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Why is making 'the decision' so hard? *Nice update 16/9/13*

Mackers

Mackers

Wise Old Thumper
Flora's time is near and it's breaking me up. Why do I have to be the one to sign her death sentence? She trusts me and yet I'm going to betray that trust. Giving your heart to animals sucks sometimes :cry:.
 
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It is so hard :cry: but I don't think you are betraying her trust, it's better to let her go in peace with dignity than to let her go on in pain and suffering. Sending hugs
 
She's an outdoor bunny as she hates it inside (I've tried) and she's losing the use of her back legs due to severe arthritis of the spine. In the last few days, she's started to fall down and can no longer get herself upright :cry:. I've taken everything out of her kennel/run and the whole floor area is on aubiose/hay so that she has good grip and a soft surface should she fall over. But it's heartbreaking watching her. When she's upright, she's bright with a good appetite. But she falls over at the drop of a hat and is literally stuck until me or OH come to rescue her. We both work full time so can't watch her 24/7 and she looks so sad when she's down.

I always said that when she was falling over several times a day then it would be 'time' as her quality of life would be diminished. But it's so damn hard. She's sat here merrily chomping her way through a ton of hay but in a heartbeat, she'll be down again and I'll need to set her back on her feet. Why is this so hard?
 
We went through the exact same thing with Angel. Her hip had crumbled with arthritis. Once she started falling and couldn't right herself we did let her go. We could see she was really upset when she was stuck even if it was just for a few minutes as I am always about. It was heartbreak at the time but looking back now we have no regrets.

I know exact what you mean about trust and who are we to decide. But trust comes in many different forms and she also trusts you not to let her suffer when the time comes.

Thinking of you xx
 
Hugo's There said:
We went through the exact same thing with Angel. Her hip had crumbled with arthritis. Once she started falling and couldn't right herself we did let her go. We could see she was really upset when she was stuck even if it was just for a few minutes as I am always about. It was heartbreak at the time but looking back now we have no regrets.

I know exact what you mean about trust and who are we to decide. But trust comes in many different forms and she also trusts you not to let her suffer when the time comes.

Thinking of you xx
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Thank you Liz. That actually helps, knowing you've been in the exact same situation with a bunny who's falling over.
 
I am really sorry you are having to face the devastating decision :cry:
I say ask Flora, look into her eyes and ask her what she wants to do, she will give you her answer.
When my hammmy Pip got really ill, we faught for just over 2 months and battled our was through meds and xrays but I will never forget her last 48hrs with me.
It was a Saturday evening and she really wasnt doing well, she could not really eat and she was very unsteady on her feet. That evening she sat with me on my bed and we just cuddled, all through the night I kept an eye on her and she was giving up, she was shutting down and was so cold so I cuddled her in bed with me, the next mornibg when Dan said 'lets do her meds' I knew what I had to do, she didnt want to fight anymore so I made the heartbreaking decision to let her go. :cry: I am not going to lie, I am still not over loosing her and Iost her October 2008!

The reason I am telling you this is because the only way to really get your answer is to ask her xx
 
so sorry you're having to face this. she trusts you to do the best for her, whatever that may be. if you have to let her go, it will be because you know it's right and it is the kindest thing. xxx
 
That must be awful for you seeing her keep falling over. Even though she has period of time when you look at her and she seems fine, I guess the falling over will just get more and more frequent.

You are doing what is best for her as her quality of life is only going to get worse. I'm so sorry, it's difficult to get the strength to think that is enough. I know when I've seen Doughnut in pain and taken her to the specialist and if he had said there is nothing more we could do, to see her in pain was just as bad as if I had to have her pts. It's hard for you though as you see good times too.

Lots of hugs. She's had a great life with you and trusts you to do the right thing for her, putting her to sleep isn't breaking her trust.
 
It's the hardest decision to have to make :cry: When the time is right you won't be betraying her, you'll be setting her free from a body that is broken. Sending hugs xx
 
Thank you for your kind words everyone. It does help. I only have to do this with one bunny so my heart goes out to all those of you who have multiple special needs bunnies.
 
Well I'm very pleased to report that Flora has now had 2 pretty good days. She had toppled over overnight Saturday into Sunday but since then, has remained firmly upright :thumb:. No immediate decision therefore required, unless she takes a turn for the worse again. She's currently out in the garden 'chinning' the mesh of Pea and Pod's enclosure :lol:. Took these photos this evening.......





 
Biscuit had the symptoms you've mentioned, we got her through for a good while with pain relief. The colder weather didn't do her any favours, but she used to snuggle her husbun to keep warmer. Metacam was her pain relief of choice
 
Oh she is sooo beautiful. Love the moult skirt. Peaches has one to match (in orange though).
 
Aw she is lovely - she looks like a big fluffy teddy-bear bunny.
Glad she is doing well.
 
Mackers said:
Flora's time is near and it's breaking me up. Why do I have to be the one to sign her death sentence? She trusts me and yet I'm going to betray that trust. Giving your heart to animals sucks sometimes :cry:.
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Im in the same boat with my red rex toffee,hes got multiple absseses in his lungs and hes not got long now,hes on 1.4ml metacam and 20 mg tramadol a day so kinda stable but hes getting no quality of life he goes outside has a sniff round for 5 minutes then just sleeps,i wont let him get to the no eating bit in my opinion if there not eating then there suffering but also i cant really tell if hes in pain at the mo so totally confused as to what to do.
Its totally heartbreaking and to see his wife bun mounting him something he allways did as alpha male is killing me.
Sending hugs Mackers x.
 
Aw so cute. Pleased the decision can be put off for a while, hopefully she will continue to stay upright.
 
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