I went out with Carob earlier for a drink and when I got back went to put the buns to bed and noticed that Cherry was walking awkwardly. I picked her up and one of her rear legs just hung there. It was bleeding and I had no idea what to do. I popped her in a carrier and 'phoned my vet. As usual there was an answerphone message with a mobile number for the emergency vet on-call. My vet surgery has two vets and they do their own OOH which is the main reason I chose them - knowing the vet and not having to drive a long way with a very sick furry is hugely important to me. I tried the mobile number repeatedly and just kept getting voicemail. Knowing Cherry must be in excrutiating pain I started getting very stressed and tried another vet, although I knew their emergency surgery was a good half an hour away. They answered the 'phone straight away.
I took Cherry there, with Hovis, her husbun, and the vet said her leg had an open fracture and it was not fixable. He said the choices were amputation or put to sleep. He didn't think bunnies did well with a hind leg missing and favoured the PTS option. I remembered reading on here somewhere that bunnies can have a good quality of life with only three legs and as Cherry is only a youing bun I wanted to give her a chance. He took her away to give her pain relief. I didn't like that - my vet always does things with me there to calm my pet. He was gone ages.
When he came back he said she had been given methadone and that he was going to x-ray her and fax the x-rays to John Chitty tomorrow for a second opinion, just in case the leg could be saved - which completely contradicted what he had said earlier which was that there was no way the leg was fixable. He refused to let Hovis stay with her and said that they would have to be kept separate while she healed, whatever was done. I've always left bunnies with their companions and absolutely hated leaving Cherry there all alone.
I have no idea how I will pay the bill which is already £350 but will have to try and get a new credit card quickly.
I don't know how she broke her leg. There were pieces of wood in the fenced off area she was in but these were only light. There is a chair in there and a stool that they jump on and off. I can only imagine that one of the pieces of wood fell on her leg and feel really bad that I had left them in there. They've been there for years but were recently moved when the fence/gate were replaced to stop escaping bunnies.
I'm now worried in case I should have opted for PTS and am being selfish in having her leg amputated. She just didn't look to me like a bunny ready to give up and when she went to bed she moved just as fast as usual, it was just that her gait was different which made me suspicious. I probably should have tried to splint it before taking her to the vet but I didn't know how and was panicking.
The vet has just 'phoned as he said he would. She has had an anaesthetic and an x-ray. The leg has been splinted. She is on iv antibiotics and fluids and has had methadone and an anti inflamatory. The wound has been flushed. There is a vet and nurse on site all night who will be monitoring her and he will 'phone me if he is concerned about her during the night. He doesn't think the leg can be saved.
Vibes for Cherry would be really appreciated. I really want to do the right thing but, at the moment, am not sure what that is.
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