I want to share Rosie's story.
Rosie arrived at the RSPCA a complete and healthy bunny, a nervous one, but healthy.
She was reserved very quickly because, despite looking odd, she was lovely natured.
Whilst going through the home visit process Rosie sustained an injury at the RSPCA. I told the staff, they got her to a vet, the vet could not identify anything wrong, at all. The vet could not see that she had lost weight (which in fact was nearly 20% of her body weight when we did weigh her), the vet could not see that she dragged her back left leg and couldn't hope properly on her right, the vet did not see that she could not lift or move her tail.
We had to get her out of there so, on agreement with her adopter, I took her on as a foster so the adopter could take her when she was ready.
Rosie was exceptionally ill. Emaciated, clearly in pain (but not for long- thank you Metacam), incontinent, etc. We worked and we fed her up.
Two days after arrival I knew something really serious had gone on. Until that point I thought she had a leg injury but on careful inspection, I suspected more.
Off we went to the vets. My vet watched her an identified that actually yes, something was clearly wrong with her movement (why the other vet couldn't see it, I don't know- blindness? incompetence?). I told him my suspicion, which was spinal injury, and on feeling her spine he found the sore spot that clearly gave her pain. Why the other vet couldn't find that, I don't know.
Rosie stayed with me for a few more days and then went onto her new home. They couldn't cope with her. I don't know why, but the symptoms they said they saw, I never saw.
So then there was a quandary. If she went back to the RSPCA they would have PTS her because she would be deemed unadoptable (despite their vet not being able to find anything wrong with her :roll
. The adopter told me that if I did not take Rosie, that our vet (we shared the same one) would PTS her. So everyone was ready to have her PTS.
I felt this was exceptionally unfair. Rosie was bright and fighting, just injured. I didn't want another rabbit but I knew it was wrong and unfair to PTS this beautiful, strong girl, so I took her. I took her to see my vet. We talked abotu her options and I talked about her fight for life.
Once again we agreed to review it regularly. She came home with me and we set to work fixing Rosie. And boy did we do a good job!
Within about three weeks of rest and mild exercise, of pain relief and loads and loads of food to bulk her up, she could binky (proper, major high binkies). Shortly after, she bonded with the most Amazing Badger. She was happy. They got a good 6 months of complete happiness the pair of them, before her good kidney failed.
Had they have PTSed her for her spinal injury then she would never have had that happiness, and she did deserve and she did enjoy it.
This is Rosie's tribute video- She would never have gotten any of this had I not been able to communicate that a, she was ill originally and b, that she wanted to fight and deserved to fight.
Not bad for a death row bunny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-eEZvjgjl0
All that said, it's not an easy skill to advocate, especially if you have no practice, so all you can do is practice. I personally SUCK at advocating for myself, but can do it for them because they can't do it for themselves. Maybe, for those of you who find it hard, take the list of questions from the first post, take it with you and run through them at vets appointments so that you are fully informed on what is going on. The more you advocate, the easier it gets