This may prove to be a bit oif a depressing thread so if you're reading this and you'd rather remain chirpy, I'd hit the back key now!
When/how/can you know when a bunny needs to be PTS?
My Marge is pretty old. She's registered at the vet as being 8 but I'm sure she's more like 9. She definately looks her age. She's always been a big bunny but the weight has dropped off her back and her spine is very evident when stroking her (although she still has a massive dewlap and, up until a couple of weeks ago, a big ole' belly).
I took her to the vets recently as I'd noticed she was dribbling, her nose was sticky and her dewlap was getting drooly. The vet looked at her teeth and said they were fine but her gums on one side of her mouth looked very red. We put this down to a recent change onto Excell pellets - those things are rock hard! I'd imagine they'd cause sore gums in an older bun. She is still eating but I have found she will only eat when I'm not looking and won't take anything out of my hand now. Before she would pretty much pull my arm off for a treat. :? She also seems to be shrinking, slowly but steadily.
We came out of the vet with Meloxodyl to ease the imflamation and pain. I can't remember when this was but it wasn't any more than two weeks ago. The vet told me to take her back when I ran out of medicine but I still have a bit in the bottom of the bottle (presumably she gave me a two week supply).
Marge is still dribbling, not quite as bad but still bad enough to have a sticky dewlap and her nose is still sticky. Since I started the meds, I've noticed she's obviously feeling her age and is very shuffley when she moves around. She has barely left her night box this week. In the last few days, she has managed to either pee on herself or has been sat on wet bedding - all four of her legs and her tummy are orange and pee stained. Her breathing is quite audiable.
As her dribbling/nose hasn't really got any better I'm assuming she will need a full dental but I don't think she'd get through the operation. The vet was unwilling to do anything more than have a look with a scope when I took her in last time so I'm not sure they'd agree to admit her anyway. This coupled with the fact that she is obviously feeling too stiff to move about much makes me wonder if it's time to let her go.
How do you know when it's time?
When/how/can you know when a bunny needs to be PTS?
My Marge is pretty old. She's registered at the vet as being 8 but I'm sure she's more like 9. She definately looks her age. She's always been a big bunny but the weight has dropped off her back and her spine is very evident when stroking her (although she still has a massive dewlap and, up until a couple of weeks ago, a big ole' belly).
I took her to the vets recently as I'd noticed she was dribbling, her nose was sticky and her dewlap was getting drooly. The vet looked at her teeth and said they were fine but her gums on one side of her mouth looked very red. We put this down to a recent change onto Excell pellets - those things are rock hard! I'd imagine they'd cause sore gums in an older bun. She is still eating but I have found she will only eat when I'm not looking and won't take anything out of my hand now. Before she would pretty much pull my arm off for a treat. :? She also seems to be shrinking, slowly but steadily.
We came out of the vet with Meloxodyl to ease the imflamation and pain. I can't remember when this was but it wasn't any more than two weeks ago. The vet told me to take her back when I ran out of medicine but I still have a bit in the bottom of the bottle (presumably she gave me a two week supply).
Marge is still dribbling, not quite as bad but still bad enough to have a sticky dewlap and her nose is still sticky. Since I started the meds, I've noticed she's obviously feeling her age and is very shuffley when she moves around. She has barely left her night box this week. In the last few days, she has managed to either pee on herself or has been sat on wet bedding - all four of her legs and her tummy are orange and pee stained. Her breathing is quite audiable.
As her dribbling/nose hasn't really got any better I'm assuming she will need a full dental but I don't think she'd get through the operation. The vet was unwilling to do anything more than have a look with a scope when I took her in last time so I'm not sure they'd agree to admit her anyway. This coupled with the fact that she is obviously feeling too stiff to move about much makes me wonder if it's time to let her go.
How do you know when it's time?