melaniebrammall
New Kit
Hello,
This is my first time on this forum and hope that you can help with my guilt, or confirm that i am thinking right?!
My dear bunny Frankie, who was going to be 7 yrs old in July passed away on Monday afternoon.
She was a beautiful, very large, friendly dwarf rabbit who lived in-doors and had plenty of love and attention from me. Even though she didn't have a run attached to her cage, she was able to exercise around the house for about 30 minutes every morning, and at least 2 hours every evening.. and much longer on weekends!.. She didn't like being picked up (she was a big bunny), but was quite happy to cuddle up next to me on the floor whilst I smoothed her head and ears. - She would lick me in return or tug at my trousers for more!
Last Tuesday, Frankie seemed to go off of her food and I noticed that there wasn't any fresh poo.. nothing of the soft variety either.
(I always feed her favourite dark greens as well as a small amount of dry food morning and night, and a rabbit treat every friday). - Fresh water is always available, as well as a small bird seed bowl with water for quick access.
I new she was a little quiet but thought it might just be one of her moody times. She was still very keen to jump out of her cage and come into the lounge with me, and she didn't seem in any pain.
Wednesday was pretty much the same (with a small amount of food eaten but no dry - intake of water was fine) and I was getting increasingly worried.
Thursday morning very small flecks of poo encased in a jelly-like ball...
I was extremely worried and so I called the vets to make an appointment with our specialist... But she wasn't back in until the following Tuesday?!!
I have had experience with the other available vets but they seem more dog orientated and I didn't want an unfamiliar vet attending to my adored rabbit to just ask me to come back a 2nd time, as well as having to go through a huge effort to get Frankie in her carrier which would stress her out. - So I booked the appointment for Tuesday.
Bought Frankie some Pro-Biotic powder to add to her water and gave her all the attention I could.
Thursday afternoon was better. Frankie had her appetite back and seemed like normal.. apart from the poo.
I don't know why I didn't just take her to the vets as I know not going to the toilet is dangerous, especially with rabbits' digestive system, but somehow, I felt she was well enough to justify waiting until the Tuesday. - My partner felt the same too and he loves her just as much.
Poo remained the same for Friday & Saturday which is when I discovered from online research, that she was suffering from GI Statis : (
Reading advice for GI Statis, I fed Frankie basil, mint, parsley, carrot, apple to try and moisten her 'food ball'. I also fed her some watered down pineapple juice as it contains something that can break up the particles and stimulate the gut again.
I don't know why I didn't listen to my head, but I still didn't call the vets as I just wanted our usual vet to treat Frankie.. and she seemed fit and active enough to hold on?!
Sunday morning came and I was still torn and had the emergency vet number in my hand... But I still didn't call!
Frankie was out all day and night Sunday.. for 15 hours in fact!
In the afternoon I was massaging her abdomen and a second jelly blob appeared with small flecks of poo. - i thought it may have been working, as other poo's were slightly bigger than before and she seemed perky.
For the entire day, Frankie was happy in the lounge by the fire having lots of attention, and being covered by a towel like a baby. Sunday night eating was fine too .
Monday morning was the same, no poo, but absolutely fine with food, movement and temperament. She didn't seem in any pain and didn't show any signs at any time... Which is why I think I didn't get her to the vets sooner.
Things were looking brighter and I couldn't wait to get Frankie to the vets on Tuesday to see Rebecca for an x-ray, some medicene and normal poo again!.
But sad to say, when I arrived home on Monday evening at 6pm, Frankie had passed away, she was still warm : (
I was/am devastated and heart broken, and so is my partner.
She was laid stretched out with her belly pressed to the bottom of her cage.. Seeing her like this, (however sweet and content she would normally look laying out), reminded my of the GI Statis article that stated rabbits with abdominal pain would press their bellies to the ground. - Why didn't she show more signs earlier?.. or why didn't I stay home so that I could see the signs to rush her to the vets?... I sound so ignorant, and can't help but blame myself and think 'what if'.
Left with shock, hurt and a broken heart, we buried Frankie in a box full of hay and her favourite treats. She is out in the garden now which she adored, and I plan to plant the most beautiful flowers around her. She will never be forgotten.
Can people let me know if I should blame myself for her death, if these things just happen and we just have to learn, or should I reflect on how she had a very good life whilst she was here? Was Frankie old and likely to suffer from a more painful, drawn-out illness? Was 6, almost 7 a good age? And if I had got her to the vets for treatment, would she have suffered with further bouts of illness, in which case it's better that she didn't suffer for long? - She also had a lump on her mamery gland which the vet was keeping an eye on, but again this could have been a much more painful end.
I feel so guilty, and lost without my companion who relied on me and gave me a routine.. Did I let her down?
I need confirmation : (
You will be very missed Frankie, my sweetie, and I'm sure you know it!
Sorry for the long entry!
Melanie
This is my first time on this forum and hope that you can help with my guilt, or confirm that i am thinking right?!
My dear bunny Frankie, who was going to be 7 yrs old in July passed away on Monday afternoon.
She was a beautiful, very large, friendly dwarf rabbit who lived in-doors and had plenty of love and attention from me. Even though she didn't have a run attached to her cage, she was able to exercise around the house for about 30 minutes every morning, and at least 2 hours every evening.. and much longer on weekends!.. She didn't like being picked up (she was a big bunny), but was quite happy to cuddle up next to me on the floor whilst I smoothed her head and ears. - She would lick me in return or tug at my trousers for more!
Last Tuesday, Frankie seemed to go off of her food and I noticed that there wasn't any fresh poo.. nothing of the soft variety either.
(I always feed her favourite dark greens as well as a small amount of dry food morning and night, and a rabbit treat every friday). - Fresh water is always available, as well as a small bird seed bowl with water for quick access.
I new she was a little quiet but thought it might just be one of her moody times. She was still very keen to jump out of her cage and come into the lounge with me, and she didn't seem in any pain.
Wednesday was pretty much the same (with a small amount of food eaten but no dry - intake of water was fine) and I was getting increasingly worried.
Thursday morning very small flecks of poo encased in a jelly-like ball...
I was extremely worried and so I called the vets to make an appointment with our specialist... But she wasn't back in until the following Tuesday?!!
I have had experience with the other available vets but they seem more dog orientated and I didn't want an unfamiliar vet attending to my adored rabbit to just ask me to come back a 2nd time, as well as having to go through a huge effort to get Frankie in her carrier which would stress her out. - So I booked the appointment for Tuesday.
Bought Frankie some Pro-Biotic powder to add to her water and gave her all the attention I could.
Thursday afternoon was better. Frankie had her appetite back and seemed like normal.. apart from the poo.
I don't know why I didn't just take her to the vets as I know not going to the toilet is dangerous, especially with rabbits' digestive system, but somehow, I felt she was well enough to justify waiting until the Tuesday. - My partner felt the same too and he loves her just as much.
Poo remained the same for Friday & Saturday which is when I discovered from online research, that she was suffering from GI Statis : (
Reading advice for GI Statis, I fed Frankie basil, mint, parsley, carrot, apple to try and moisten her 'food ball'. I also fed her some watered down pineapple juice as it contains something that can break up the particles and stimulate the gut again.
I don't know why I didn't listen to my head, but I still didn't call the vets as I just wanted our usual vet to treat Frankie.. and she seemed fit and active enough to hold on?!
Sunday morning came and I was still torn and had the emergency vet number in my hand... But I still didn't call!
Frankie was out all day and night Sunday.. for 15 hours in fact!
In the afternoon I was massaging her abdomen and a second jelly blob appeared with small flecks of poo. - i thought it may have been working, as other poo's were slightly bigger than before and she seemed perky.
For the entire day, Frankie was happy in the lounge by the fire having lots of attention, and being covered by a towel like a baby. Sunday night eating was fine too .
Monday morning was the same, no poo, but absolutely fine with food, movement and temperament. She didn't seem in any pain and didn't show any signs at any time... Which is why I think I didn't get her to the vets sooner.
Things were looking brighter and I couldn't wait to get Frankie to the vets on Tuesday to see Rebecca for an x-ray, some medicene and normal poo again!.
But sad to say, when I arrived home on Monday evening at 6pm, Frankie had passed away, she was still warm : (
I was/am devastated and heart broken, and so is my partner.
She was laid stretched out with her belly pressed to the bottom of her cage.. Seeing her like this, (however sweet and content she would normally look laying out), reminded my of the GI Statis article that stated rabbits with abdominal pain would press their bellies to the ground. - Why didn't she show more signs earlier?.. or why didn't I stay home so that I could see the signs to rush her to the vets?... I sound so ignorant, and can't help but blame myself and think 'what if'.
Left with shock, hurt and a broken heart, we buried Frankie in a box full of hay and her favourite treats. She is out in the garden now which she adored, and I plan to plant the most beautiful flowers around her. She will never be forgotten.
Can people let me know if I should blame myself for her death, if these things just happen and we just have to learn, or should I reflect on how she had a very good life whilst she was here? Was Frankie old and likely to suffer from a more painful, drawn-out illness? Was 6, almost 7 a good age? And if I had got her to the vets for treatment, would she have suffered with further bouts of illness, in which case it's better that she didn't suffer for long? - She also had a lump on her mamery gland which the vet was keeping an eye on, but again this could have been a much more painful end.
I feel so guilty, and lost without my companion who relied on me and gave me a routine.. Did I let her down?
I need confirmation : (
You will be very missed Frankie, my sweetie, and I'm sure you know it!
Sorry for the long entry!
Melanie