Advice on my poorly rabbit

[Cheeky]

Hi All

I would like some advice regarding my rabbit. I have had him for 10 years and he came from the RSPCA so I'm not sure exactly how old he is. He has had a degenerative eye/teeth probelm for some years now (an X-ray some years ago confirmed this) but just before Christmas his eyes got very bad always weeping and with white discharge. The vet (who specialises in exotic animal practice) put him on two weeks of injected antibiotics but this has done nothing. He has had his eyes flushed out many times before and last time he had it done it made no difference so the vet and I agreed flushing out this time would have no effect. He didn't think there would be anything else he could do with it being a degenerative problem and it would just be a matter of bathing them with tea and keeping them as clean and painless as possible. However over the last few days he won't let me touch them to keep them clean. He lets me know in no uncertain terms that he doesn't want to be bothered anymore with this.

He is completely blind in one eye with a cattarch and in his other eye he is nearly blind also. On top of all this his back legs have been giving him some jip for a few years and he has been on metacam for them. At the weekend his back right leg gave up completely and today it seems like his back end has now given up. He sits in his house all day and doesnt move very much and when he does move he is struggling to keep balance because of his back end.

The vet thinks it's time to euthanize him as his quality of life is now not good. He is still eating and cleaning himself (although not very well as he can't get to his back end) but I noticed yesterday he hadn't been drinking and I realised it's probably because he can't get to it on his own very well.

I'm struggling to know whether euthanizing him is best for him. Even though his quality of life is not good I don't really know if he is in pain. He certainly isn't grinding his teeth, although he has gone off his food a little and his eyes must be sore.

For all of you who are extremely experienced rabbit owners, would you think that euthanasia is the best option or should I let him continue and pass away naturally on his own?

 

[Muppet2]

I'm sorry to read this, it must be very upsetting for you

I dont know enough about other treatment options - hopefully someone else who can advise will be along shortly - but I *think* that if there is nothing else that can be done, it does sound like it's time to say goodbye very soon. Personally I wouldnt like the idea of a long drawn out decline - although I'm being quite hypocritical there cos I also know I would hate to make the decision and would struggle as you are - but I can see that a natural death in his own time would be 'nicer' so I couldnt criticise anyone for choosing that option.

10 years is a good long life and you know that he's been happy and looked after with you. He's been a lucky rabbit

I dont know how many people read this section so you might want to cross-post this in Health or Rabbit Chat for faster replies from people who will have more experience than me.

 

[hurricanhoney]

So sorry to hear this. If you bunny has no quality of life then it may be kinder to pts but obviously only you know your rabbit and can make that decision. Thinking of you at this hard time.

 

[Cheeky]

Many thanks for your kind words and I will cross-post as suggested.

 

[sdf76]

bumping this up in case anyone knows of suitable treatment-sue x

 

[bunlover]

hi it could be athritus i nhis back legs in which case glucosamine or cartrophen injections may well help with this and allow him some movement again also check underneath him to ensure there is no urine scold or matted fur as this can cause issues in elderly buns back leg movement, i would suggest metacam definatly as an antiinflammatry and as apain relief, regarding blndness this is not the end of the world i have a bun with cateracts the most worrying part is that he wont eat this is likely to be age/pain related,
i wonder abotu bathing the eyes with tea? iv never heard of this, i would say bathe them with luke warm water instead, also could it be a case of tooth roots causing the problems with his eyes? (have x rays been taken) then its your choice at his age whether or not to put him through surgery to remove the inscisors adn roots if this is what is causeing the problems,
another thing i would consider is ec? in which case a 28day course of pannacur would help his can cause eye isssues,
alternativly you know your bunny and know if it is time or not i have to say i personally would want a second opinion from another rabbit savvy vet and whatever treatment you do you will need to consider his age and if you want to put him through it. i hope that he does get better but if not then he has had a fab life for you and it sounds like you will make the right choice either way to ensure that any time he has left is a happy one xxx