We lost our Jessica tonight

Hi,

We lost our Jessica tonight. We are devastated and still in shock.

She has been struggling for a long time now with bad hip and knee arthritis but despite this she has been coping ok with the long term Metacam and the changes we made for her but tonight she had clearly taken a turn for the worse. She wouldn't eat her food (despite being ok last night/this morning) and was clearly in distress, her breathing was fast and heavy and wasn't right. We then felt she was really bloated (I think, tummy didn't feel right). We got on to the emergency vet but as we were getting through she had a little spasm and stopped breathing.

At least we can take some consolation that we were with her along with her husbun Jasper.

We took her back to the vets for regular check ups and other than the obvious arthritis we were concerned with the fact we were struggling to get her weight up (she had lost a bit) and the grunts that she made which were new. The vet seemed resigned to think she was at the end and to just monitor her. She was still eating so we gave her unlimited food and got her weight up a bit but she refused hay.

We were preparing ourselves to make the decision but while she was eating and eager for extra food and happy we had no need.

So what happened? I'm no vet but you don't die from arthritis. Any theories what could have happened? Was it knock on effect and stress. Was it the long term Metacam.

If it meant her still being with us then money wouldn't be an issue, already spent a fortune but wondering if much can be gained from a post mortem?

Guess we just need some answers and it could mean that we have to reconsider what vets to use in the future.

Any one any experience or ideas what happened. She seemed in distress but had a quick nibble of a treat minutes before she passed so I'm hoping she wasn't in too much pain at the end

She was very much loved with us.

I'm so very sorry for your loss xx

I'm so sorry.

Just want to say I'm so so sorry for your loss, I'm afraid I cannot answer any of your questions, I just don't have the knowledge or experience, but just wanted to pass on my thoughts to you. I know it's no consolation, but it does sound as though your beloved bun was happy at the end, accepting a treat.
I hope you get some answers anyway. Sending you a big hug

so sorry, sending hugs your way, never a nice thing to go through, thinking of you xxx

I am sorry for your loss, I am sorry I can't offer any advice other than a pm might put your mind at ease, as it might give you the answers you are looking for.
Binky free Jessica x

So sorry Xxxx

I'm so sorry Binky free Jessica

Binky free little girl xx
I'm so sorry for your loss.

Sad to hear you lost your bunny, it sounds like she had lots of love and care till the end, sending hugs.

Binky free Jessica x

I am sorry you lost Jessica, binky free xxxx

RIP Jessica

dbowes said:

So what happened? I'm no vet but you don't die from arthritis. Any theories what could have happened? Was it knock on effect and stress. Was it the long term Metacam.

If it meant her still being with us then money wouldn't be an issue, already spent a fortune but wondering if much can be gained from a post mortem?

Guess we just need some answers and it could mean that we have to reconsider what vets to use in the future.

Any one any experience or ideas what happened. She seemed in distress but had a quick nibble of a treat minutes before she passed so I'm hoping she wasn't in too much pain at the end

She was very much loved with us.

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So sorry you lost her It is heartbreaking when a precious bun goes suddenly with no obvious cause.

Did your vet do an x-ray? I'm not sure if a post-motem mwould help, but it may give you peace of mind if it shows nothing obvious.

My bridge bun Pebbles started off with molar issues and didn't eat hay. Towards the end he was needing more & more dentals. An x-ray was done but my local vet didn't see anything wrong with his molar roots and just " a shadow" on his heart. the x-rays were forwarded to a rabbit specialist who picked up that Pebbles had molar roots growing through his lower jaw and an enlarged heart pressing against his oesophagus which was making it impossible for him to eat.

With my bridge bun Violet, when she stopped eating, an x-ray showed a chest cavity tumor pressing against her lungs, making it very uncomfortable to eat.

In Pebbles case I'd spent well over £1000 (and I'd do it again) but ultimately nothing could be done in the end when he started refusing his meds.

Sometimes there are hidden causes that can develop very quickly as in Violets case...I only had her 8 months after adopting her from the RSPCA, and she appeared perfectly OK for 7 of those months, and the last month the weight loss was gradual (only 100-150g) and it was only the last day that her breathing became laboured.

I'm so sorry you lost Jessica .

A post mortem might put your mind at rest as to what the cause of death was. If it was something the vet missed, you might want to change vets for your other bun.

I think basically it is down to how much you need to know what the cause of death was.

I'm so sorry

Sweet dreams Jessica xx

Rest easy at the bridge beautiful Jessica.

So sorry you lost Jessica suddenly. You may never know why she passed away but at least she was loved and cared for while alive.

I am so sorry for your loss Sometimes even a Post Mortem does not provide a definitive cause of sudden death, although it may provide some clues as to possible causes.

RIP Jessica xx

Sorry to hear that - it is clear you loved her a lot xx

I'm so sorry Binky free Jessica xx