it any easier to be without him But I hope you can take comfort in the fact that you are doing the right thing by him. He has obviously so well loved which is more than can be said for a lot of buns

Thank you for your reply. I'm finding this heartbreaking in the extreme and it's nice to know that one of the people that read this, knows how I'm feeling.

I'm seeing the vet at 2pm today.

This must be a mega hard time for you at the moment....i feel for you.

Ive just lost my boy and its heartbreaking. People keep saying that it will get easier....im hoping that they are right.

I know that my boy did love me, and i know he knew i loved him.....im sure that this is the same for Zebedee and you and im sure that you both will be together again in the future, like me and my kermit xx

i can only imagine how you're feeling carrie thoughts with you at this very difficult time x

So sorry to hear about Zebedee What terribly sad news You really have tried everything to help him, you couldn't have done any more. I'm sure you have made the right decision, you know your bun best. I'm very sorry poor old Zebedee has got so sick, at least he has had a happy fulfilled life with people who love him.

Thanks guys. I keep thinking that maybe we didn't give him enough cuddles and there were times that the door wasn't opened into his run because of weather or building or whatever and I think to myself 'poor Zebedee must have felt so unloved'. I just feel so bad about it all - what if it was something I had done wrong? It has been a progressive thing and started with just weakness and a slight limp but moved on to what it is now (completely dragging his back legs with the very occasional hop or three which only just started again a couple of weeks ago).

Last year, when our mare was PTS, I always thought that no other animal could have this effect on a person, because horses are such a huge part of your life, not just in terms of caring for them but also in terms of them being your hobby and taking up HUGE amounts of your time. But now this is happening and I realise that I am equally attached to all of my animals and think of them all as my family.

Seeing the vet at 2 anyway, and will just see what they say about it all.

Thank you again.

Carrie1983 said:

Thanks guys. I keep thinking that maybe we didn't give him enough cuddles and there were times that the door wasn't opened into his run because of weather or building or whatever and I think to myself 'poor Zebedee must have felt so unloved'. I just feel so bad about it all - what if it was something I had done wrong? It has been a progressive thing and started with just weakness and a slight limp but moved on to what it is now (completely dragging his back legs with the very occasional hop or three which only just started again a couple of weeks ago).

Last year, when our mare was PTS, I always thought that no other animal could have this effect on a person, because horses are such a huge part of your life, not just in terms of caring for them but also in terms of them being your hobby and taking up HUGE amounts of your time. But now this is happening and I realise that I am equally attached to all of my animals and think of them all as my family.

Seeing the vet at 2 anyway, and will just see what they say about it all.

Thank you again.

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Don't do the 'what if's' you don't need to. We can't always give 24hrs of our day to our animals/buns as much as we would like to, there are other things we have to do, plus I have to say, that on the days my buns go back to their hutch early or come out later than normal - they really don't mind, they take the time for a quiet snooze or a good munch of hay I'm sure Zebedee didn't mind at all, rabbits live in the 'here and now' like all animals so he won't even think of the things that make you feel guilty!!! so don't! He is clearly loved to bits, which is why you are making this decision for him -all part of love. I hope all goes ok at the vet, whatever happens, you have done your best and Zebedee knows you love him.

Carrie1983 said:

Thanks guys. I keep thinking that maybe we didn't give him enough cuddles and there were times that the door wasn't opened into his run because of weather or building or whatever and I think to myself 'poor Zebedee must have felt so unloved'. I just feel so bad about it all - what if it was something I had done wrong?

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I know EXACTLY where you are coming from there....this is how ive been feeling for the past week and a bit since kermit went. I only had my boy a year and a half and he passed when i wasnt there.....i just keep thinking that i should have spent more time with him and i keep regretting not staying up that wee bit longer with him, or not staying in the house instead of going out for a bit.
It really doesnt do any good going over these things, i know that you still will though, as im doing it right now....i need to learn to understand that i did give kermit a good loving life (even though it was short) and you need to realise the same. Zebedee definately knows that you love him and will do the best for him.
My thoughts are with you.....i know how your feeling x hugs x

Kermit said:

I know EXACTLY where you are coming from there....this is how ive been feeling for the past week and a bit since kermit went. I only had my boy a year and a half and he passed when i wasnt there.....i just keep thinking that i should have spent more time with him and i keep regretting not staying up that wee bit longer with him, or not staying in the house instead of going out for a bit.
It really doesnt do any good going over these things, i know that you still will though, as im doing it right now....i need to learn to understand that i did give kermit a good loving life (even though it was short) and you need to realise the same. Zebedee definately knows that you love him and will do the best for him.
My thoughts are with you.....i know how your feeling x hugs x

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I'm so sorry for your loss of Kermit It must be very hard. It sounds to me like both bunnies are/were extremely loved

i am sorry for the losses but from what you ahve described i totally agree you are doing the right thing. x

Thinking of you.

Kermit, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

I am just back from the vets and I ended up in tears in there! Zebedee is being put to sleep on Saturday morning at 10am by one of our lovely, long-standing vets. I am so gutted. I can't actually believe this. Then I speak to my husband and he's like 'think about where you want to bury him'.

It will be one year to the day on Saturday that our horse was pts, so a bit apt a choice of day, eh?

I can't stop crying.

I am so sorry Carrie to hear about Zebeddee. My thoughts are with you at this sad time. I think you know in your gut you are doing the right thing x

Thanks very much.

Zebedee is quite like Duncan, but maybe a bit bigger and has huge great long ears.

Poor Zebedee, im sure he knows what you are going through and loves you so much.....ill tell my kermit to meet him at the bridge and they can both have some binky time together

Thank you for all your kind words.

Are you allowed to hold them while it's done? I just don't know because in the past, they've always died on their own (rabbits I've had I mean). I stood with my horse when she was PTS but had to move out of the way as she fell to the ground for obvious reasons.

This is the hardest part of having animals. The worst of it is that he just doesn't know what is coming, but it has to be done as he's just got no quality of life whatsoever.

Carrie1983 said:

Thank you for all your kind words.

Are you allowed to hold them while it's done? I just don't know because in the past, they've always died on their own (rabbits I've had I mean). I stood with my horse when she was PTS but had to move out of the way as she fell to the ground for obvious reasons.

This is the hardest part of having animals. The worst of it is that he just doesn't know what is coming, but it has to be done as he's just got no quality of life whatsoever.

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I think you might find this thread upsetting but it might give you some idea of what you want when the time comes. Sorry if it upsets you...
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=187034
Look for Marie Kubiak's post on p3 and yes you can hold your bunny of course you can, it will help him feel safe and secure at the end to pass peacefully with someone he knows and loves.

I'm so sorry you've reached the time where it's time to let Zebedee go - I know it's so hard to make the decision, but it's one of the kindest things we can do for our pets - even though it's totally heartbreaking

He will be grateful for the good life you have given him & for the love & care you have shown him through him being ill. I will be thinking of you all on Saturday ((((hugs)))) to you at this sad time xx

I'm very sorry I'll be thinking of you on Saturday