basirascal
Mama Doe
I have only just caught up with this thread I am so very sorry that you have lost your beloved Thumper. My thoughts are with you. You did so very much for him RIP Thumper.
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Judy, sorry, being really dim here. So is the condition he had different to what you thought? Has it helped you getting these results? Sorry for the questions, just want to understand!
So it was an infection in those areas that caused them to deteriorate. Is this something that could potentially be affecting other rabbits who show his symptoms? If so, and if it is possible to pass it on to humans, his PM could save a lot more people than you realise.
I really hope you get to the bottom of exactly what was happening with him.
Absolutely Jenova. It was an infection.
I feel that we now know what was happening to Thumper.
As far as I understand it, this is the 1st. case of this precise form of the illness in rabbits.
I honestly can't make assumptions about other rabbits on the basis of Thumper alone.
We need to give the vet world time to discuss it with each other.
The results of the next tests will give us an idea of how potentially easily it is passed on to humans.
Of course I'll be able to contribute to that knowledge when I've had tests myself, to see if I've caught it.
If I'm clear, after a huge exposure to his faecs I think it reasonable to say that the risk of rabbit human spread is very low indeed.
Please, no panicking here. We don't want to see a single rabbit PTS unnecessarily. It's a treatable illness in humans, but awareness of the possibility is a huge help in diagnosis. I'm not ruffled by the thought I could have caught it - I just think - "grief if I have any more pills I'll need 2 breakfasts. 1 of pills & another for food!":lol:
We're all participating in the process of learning something new about rabbits on this thread. Like all research at the beginning we have a theory which fits the facts at the time. Then we get new information which blows our theory out of the water & we start again, & go on, & on, until we get something which fits all the facts.
Thanks Judy! I find it incredible that his symptoms and disease you thought you were managing we're rare but the actual problem probably rarer still. There's no room for ifs buts or maybes in this story, only the incredible strength and bravery of a small bunny and his amazing owner. I am glad he got to live his life longer rather than being pts in case of the remote possibility he infected a human. I now have fingers crossed that your health is ok.
How are you keeping Judy? I am sure your life has changed beyond all recognition. Is anything helped by the fact you are not out in all weathers searching for food for Thumper. I know you would much rather have him than not but I wondered if there was a small benefit to you. Take care xx
I just still can't believe how much you and Thumper have done for rabbit medicine. I know that through my vets trying and succeeding to treat Grim we have saved two other rabbits' lives. One is my sister's rabbit Dexter and the other is an unknown who my vet talked to my sister about. I know without Grim being ill those two rabbits at least would not have made it. But what Thumper has done is so much more and it's all through you. You've given up so much but he truly will live on forever in all the rabbits he saves. If I were religious I would say he should be made a saint. And you too.
I can not believe I've only just seen this update :shock:
I am in total shock, I honestly never in a million years thought they'd find TB!! :shock::shock: I saw a fair amount of the human form in India and was coughed all over by a febrile infected infant on a ward. Many of the orthopaedic patients were TB in the bone etc. Until you wrote it down I never even considered the risk to yourself but am certain you will be fine, please let us know this is the case when you find out.
Blimey, that little rabbit of yours was a real one in a million in so many ways! No wonder he was so poorly, I hope some of the vets who suggested his illness was at times 'behavioural' and attention seeking are now eating their professional hats! This just shows once again how incredible you were at keeping him going through such serious infection. He led a full happy life thanks to you, and of course the support you got from Marie. xx
It's much on my mind that there's a very remote possibility I've given it to him!
I had human pulmonary as a child, picked up early on mass miniature XR. I also had the full treatment - parenteral streptomycin then PAS & INZ for 2 years. It was back in the early days of effective anti TB therapy & it was uncertain how effective it was long term. We were advised to watch out for reactivation later in life.
I've always had a massive "naturally aquired" immunity to human TB.
I'm too old to "reactivate"lol & TBH I'd have fallen off me perch long ago if I'd had reactivated human TB of 6 years duration.
We just have to wait patiently & see what the type is. I've no worries whatsoever about me.
Of course I'll tell RU what happens -you all need to know.
Yes, there's a part of me that can't resist a mental dig in that direction too.
My halo fell round my ankles as I imagined a certain "gentleman" who accused me of making a "perfectly normal bunny ill by overdosing him with drugs" & might be described as "positively luminous on rectal examination", needing a colonoscopy round to his own caecum! I leave it to the realms of fantasy though! I honestly don't want any harm to come to anyone from this.
ETA I should add that the histopathology doesn't suggest human TB either.