Rear end nightmare :-(

[Jack's-Jane]

It was good to read your update that her urine scald is healing, she is eating well, and she has gained some weight. I can only offer you more positive vibes for continued improvement and to say once again that she is lucky you came into her life.
At this point, I would not waste time on discussions with the prior owner.

I suspect they will be rather economical with the truth anyway...........

 

[MightyMax]

How's she doing today?

 

[Swissgreys]

Thanks for asking Mighty Max (and for your advice in a previous post).

Today has been a hard day all round.
Pepper (our doe) is moving less, and has fallen over several times and struggles to get back up (although she does manage eventually).
Today she just looked miserable for a lot of the time.
For the first time since they arrived Chilli (our buck) chose to sleep on a separate level of the hutch to her - normally they are inseparable, but he has started leaving her for longer and longer periods.
Her eating is definitely slowing down a bit, so I am stepping in with syringe feeding, and the kids went foraging for fresh grass and clover.

Because of her ongoing incontinence I spent most of today deep cleaning all of their hutch and outdoor areas.
Obviously I clean the level that she lays on daily, because I don't want her to be laying in her own urine (she does have litter trays and I now have most of the floor covered with a huge plastic tray, filled with carefresh, then straw then hay), but twice a week I have to clean the entire bottom level because I worry about the the smell and flies.
I wonder if this is why Chilli is sleeping upstairs now - Pepper can't get upstairs, so it is the only properly clean area of the hutch?

In addition to the feeding, I also am still cleaning her and applying cream daily, and this just gets harder and harder.
She bites hard and continuously, and needs to be completely wrapped in a towel whenever we hold her. The whole process is becoming a 2 person job, and I am slightly worried as my DH (and chief reabbit handler) is away on business this week.
She also urinates everywhere while being handled (although I am getting good at avoiding that).
We have decided to cancel our family trip away over Easter, as we just feel we can't expect our regular pet sitter to deal with all of this.

Thank goodness the kids have pretty much taken over caring for the guinea pigs, otherwise they would probably be calling a re homing center.

So in a nutshell it has been a hard day and I am starting to wonder just how long we keep trying.
It probably makes me sound awful, but if this was a rabbit we had owned for any length of time I think I would feel differently, but she has been ill since she arrived, emptied our entire vet fund (and them some) and is showing no signs of improving or enjoying life at all. She is difficult to handle, and the whole thing is tearing the kids apart.
Am I being awful to even think like this - it's not like she chose this path either.

We have another vet appointment tomorrow morning (thank goodness I have an understanding boss) and I will see what the vet thinks - maybe another perspective will help.
And again thanks to everyone who has replied - it does help to know we are not completely on our own with this.

 

[cara]

I completely feel for your situation. And it is perfectly understandable.

Teddy has also had an incontinence problem and consequently urine scald. And at times getting on top of it has been very overwhelming.

I think, as you say, a big part of how you feel, is the fact that your 'chief rabbit handler' will possibly not be around to help you. My husband is the expert handler between us and it always takes both of us to apply the hold/apply the cream.

My rabbit also peed everywhere whilst being handled. I don't think it was intentional, but part of his problem. My husband use to hold/suspend him over an empty, decent sized litter tray, so mostly the pee landed there. The cream we have used, successfully, was flamazine.

At its worst, the routine was draining. I hated doing it. Teddy hated the process.

I know there are added issues in your situation and hopefully the vet will be able to discuss further your difficulties. But be absolutely certain, there is nothing awful about you or your thoughts whatsoever. You are doing the very best you can in a very difficult situation. I wish I was nearby to help you! Someone else here will be along to help you, I am sure. And I do hope tomorrow is a better day :wave:

 

[MightyMax]

Thanks for asking Mighty Max (and for your advice in a previous post).

Today has been a hard day all round.
Pepper (our doe) is moving less, and has fallen over several times and struggles to get back up (although she does manage eventually).
Today she just looked miserable for a lot of the time.
For the first time since they arrived Chilli (our buck) chose to sleep on a separate level of the hutch to her - normally they are inseparable, but he has started leaving her for longer and longer periods.
Her eating is definitely slowing down a bit, so I am stepping in with syringe feeding, and the kids went foraging for fresh grass and clover.

Because of her ongoing incontinence I spent most of today deep cleaning all of their hutch and outdoor areas.
Obviously I clean the level that she lays on daily, because I don't want her to be laying in her own urine (she does have litter trays and I now have most of the floor covered with a huge plastic tray, filled with carefresh, then straw then hay), but twice a week I have to clean the entire bottom level because I worry about the the smell and flies.
I wonder if this is why Chilli is sleeping upstairs now - Pepper can't get upstairs, so it is the only properly clean area of the hutch?

In addition to the feeding, I also am still cleaning her and applying cream daily, and this just gets harder and harder.
She bites hard and continuously, and needs to be completely wrapped in a towel whenever we hold her. The whole process is becoming a 2 person job, and I am slightly worried as my DH (and chief reabbit handler) is away on business this week.
She also urinates everywhere while being handled (although I am getting good at avoiding that).
We have decided to cancel our family trip away over Easter, as we just feel we can't expect our regular pet sitter to deal with all of this.

Thank goodness the kids have pretty much taken over caring for the guinea pigs, otherwise they would probably be calling a re homing center.

So in a nutshell it has been a hard day and I am starting to wonder just how long we keep trying.
It probably makes me sound awful, but if this was a rabbit we had owned for any length of time I think I would feel differently, but she has been ill since she arrived, emptied our entire vet fund (and them some) and is showing no signs of improving or enjoying life at all. She is difficult to handle, and the whole thing is tearing the kids apart.
Am I being awful to even think like this - it's not like she chose this path either.

We have another vet appointment tomorrow morning (thank goodness I have an understanding boss) and I will see what the vet thinks - maybe another perspective will help.
And again thanks to everyone who has replied - it does help to know we are not completely on our own with this.

You're very welcome - I really feel for you. I have had rabbits where I have spent 2/3 hours an evening on one rabbit alone, given the extent of issues he had. It's incredibly wearing. I also completely understand your point about her just having entered your household. That's a valid point, you are not a Rescue Centre and you never expected this to be the case with her.

Do you have a good and trusty vet? (sorry if you've already said). Can you discuss this honestly and openly with your vet?

I think some prognosis of what may happen would help give direction to this whole thing. Rabbits are very difficult 'pets' and often very strong (physically) and obstreperous as they don't like being handled or fiddled with.

It may be that her problems can't be solved and this has to be discussed with candour.

Is there anything I can do to help in this situation?

 

[CometLucy195]

You are doing an amazing job and given Pepper the best chance. If all you have tried just does not make her better, you do have to consider her quality of life. I hope that the vet can help her tomorrow.
You don't sound awful at all. You have to consider everything, including your family, you've given up your holiday to help her and her life has dramatically changed for the better. See what the Vet says and whatever you decide, will be the right thing. Hopefully there will be a cure for her though. Sending hope and best wishes to you.

 

[Jack's-Jane]

You are doing an amazing job and given Pepper the best chance. If all you have tried just does not make her better, you do have to consider her quality of life. I hope that the vet can help her tomorrow.
You don't sound awful at all. You have to consider everything, including your family, you've given up your holiday to help her and her life has dramatically changed for the better. See what the Vet says and whatever you decide, will be the right thing. Hopefully there will be a cure for her though. Sending hope and best wishes to you.

Perfectly worded

I too send my best wishes xx

 

[bunny momma]

Perfectly worded

I too send my best wishes xx

Ditto!

 

[Swissgreys]

I am finally getting around to updating this thread - sorry it has taken a while.
After my last post, Pepper actually had 2 really lovely days.
She was moving a bit more, still eating, and enjoying sitting in the sunshine with her brother.
I really thought we were getting on top of things.
But then overnight she went rapidly downhill.
She lost interest in food, was barley moving, and was constantly dribbling urine.
Metacam was not touching it, and we got an emergency appointment with the specialist.
He agreed it was probably EC, but as she had been so ill for so long he felt that there was little chance of a reasonable recovery.
We agreed to try and give her a bit more time for the Panacur to work, but that night she had her first seizure.
The following day we decided she had tried as hard as she could, but enough was enough.
We let her go - I held her the entire time, and it was very peaceful.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to post and offer support and advice.

Sleep well Pepper, and forgive me for not being able to do more.
I promise I will do everything possible to care for your much loved brother Chilli.

 

[MightyMax]

I am finally getting around to updating this thread - sorry it has taken a while.
After my last post, Pepper actually had 2 really lovely days.
She was moving a bit more, still eating, and enjoying sitting in the sunshine with her brother.
I really thought we were getting on top of things.
But then overnight she went rapidly downhill.
She lost interest in food, was barley moving, and was constantly dribbling urine.
Metacam was not touching it, and we got an emergency appointment with the specialist.
He agreed it was probably EC, but as she had been so ill for so long he felt that there was little chance of a reasonable recovery.
We agreed to try and give her a bit more time for the Panacur to work, but that night she had her first seizure.
The following day we decided she had tried as hard as she could, but enough was enough.
We let her go - I held her the entire time, and it was very peaceful.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to post and offer support and advice.

Sleep well Pepper, and forgive me for not being able to do more.
I promise I will do everything possible to care for your much loved brother Chilli.

Thank you for updating, and I am so very sorry to hear this

You tried so hard with Pepper, but it wasn't to be.

Love and hugs to you and Chilli x

 

[Zoobec]

I'm so sorry Binky free Pepper xx

 

[susie bun]

I'm sorry you have lost Pepper.

 

[Den]

I am finally getting around to updating this thread - sorry it has taken a while.
After my last post, Pepper actually had 2 really lovely days.
She was moving a bit more, still eating, and enjoying sitting in the sunshine with her brother.
I really thought we were getting on top of things.
But then overnight she went rapidly downhill.
She lost interest in food, was barley moving, and was constantly dribbling urine.
Metacam was not touching it, and we got an emergency appointment with the specialist.
He agreed it was probably EC, but as she had been so ill for so long he felt that there was little chance of a reasonable recovery.
We agreed to try and give her a bit more time for the Panacur to work, but that night she had her first seizure.
The following day we decided she had tried as hard as she could, but enough was enough.
We let her go - I held her the entire time, and it was very peaceful.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to post and offer support and advice.

Sleep well Pepper, and forgive me for not being able to do more.
I promise I will do everything possible to care for your much loved brother Chilli.

I am so sorry to read this update.

I hope in time you will be able to take comfort from the fact that the last few weeks of her life were in a loving home with people who tried so hard to help her.

Binky Free Pepper.

Sending love and hugs to you and Chilli.

 

[roxyroller88]

So sad
Sweet dreams Pepper xxxxx

 

[*lily*]

Oh no, so very, very sorry

Sleep tightly little one xxx

 

[Jack's-Jane]

so very sorry that Pepper could not get better

RIP little Bunny x

 

[Omi]

So sad I'm so very sorry

 

[kattymieoww]

I'm so sorry you did your very best by her.Binky free Pepper.

 

[Pip&Milo]

I'm so sorry to hear about Pepper.
You gave her such a good chance and I really hope that brings you comfort.
You did everything you could! xxxx

 

[CometLucy195]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Xx