Hello everybody,
I have been skulking around the forum since we got our two rabbits in October of last year, 2018. Its a very helpful place, and I read what I could and learned about our new pets.
Sadly, in December of 2018, our two rabbits were in the run and a wild female rabbit was in the garden, and took an interest in our two male rabbits, which at that time had not been neutered. Disaster struck when one rabbit attacked the other, and an emergency operation was needed but thankfully, little Tim pulled through.
Tim became my favourite, so vulnerable and sweet. We seperated the rabbits and had Tommy neutered, then slowly reintroduced them both. Many happy days in the garden followed and I began to hate the hutch that we had been sold with our two rabbits, so I modified a children's play house and that became their new home, with different levels, vinyl flooring, a bed and lots of toys.
A couple of times, one or the other of the rabbits went off their food and I learned that this was very serious, took good care of them by bringing them indoors and caring for them until they started to eat again. The longest that took was two days.
Things were good.
On Monday, I noticed that both of the rabbits had stopped eating. I usually let them free in the garden every evening and at weekends and I thought that maybe they had eaten something that didn't agree with them. So I kept a close eye on them. Last night (Tuesday) they were still not eating but Tim took lots of water and a little food, so I thought he was on the mend. Tommy was not taking anything and he is usually the most delicate of the pair when it comes to digestive problems.
I decided to take them to the vet the nxt morning (today) but was horrified when I looked in on them to find Tim in a really bad way. He was almost unresponsive and I got him and Tommy straight to the vet. They hospitalised Tim for the day but were unable to save him. They phoned me and asked what I wanted to do so I picked the kindest option of having Tim put to sleep straight away, since I couldn't make it back to the vets for a couple of hours.
Tommy was treated also, so I went back and collected poor Tim so that I could bury him here at home. I will plant a rose bush over his grave. Tommy is on medication and I am syringe feeding him.
I am devastated. I am a grown man and just can't stop crying. This is my fault and I should have taken Tim to the vet earlier. I have to be strong for my daughter who is also very upset but I just needed to get this out. My wife is very sweet but I feel stupid talking to her about this as she has suffered with losing more than one family member at young ages, and sometimes in tragic circumstances but she never once really broke down in front of me, though I wanted her to.
I just want this to serve as a warning to others. Please take your rabbits not feeding seriously and get help straight away. Even if you have managed things yourself before, this is what can happen without involving the vet.
Rest in Peace, Tim. xx
I have been skulking around the forum since we got our two rabbits in October of last year, 2018. Its a very helpful place, and I read what I could and learned about our new pets.
Sadly, in December of 2018, our two rabbits were in the run and a wild female rabbit was in the garden, and took an interest in our two male rabbits, which at that time had not been neutered. Disaster struck when one rabbit attacked the other, and an emergency operation was needed but thankfully, little Tim pulled through.
Tim became my favourite, so vulnerable and sweet. We seperated the rabbits and had Tommy neutered, then slowly reintroduced them both. Many happy days in the garden followed and I began to hate the hutch that we had been sold with our two rabbits, so I modified a children's play house and that became their new home, with different levels, vinyl flooring, a bed and lots of toys.
A couple of times, one or the other of the rabbits went off their food and I learned that this was very serious, took good care of them by bringing them indoors and caring for them until they started to eat again. The longest that took was two days.
Things were good.
On Monday, I noticed that both of the rabbits had stopped eating. I usually let them free in the garden every evening and at weekends and I thought that maybe they had eaten something that didn't agree with them. So I kept a close eye on them. Last night (Tuesday) they were still not eating but Tim took lots of water and a little food, so I thought he was on the mend. Tommy was not taking anything and he is usually the most delicate of the pair when it comes to digestive problems.
I decided to take them to the vet the nxt morning (today) but was horrified when I looked in on them to find Tim in a really bad way. He was almost unresponsive and I got him and Tommy straight to the vet. They hospitalised Tim for the day but were unable to save him. They phoned me and asked what I wanted to do so I picked the kindest option of having Tim put to sleep straight away, since I couldn't make it back to the vets for a couple of hours.
Tommy was treated also, so I went back and collected poor Tim so that I could bury him here at home. I will plant a rose bush over his grave. Tommy is on medication and I am syringe feeding him.
I am devastated. I am a grown man and just can't stop crying. This is my fault and I should have taken Tim to the vet earlier. I have to be strong for my daughter who is also very upset but I just needed to get this out. My wife is very sweet but I feel stupid talking to her about this as she has suffered with losing more than one family member at young ages, and sometimes in tragic circumstances but she never once really broke down in front of me, though I wanted her to.
I just want this to serve as a warning to others. Please take your rabbits not feeding seriously and get help straight away. Even if you have managed things yourself before, this is what can happen without involving the vet.
Rest in Peace, Tim. xx
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