Craig 1965
Warren Veteran
I've had a couple of days off and things had been going well with Lillian. She had been full of life and enjoying lots of garden time.
Then last night - well, it's strange to explain but it's one of those things that happens when we understand and tune into our rabbits. Lillian started to have a long drink from the water bottle in the toilet area. This should be encouraged but I know from experience that this is not a good sign and my reservations came to fruition about 4 hours ago now.
This morning she was bright and waiting for breakfast and her and Leo went outside for the day whilst I was around. Then at about 3:30, Lillian and Leo came out from the garage area dn they sat as they usually do at this time, in the shady area in the garden - or pet cemetary as it's known. I watched her from the kitchen - I can't explain why but I had a strange 6th sense about this and something was telling me to watch her. Everything seemed perfect outside but as I watched her settle, I started counting. I got to 20 and she shuffled, moved and settled. Counted to 25 and she shifted again and looked like she was trying to pee. I could see her back going up and her tail moving. Then she settled. I counted - got to 20 again and she shifted.
So I went to pick her up and I checked her. She had been beautifully dry the last 2 weeks. Everything looking good. I put her down and massaged her tummy and she made motion to pee but didn't. Each time I gently massaged her tummy she went to pee - her entire tummy tightened rock hard and she passed nothing.
This was all very quick so I had to act on it. I rang the vet immediately - 5pm - and at that time of night on a friday it's always a bit of a risk. But I couldnt wait until saturday or even worse monday. The vets were very accomodating and after some shuffling, they said to bring her straight to the hospital which is 15 minutes from us.
I gave the vet a thorough resume and the vet did some investigation. She's lost a bit more weight - she was 3.5k 2 weeks ago, now she is 3.46. Ok, it's not massive but it shows the weight is slowly coming down on her as we try hard to manage her weight issue. The vet also felt the same thing I did with Lillian - the tensing of her tummy and verbalisation from Lillian . The vet said she felt Lillian was certainly in discomfort from her bladder. Everything else seemed ok, but definate pain from the bladder and despite the vets best efforts she could not express any urine.
So, the vet suggested an x-ray then and there. Which I agreed to without hesitation. It is positive that the vets could do that so quickly at short notice.
After what seemed an eternity but was about 15 minutes, the vet returned minus Lillian but covered in Lillian floof!
The x-ray showed, when compared to the x-ray she had 2 weeks ago, that the bladder sludge element had increased and this was a concern. Thankfully there is no evidence of stones - which is such a massive releif, but obviously the sludge is now the primary concern.
The vet suggested immedate intervention to perform a bladder flush to disrupt and hopefully drain/remove as much of the sludge as possible. It means anaesthetic on Lillian but with little other less invasive options, this was the only route to take for a positive outcome. Whilst it won't be pleasant for Lillian and she won't understand why she is going through this, I hope that in a few days time, she will be much more comfortable. The vet couldn't find any other evidence that was restricting Lillians urine so thsi has to be the primary cause.
So Lillian was admitted then and there and I had a few tears and tried to figure out how things spiraled out of control so quickly when things seemed to be going so positively. Lillian will be scared and she was very stressed when I took her to the vet. she kept wanting to jump into my arms but my skills are not enough for her at this level and so the vets need to intervene and make Lillian better by way of the flush procedure.
It is also extremely interesting at home because Leo's behavior is markedly different. He has spent the last 7 months with Lillian and has grown attached to her and now she is not here, Leo is completely lost. He is actively looking for her and has taken to following me round - attached to my legs, whuch he has not done since we first got him in February and he was not bonded. He is visibly lost - and it's interesting observing this pattern of behaviour. People dismiss rabbits and docile and uninteligent but actually it is as far from the reality as you can get. Leo is displaying clear emotional bond with Lillian and is unable to work out why she is not where she should be. And he has reverted to attaching himself to the next safe thing for comfort - us.
I have tears for Lillian and tears for Leo and both are for different reasons. I wish I could help Lillian, comfort her and assure her that she will be ok and although she is going to go through an uncomfortable procedure, she should be much better in a few days. But I wish I could help her understand why this happens for her. And I have tears for Leo because he is new here, and he has got used to life with Lillian and she has suddenly disapeared in his world and he doesn't know why.
We both have long nights ahead for the same reason - love.
I will update the thread as and when I have updates from the hospital - I have not heard from them up until time of posting (8:30pm) and as far as I know the procedure was happening tonight.
CRaig xxx
Then last night - well, it's strange to explain but it's one of those things that happens when we understand and tune into our rabbits. Lillian started to have a long drink from the water bottle in the toilet area. This should be encouraged but I know from experience that this is not a good sign and my reservations came to fruition about 4 hours ago now.
This morning she was bright and waiting for breakfast and her and Leo went outside for the day whilst I was around. Then at about 3:30, Lillian and Leo came out from the garage area dn they sat as they usually do at this time, in the shady area in the garden - or pet cemetary as it's known. I watched her from the kitchen - I can't explain why but I had a strange 6th sense about this and something was telling me to watch her. Everything seemed perfect outside but as I watched her settle, I started counting. I got to 20 and she shuffled, moved and settled. Counted to 25 and she shifted again and looked like she was trying to pee. I could see her back going up and her tail moving. Then she settled. I counted - got to 20 again and she shifted.
So I went to pick her up and I checked her. She had been beautifully dry the last 2 weeks. Everything looking good. I put her down and massaged her tummy and she made motion to pee but didn't. Each time I gently massaged her tummy she went to pee - her entire tummy tightened rock hard and she passed nothing.
This was all very quick so I had to act on it. I rang the vet immediately - 5pm - and at that time of night on a friday it's always a bit of a risk. But I couldnt wait until saturday or even worse monday. The vets were very accomodating and after some shuffling, they said to bring her straight to the hospital which is 15 minutes from us.
I gave the vet a thorough resume and the vet did some investigation. She's lost a bit more weight - she was 3.5k 2 weeks ago, now she is 3.46. Ok, it's not massive but it shows the weight is slowly coming down on her as we try hard to manage her weight issue. The vet also felt the same thing I did with Lillian - the tensing of her tummy and verbalisation from Lillian . The vet said she felt Lillian was certainly in discomfort from her bladder. Everything else seemed ok, but definate pain from the bladder and despite the vets best efforts she could not express any urine.
So, the vet suggested an x-ray then and there. Which I agreed to without hesitation. It is positive that the vets could do that so quickly at short notice.
After what seemed an eternity but was about 15 minutes, the vet returned minus Lillian but covered in Lillian floof!
The x-ray showed, when compared to the x-ray she had 2 weeks ago, that the bladder sludge element had increased and this was a concern. Thankfully there is no evidence of stones - which is such a massive releif, but obviously the sludge is now the primary concern.
The vet suggested immedate intervention to perform a bladder flush to disrupt and hopefully drain/remove as much of the sludge as possible. It means anaesthetic on Lillian but with little other less invasive options, this was the only route to take for a positive outcome. Whilst it won't be pleasant for Lillian and she won't understand why she is going through this, I hope that in a few days time, she will be much more comfortable. The vet couldn't find any other evidence that was restricting Lillians urine so thsi has to be the primary cause.
So Lillian was admitted then and there and I had a few tears and tried to figure out how things spiraled out of control so quickly when things seemed to be going so positively. Lillian will be scared and she was very stressed when I took her to the vet. she kept wanting to jump into my arms but my skills are not enough for her at this level and so the vets need to intervene and make Lillian better by way of the flush procedure.
It is also extremely interesting at home because Leo's behavior is markedly different. He has spent the last 7 months with Lillian and has grown attached to her and now she is not here, Leo is completely lost. He is actively looking for her and has taken to following me round - attached to my legs, whuch he has not done since we first got him in February and he was not bonded. He is visibly lost - and it's interesting observing this pattern of behaviour. People dismiss rabbits and docile and uninteligent but actually it is as far from the reality as you can get. Leo is displaying clear emotional bond with Lillian and is unable to work out why she is not where she should be. And he has reverted to attaching himself to the next safe thing for comfort - us.
I have tears for Lillian and tears for Leo and both are for different reasons. I wish I could help Lillian, comfort her and assure her that she will be ok and although she is going to go through an uncomfortable procedure, she should be much better in a few days. But I wish I could help her understand why this happens for her. And I have tears for Leo because he is new here, and he has got used to life with Lillian and she has suddenly disapeared in his world and he doesn't know why.
We both have long nights ahead for the same reason - love.
I will update the thread as and when I have updates from the hospital - I have not heard from them up until time of posting (8:30pm) and as far as I know the procedure was happening tonight.
CRaig xxx