Muesli Doesn't Have Long Left :'( UD Sleep Tight Muesli

I know I haven't been on RU for ages but I think our buns were popular here once, and I think Muesli had some fans around here.

We found out about three weeks ago that Muesli has a tumour in his liver which had spread to his intestines, we only found out by chance via a referral to a specialist vets for management for his worsening arthritis and sore hocks.

Since then he has been put on higher pain relief and we've been keeping an even closer eye on him than we were, feeding him separately from his friends to try and build his body weight up. He has been underweight for some time but we did manage to get a bit more weight on him until just recently. Since he last went to the specialist, he has lost a quarter of his body weight and even since the weekend when we took him for his vaccs, he weighed about 0.3lb more than he did today. In his prime he was about 2.4kg healthy weight, and now he is 1.5kg He is so visibly old, its like he has aged in a matter of days/weeks, and it reminds me so much of when we lost Kenco. He is still sitting with the other buns in his quad at least some of the time, though invariably he is spending some of the time by himself. We will be adding oats to his pellets to try and help prevent him from starving, but the vet said his tumour is taking all the energy from his food Lots of TLC and runs out on the grass as much as possible. I must go and get some more fenugreek crunchies and maybe one of those Christmas tree treats if I can, because he loves those so much.

So, in essence, I am asking for the power of RU vibes please for him to stay as comfortable as possible until the end. Please does anyone have any advice as to how I know its 'time' if I have to make the call? I know he may well pass anytime, but I don't want him to pass like Kenco did, and I want to avoid any more suffering for Muesli, I'd like him to have a peaceful passing if at all possible.

Our vets has gone horrible, you always see a different person everytime you go, and its always 50/50 whether you see someone nice and caring or efficient and standoffish. The specialist vet has kindly offered for us to take him there when the time seems right but its an hour's journey and I don't know if that would be the right thing to do on his final journey (obviously not if he is visibly struggling, but otherwise in theory it would be nicer for him to go with someone who cares and knows who he is?).

Thanks all who have read this x

I'm so sorry to hear that Muesli's on borrowed time - how upsetting for you all I've been in the situation where you see your rabbit deteriorate, and it truly is awful.

In my opinion, I firmly believe that we should all be able to give our pets a peaceful and dignified passing. That means, in my eyes, that we don't drag it out for our personal benefit, just because we 'want more time with them'. If their situation is becoming undignified, or they are in pain, then we let them go. Please bare in mind that is my opinion, though

Again, for me, it would depend on how Muesli is in himself. If he has lost his spark, become a ghost of his former self so to speak, then that would be a big decision maker for me. If he's still enthusiastic (ish) and seems visibly happy then I'd not rush into anything. It's just when it gets undignified - when the rabbit is no longer happy, spending all their time sleeping, looking uncomfortable/in pain etc then I would let them go. When I euthanised my Dee, I did it because even with Methadone she was still in pain. Her coat was dull, her eyes were half-closed, she was sat in a corner not doing anything and she really was a ghost of her usual, spritely self. It was horrible for me, but I know for sure that I did the right thing. I didn't feel like that at first - I felt awful - but now I know I did the right thing.

I really feel for you. It can't be an easy situation to be in x

Hello, I am so sorry to hear that Muesli is very much on borrowed time I dont think an 'outsider' can give you a specific definition of when the time has come to say farewell, but I do believe that you will just 'know' because you know Muesli. I always try to remember that it is better for the Rabbit if the final goodbye is said one day too soon than one day too late. It all comes down to quality of life and if the good days outweigh the not so good, if pain is well controlled, if the Rabbit copes with a lot of hands on care if hands on care is needed. I think there does need to be more to the Rabbit's days than just eating, I think the Rabbit needs to show some interest in their surroundings and their companions (human or other Rabbit(s) ), to still participate in life rather than simply exist. It is so hard to have to make that final decision, no matter how many times you have to do it

I hope that Muesli will remain comfortable and content for his remaining time xx

I haven't got an answer to who and where, I had the same dilemma with Artie. By the time it was obvious I'd had no sleep and the 1 hour drive to the specialist was inadvisable I was waiting for morning as I felt he wasn't in distress but would need helping but he went at 6.15 before I had to make the commitment to my decision.

You will know when, but hoping Muesli can stay happy and comfortable for as long as possible.

Thank you all for the thoughtful replies, I'm so sorry you have experienced this or similar with your bunnies too

Lots of food for thought for us to consider. I really feel like it is probably 50/50 at the moment and we will be having to make the decision sooner rather than later, that is unless he passes before we get to that point. He is so frail and thin, he does spend a lot of time resting by himself, but that could partly be because he has recently started tramadol as well as the metacam. We do know he is pain because of the tumour and because of his long-standing arthritis. I think it is a question of us knowing in our guts when the pain is so much that he is ready to go for his final rest. At least I hope this is right, I don't want him to suffer unnecessarily of course and its not keeping him going for us, but for him, knowing when he is ready to give up the fight rather than still wanting to fight and live and make the most of what time he has left if you see what I mean? I think we are close to having to make the call.

At the moment he is still interacting with us, the vet, he does spend time snuggled up to one (or all three) of his friends, he enjoys his run time out in the garden and is moving around nibbling things, reaching up to nibble the lavender, the nasturtiums and so on. He did run in to my leg as he didn't see where I was sitting and he looked like he physically recoiled from that but that's the first time I've really seen him look clumsy and actually "hurt". He is getting wet underneath but then that has often been the case with Muesli because of his arthritis so we are dry batheing him with cornflour. You could interpret that as undignified but because he is reasonably used to that being the case, it isn't necessarily a sign of deterioration unless it starts to happen every day, which it does seem to be starting to, so will keep an eye on that.

I would rather he had a peaceful passing with us around him after a really nice day than for him to die in a way that would be frightening and painful for him. But that said he might get more comfort from passing with his friends in his own family environment than in a vet's office with only me or my OH and none of his bunny friends with him (we would take them with us but don't know if they are allowed to stay with him - or us even?).

Basically we are going to be physically close to him as much as possible the next few days and keep assessing the situation as much as possible, while helping him to enjoy the present moment and get as much as he can out of life while he is still able to.

Wise words have already been given, but I will say that I am sure the Muesli will let you know when Rainbow Bridge is calling him. You know you bunny better than anyone else in the world.

Thinking of Muesli. xx

vibes for muesli. xxx
usually, with people or animals, the life goes out of their eyes when they're ready to go or have accepted that they're going. that didn't happen to my mum but many people have mentioned it. i saw it on television once - Dr David Kelly (no wmd in Iraq) was questioned in parliament - when he started his answers, he was fully alive, when he finished he knew his life was over. Just looking at him I 'knew' someone had given him the word. If that clip is still on the internet you'll be able to see it. They eyes show the soul is moving on.

I'm sorry to hear about Muesli. Its such a difficult time for you all.

I hope he will remain comfortable till his time comes to go to the Bridge.

Lots of hugs
fee x

so sorry to hear this news , even though he has lost lots of weight, he does sound happy enough at the m0ment and comfortable, from previous experience with rosie and mowgli, I just knew they kind of told me it was time

sending lots of vibes for him to remain comfortable

I'm sorry to hear Muesli is so unwell

I recently lost my little boy Fluff to thymoma. I didn't think that I would know when it was time to let him go, but he let me know he had had enough. Before that, although he couldn't do much, he still wanted to be here and was happy in his own way.

Even when he first stopped eating, I knew he wanted to keep going. A few days later, the brightness had gone from his eyes, and I knew from the utterly sad and tired way that he looked at me that he was letting me know he had had enough.

You know Muesli best. I'm sure you will be able to read when it is too much for him.

Sending loads of vibes for him, and hugs for you. Take time for yourself as well. I found watching Fluff deteriorate awful.

Thanks everybody, your replies mean so much and are really helping through this difficult time.

I just don't know. Even tonight he looks worse again. He has hardly moved from the corner of his run today and in that corner are lots of very small poos (not hard though). He is soaking all around his rear around and his front paws. However, he was straight over to me when I went out to give them all a treat and was lively. He finished a treat and a half and then we separated him from his friends so he could have his pellets. He only ate a small amount of them and then I gave him some nasturtiums and he wasn't interested at all. Then I noticed his back end was a little unsteady and he was having trouble moving his back legs around. So I picked him up and put him on the patio where there are the nasturtiums and grass and he kind of nibbled the grass but wasn't really interested in it or the nasturtiums (he ate half a nasturtium leaf).

Then we had made him some porridge with water so we gave that to him and he lapped up all that was in the middle (so just less than half of what we gave him). I couldn't get hold of one of those Christmas tree treats he loves but got him a Bell and he was really going for it, and tucking in! So food wise, he isn't doing too badly with his eating, but not great either considering how hungry he must be. But he was really struggling to move himself forward with his back legs, they are so thin and almost no muscle at all. Dry bathed his legs again. He bent himself around in a crescent shape to eat his porridge rather than moving his back legs. He really is frail and struggling to move at all. I feel like he is starting to let us know the time is soon, OH wants to give it another 24hrs but I'm not sure. We put him back in his kennel in to a warm snuggly box with lots of straw and hay for him, in case he struggles to get in to the little wooden house or it is full of the others. He moved straight out of it which is a good sign and was immediately snuggled by his three bunny friends.

Will be going back out about 10pm to take veg, so will reassess then.

I just don't know with his eyes, they are so scrunched up, they are weeping (he has overgrown tooth roots and a blocked tear duct too, poor little fella) and one eye has started to mist over through age, so its really difficult to tell. Looking at him, I just was in tears in the garden. I don't know how much longer I can let him struggle for. I'm going to worry all night long about him and all day tomorrow - OH will be at work and I will have my little girl with me too (21months). I don't want him to pass alone, I always thought that if I had a bun PTS I would be stroking them, but I don't know what to expect at all. Will I be allowed to stay during it? Will his bunny friends be allowed to stay with him? Or will it be distressing for them? I feel so unprepared.

On our way to vet. My heart is breaking.

Lots of vibes for Muesli
Miss the Sunday nights Quiz you use to run on here 3 years
ago I think.

I'm so sorry to read this I'm sure you're making the right decision, however.

I personally did not stay with my Dee when she was PTS. My lovely vet snuggled her out the back whilst she did it, and I'd said my goodbyes in the waiting room. There was the option for me to be with her though - I think it'll vary from vet to vet. I hope you can do what you want, and that your vet will be understanding.

Wishing for a peaceful passing for Muesli x

I'm so sorry. I didn't know of Muesli until tonight. I don't really know what to say except my thoughts are with you and Muesli. Xxx

Thank you.

Muesli ate banana, carrot and spring green, and he managed to get over to the other side of the veg to eat some more but after I came in my OH said his front legs had splayed and he couldn't get up again (which was like how we found Kenco before he passed away). When I went back out, his head was kind of to one side and was sort of slumped and I just knew in an instant we had to go and we had to go right then.

Thankfully both my OH and I were able to go and we were able to stay with him, it was very quick and very peaceful. I told him how much I loved him, what a great friend he had been, that he could rest now and Starbuck would be waiting for him at the Bridge.

I hurt so much but I know it was the right thing to do.

We let Star, Zebedee and Buttercup hop around the room with him. I don't know if we gave them long enough but they moved around the room after sitting near him for a few minutes so I hope they understand, though they just seemed quite afraid being at the vets.

Thanks for all the support and the help tonight, it helped me immensely.

Sleep tight my handsome Muesli, I loved you the minute I saw you, and will never stop. xxx

I am so sorry

Binky free Muesli.

I am so sorry

RIP Muesli xx

I'm so very sorry . Saying goodbye to our beloved fluffs is the hardest thing to do but you did the right thing. Thinking of you xx.

I am so sorry. Rest in peace Muesli. x