Of course you're right, Jane. And yes, I do want him seen. The vet who is more rabbit savvy will be in some time after Monday I believe and I hope to try to get him in. I am far out of my depth here. It will be very precarious travel and he has not had to be moved this distance for some months now.
Pending that nothing cardiovascular is found to be wrong, if he were your bunny and the vet said he needed a dental, would you risk it? Keeping in mind of course that in your heart you sometimes wonder if the vet is concentrating more on the fee than the patient (but that being your opinion, not necessarily a fact).
Have you ever heard of a head tilt bunny living through such a procedure? I know he could pass from surgery even if he were healthy and if he did pass I could presume he was ready to go...part of me could accept that. Part of me would be cursing myself for not being more protective of him.
This morning his ears look better and he is alert and stroppy, digging at his frozen water bottle like ringing a dinner bell...and I, as staff, must attend immediately if not sooner.
He received his metacam and a few sprigs of mint which he happily gobbled up.
He's eaten hay...was eating as I rose this morning ...I try not to disturb him while I hear munching because he stops and looks for a fuss if he sees me. :roll:
I don't notice too much slippage of his jaw but I know gravity must be working on it. I do wish I had an otoscope and could take a peek in there. I imagine if he does have hooks they'd be visible even to an upright blue dummy like me!
Ironically, he'd need to stay on metaclopromide after a dental which is very thing I'm trying to get him off of.
I just hope that by using it so long no permanent damage has been done. There is some evidence in human trials to suggest neurological involvement that does not resolve upon withdrawal of the drug.
Facial tics and whatnot.
I was stunned seeing about an eighth inch of fresh snow on the ground after finishing cleaning up last night. Not unexpected...just unwanted. This will definitely add to the stress of the road in. When we moved here almost 18 years ago now I did not anticipate having to drive a convalescing rabbit the thirty miles over bumps and potholes and twisties to see a doctor. My nerves are doing a mambo.
I would note that barring the difficulty he had restarting his gut after I dropped his dose to 0.5 mls x 2 he was a brighter bunny. I only feared that we'd put the brakes on too fast...but I REALLY want him off this stuff. It does seem to slow him down enough that gas builds up quickly which to me means fermenting stomach contents. I do know what that can do. Perhaps the greens just didn't agree with him. Either way we're trying 0.6 mls x 2 today. I got him some fresh sage and rosemary as well to tempt him to keep eating. But I know he misses his long grasses and dandelion fresh from the yard. Stupid snow. :evil:
I'm sorry to moan about all this. I'm just tired and when I get tired I need someone else to give me outside perspective to be sure I'm not just prolonging the inevitable or if I just need a kick up the butt to get back to my job.That he is showing me a happy bunny face today means a lot. We had quite a chase last night to get his falling hair off before he swallowed it. Probably the most exercise he's had in a few days. He was breathing pretty fast but as soon as he got a little cooler air (it was too hot inside due to the heat being up too high) and a little wipe down with a cool cloth and his freeze bottle he was feeling calmer. At one point he wrapped himself around my ankle and rested his head on my foot while I finished combing him out. I stopped to stroke his face and he puddled and purred.
I love this little guy so much!
We'll keep working on it. I know if he is having heart issues that there may be the possibility of new medication to keep him comfortable. I just don't want to keep him hanging on longer than is quality of life, and also not send him on his way if there is reasonable hope of recovery. This is a bun who still very much has fight in him, but I want more than just fight FOR him.
Thank you both for posting. Sometimes just knowing someone else who understands is out there helps keep me going when I just want to stop. ((((((((((Hugs))))))))))
Okay...whinge over. Please return to your regularly scheduled bunny foruming.
