We bought Buddy and Miffy (Brother and sister) at 8 weeks in December 2007.
They lived quite happily together outside (when the weather was in high single figures and above) and inside when the temperature dropped to low single figures.
They've been inside all winter and had only been sleeping outside as of this wednesday (3rd).
Monday (1st) the rabbits went to the vets for some Xeno (Skin mites). Both rabbits seemed fine.
Thursday (4th); Buddy seemed out of the ordinary but we weren't too alarmed.
On Friday (5th) early evening we went into the garden to get them into the hutch for bedtime and Buddy was just sitting with his face on the floor looking miserable not really moving. He was also cold to the touch. So we bought him inside straight away and tried our best to warm him up with blankets and we turned the heating on.
We couldnt tell if he had been eating/drinking as normal as he shares the hutch/indoor cage and Miffy is a greedy monkey.
That night (Friday 5th) I got a call from my wife that said I needed to come home asap and take Buddy to the out of hours emergency Vet. She had spoken to the PDSA/Vets now vet and described Buddy's state and the vet said to bring him in sharpish.
We wondered if maybe he'd had a reaction to the Xeno.. so off we went.
The vet examined him and did the following:
For home treatment; the Vet gaves us some liquid Zantac, to dose at 2ml every six hours, and some Supreme rabbit recovery (liquid food) to give him little and often.
she told us to try and warm him up with a wrapped hot water bottle, and to see our regular vet first thing in the AM.
Saturday AM I took Bud to the vet.
This vet prescribed Fiboplex to get Buddy's bowels moving, dosed at 2ml every 6 hours, in addition to sticking with the regime as specified on the friday night.
The vet arranged to give us a follow on call on Sunday morning to see how Buddy was doing.
Saturday night he seemed to be perking up and was moving about, nibbling and drinking very small amounts. We were pleased with his progress and confident he was getting better (slowly). He did seem cool to the touch still, even though we had kept up with hotwater bottles. We were concerned, but not panicky.
Sunday am (today) our daughter went down to see him at 0845 and excitedly shouted upstairs that "buddy's done some poos!".
We felt relieved and dozed off..
The phone rang at 0940 and my wife got up and went downstairs to answer. She then went to check on Buddy whilst talking to the vet; she discovered Buddy stretched out and still. :shock:
There was quite a large amount of runny sludgy faeces on the towels in the cage and his backside was covered.
We were devastated to find Buddy had passed away some time within that hour...
What I'd like to ask;
As you can proably tell we are all awash with grief.
We visited the vet after the phonecall/discovery and he confirmed no heart beat.
We then drove across to a local Pet Cremation centre, where we were expertly greeted and dealt with.
We left Buddy with them; to pick up his ashes tomorrow..
I haven't cried like that in 25 years..
I hadn't realised how much I'd become attached to that little bundle of fluff and joy.
After doing some frantic surfing tonight looking for answers; the reality of his ileus really hit me. He died alone and in pain. we feel so guilty..
We never thought about asking for a necropsy (I didn't know that you could ask for one! The vet never suggested it).. now we will never know what really happened to our dear little man..
Here's a lovely picture to cheer this post up:
Our buddy boy:
R.I.P little dude.
Thanks for reading.
They lived quite happily together outside (when the weather was in high single figures and above) and inside when the temperature dropped to low single figures.
They've been inside all winter and had only been sleeping outside as of this wednesday (3rd).
Monday (1st) the rabbits went to the vets for some Xeno (Skin mites). Both rabbits seemed fine.
Thursday (4th); Buddy seemed out of the ordinary but we weren't too alarmed.
On Friday (5th) early evening we went into the garden to get them into the hutch for bedtime and Buddy was just sitting with his face on the floor looking miserable not really moving. He was also cold to the touch. So we bought him inside straight away and tried our best to warm him up with blankets and we turned the heating on.
We couldnt tell if he had been eating/drinking as normal as he shares the hutch/indoor cage and Miffy is a greedy monkey.
That night (Friday 5th) I got a call from my wife that said I needed to come home asap and take Buddy to the out of hours emergency Vet. She had spoken to the PDSA/Vets now vet and described Buddy's state and the vet said to bring him in sharpish.
We wondered if maybe he'd had a reaction to the Xeno.. so off we went.
The vet examined him and did the following:
- Gave him Saline Subcutaneously (500ml)
- Injected him with 25mg of Zantac
- Injected 10mg of Metocl'ide
- she diagnosed gastric impaction.
- Injected some Metacam (0.07)
- Took his temp which was 93' - but wasnt fully inserted according to the vets notes.
For home treatment; the Vet gaves us some liquid Zantac, to dose at 2ml every six hours, and some Supreme rabbit recovery (liquid food) to give him little and often.
she told us to try and warm him up with a wrapped hot water bottle, and to see our regular vet first thing in the AM.
Saturday AM I took Bud to the vet.
This vet prescribed Fiboplex to get Buddy's bowels moving, dosed at 2ml every 6 hours, in addition to sticking with the regime as specified on the friday night.
The vet arranged to give us a follow on call on Sunday morning to see how Buddy was doing.
Saturday night he seemed to be perking up and was moving about, nibbling and drinking very small amounts. We were pleased with his progress and confident he was getting better (slowly). He did seem cool to the touch still, even though we had kept up with hotwater bottles. We were concerned, but not panicky.
Sunday am (today) our daughter went down to see him at 0845 and excitedly shouted upstairs that "buddy's done some poos!".
We felt relieved and dozed off..
The phone rang at 0940 and my wife got up and went downstairs to answer. She then went to check on Buddy whilst talking to the vet; she discovered Buddy stretched out and still. :shock:
There was quite a large amount of runny sludgy faeces on the towels in the cage and his backside was covered.
We were devastated to find Buddy had passed away some time within that hour...
What I'd like to ask;
- Is it possible that the vet knew he wouldnt last, and the call was just a platitude on his part? ie: he didnt want to tell us about the impending bad news?
- Was the dosing of the Fiboplex way too much; and did our bunny literally poo himself to death once it took effect? :nonod:
- If our bunny was in agony with the IleusWHY didnt the vet prescribe some pain relief for home administration!!!? :evil:
As you can proably tell we are all awash with grief.
We visited the vet after the phonecall/discovery and he confirmed no heart beat.
We then drove across to a local Pet Cremation centre, where we were expertly greeted and dealt with.
We left Buddy with them; to pick up his ashes tomorrow..
I haven't cried like that in 25 years..
I hadn't realised how much I'd become attached to that little bundle of fluff and joy.
After doing some frantic surfing tonight looking for answers; the reality of his ileus really hit me. He died alone and in pain. we feel so guilty..
We never thought about asking for a necropsy (I didn't know that you could ask for one! The vet never suggested it).. now we will never know what really happened to our dear little man..
Here's a lovely picture to cheer this post up:
Our buddy boy:
R.I.P little dude.
Thanks for reading.
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