Not Great News About Rosie - U/D She's Gone

[Rosie Rabbit]

In the 5 weeks or so since Rosie saw Emma Keeble at the Small Animal Hospital in Edinburgh, her lung problems unfortunately haven't improved at all. Her eye problems have got worse as well. She has variously been on Septrin, Flagyl, Metacam, Zantac, Bisolvon powder, Maxitrol eye drops, and more recently, Baytril. We have been nebulising her with F10 and Baytril, and she has been on a Ventolin inhaler recently too. In addition, she developed an alarming lump on one of her eyeballs a week ago, due possibly to changing the Maxitrol eye drops (which are steroidal) to non-steroidal ones. Emma wanted to do this as she suspected the steriods may have been affecting her ability to fight any lung infection. Apparently topical steroids in the eye are easily absorbed systemically in rabbits. After seeing Rosie's ophthalmic vet last Friday and speaking to the vets in Edinburgh, we agreed to put her back on the Maxitrol to keep her eye comfortable.

She was supposed to be going in overnight again yesterday for more X-rays and tests on her lungs, but we all agreed that she wasn't really well enough for that. As a compromise, she had a conscious scan done on her chest. Unfortunately, her lungs seem to have got worse in the 5 weeks since she was X-rayed, and one of her lungs is virtually collapsed. Emma said her chest was very solid and there's not much room in there. There is also a bit of fluid on the lung which shouldn't be there. Her breathing is very laboured when she's at rest, although you don't hear it as much when she's moving about. They still can't say conclusively whether it is a tumour or bronchopneumonia.

Her eye problems are serious too - she has been blind with cataracts for some time, and has managed well with that, but since the summer she has had uveitis in her right eye and this large inflamed lump which appeared last week. Her incisor roots are overgrown too, blocking her nasolacrimal ducts, and this is what has been causing the excessive wetness on her cheeks.

So, with very heavy hearts, we have decided that she probably doesn't have long left. I don't know quite how long (it's so hard trying to weigh everything up ) but she has 3 separate serious problems that, in conjunction, are proving very difficult to treat. If she had just one of them, we could, for example, remove her eye, or her incisors, but everything is compromised by the very poor state of her lungs.

We really feel that we don't want to put her through much more. The last 4 months have been pretty intensive, and while the drugs are keeping everything under control at the moment, and we could wait until she was really suffering and have her put to sleep then, we don't feel that's in anyone's best interest, least of all Rosie's. We're going to reconsider after the weekend and maybe have to make a very hard decision.

I always remember something I read on a forum - your bunny doesn't really care whether it lives for 5 years or 10, what is important to it is its quality of life when it is alive. And I think that's very true.

Thanks for reading, just wanted to keep you up-to-date.

[Jack's-Jane]

I am sorry that its not good news
You are absolutely right in saying that for a Bun QUALITY of life means so much more than quantity.
I am sure you will do the right thing for Rosie, however hard it will be for you

Is she also having a diuretic to help shift the fluid in her chest ? It would help her feel more comfy as her lungs would have a bit more room to expand.

Please give Rosie a noserub from me

xx

[Jaysmonkey]

I'm sorry, thinking of you and Rosie

[~ Cat ~]

Lots of love to you and Rosie x x x

[Rosie Rabbit]

Thank you.

Jane - Emma didn't mention a diruretic. I don't think there's much extra fluid, just maybe a little bit more than there should be. I will keep it in mind, thank you.

[Jack's-Jane]

Thank you.

Jane - Emma didn't mention a diruretic. I don't think there's much extra fluid, just maybe a little bit more than there should be. I will keep it in mind, thank you.

Well I am sure that if Emma thought a diuretic would help she'd have prescribed it. I am just going on what we did for my Sarah who had a terminal lung condition.

This is always the hardest part of being a Bunny Mummy

[Rosie Rabbit]

Well I am sure that if Emma thought a diuretic would help she'd have prescribed it. I am just going on what we did for my Sarah who had a terminal lung condition.

This is always the hardest part of being a Bunny Mummy

Yes, thanks for your input though, always appreciated.

I don't know how you cope with all the losses you have, it's just the worst feeling x

[SarahP]

I'm so sorry you didn't get better news. Your post has made me cry because I know how upset you must be.

You know I also know how hard it is to make that awful decision. Both times I had to make it I kept changing my mind every half hour or so. So I won't pretend that it will be easy for you, or even that you will definitely be 100% sure (although obviously I really hope you will be), but I am absolutely sure that you will make the right decision at the right time.

Thinking of you all. x

[purplebumble]

i dont come here as much as i used to...and then i log in to read this...oh its broken my heart

i really dont know how youre coping
ive always had a soft spot for rosie as i have said to you many times she reminds me of bif.

im so sorry...sadly its a descision you will have to make....and its heartbreaking to even think about it.
All i can do is send nosey rubs and hugs to rosie..and loads and loads of hugs for you hun. The stress of this will make youre illness worse so be careful to keep yourself as calm as poss.

the thing is..she wont be alone..so many buns gone...and there are 3 of mine from the last year and a bit alone waiting for her.
you may not even get a chance to decide..they often go down really quick when you have no other choice to make

(((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

[biscandmatt1]

sending hugs for you and nose rubs for rosie xxx