Excited and nervous for parsley and his cancer

I am on phone so cant type much.

But vet just rang to say the specialists feel it is worthwhile and as safe as any off licence drug to try parsley on the canine melanoma vaccine.

Parsley has malignant melanoma on his eyelid and also an inner ear abxsess which means removing whole eye possible but tricky and may not hold back cancer. With the new melanoma vaccine he just needs the worst bit removed that presses on his eye and then the vaccine every two weeks.

It has a really good success rate with dogs so we are really hopeful. Though he still has to make it through an op. He will see the oncology specialist on thursday and then the op friday and then have the vaccines after

apols for typos so excited but in research library!!

PS Now edited for worst of typos!

Great news! I hope it works!

We think he will be the first rabbit to have it as a pAtient. Though sadly suspect may have been tested on buns at some time as most drugs are. But they have used it on dogs cats and horses as patients and it has great success with them. About four thousand pounds for treatment but he is worth it and besideshis broken leg and ear abcsess and penis accident have already cost us at least ten thousand so why stop now!! We have already hocked our retirement!! Gosh i so so hope it works and it has not invaded his organs already

I hope all goes well for him xx

Jack's-Jane said:

I hope all goes well for him xx

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Thank you - I know it all sounds desperately experimental but we have little choice - we have had a cytology done of the growth and its a very malignant melanoma type - only the vaccine holds out any hope tbh. Even then he has to get through an op. and he wasn't that great with his last one (though he has been absolutely fine with all his others - and lets be honest he has chalked up a fair few).

If it has already spread then so be it - but this gives us a glimmer of hope.

He will be under two vets - one at the specialist Animal Hospital Oncology Clinic for the vaccine administration etc and then our own vet for the op. and the day to day assessment and treatments.

If it does work then other bun vets will start to offer it and it may hold out hope for other buns with melanomas. . . and some of it should be covered by insurance . . (at least for other buns - Parsley has already 'used up' this years insurance maximum pay outs with his other ops:roll

I should assure everyone that our own vet is very much the cautious 'lets consider quality of life' type of vet and not given to just pressing on regardless . . . she has in the past firmly guided u towards pts on two of our rabbits as they came towards the end . . . so she would only carry out procedures etc on Parsley that she felt confident would benefit him.

I always think things are worth a try, and like you say if it can help him then it can help countless other rabbits.
Grimlock was the first rabbit in the practice to have penicillin injections which promptly saved two other rabbits lives as well. And that was after another vet told me repeatedly to have him put to sleep. So I think you're making the right decision.

Wow. it sounds very hopeful and at least lets you feel you have tried everything possible for him. Does he need the vaccines for the rest of his life or is it a course - sorry if I have missed something. He must be a frontrunner for RUs most expensive bunny vet bill!

It's worth a try, you have nothing to loose by the sound of things. I wish him all the luck in the world xx

aliduncan1 said:

Wow. it sounds very hopeful and at least lets you feel you have tried everything possible for him. Does he need the vaccines for the rest of his life or is it a course - sorry if I have missed something. He must be a frontrunner for RUs most expensive bunny vet bill!

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Its a course of four injections each two weeks apart, which will follow directly on his surgery to remove the worst of thegrowth. If they are successful he will have follow ups every 6 months - I think for the rest of his life but not sure about that.

The only thing 'cheap' about Parsley was the fact that he was found as a stray on our allotments - so we didnt have to pay for him lol:lol::lol:

since then its been an incredible round of expensive things . . . I think he tries to have a life threatening illness at least once a year to keep us on our toes emotionally and fiscally.

He is one lucky bun to have you as his Mum! Keeping everything crossed for a successful outcome.

I am thinking of Parsley today and if the op' is to go ahead then I really hope that he will do well xx

I how everything goes well today, will be thinking of him and you today.

Best of luck today.:thumb: