• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Bunny died in operation - guilt

A

Amy bennett 1

New Kit
Hello. I was wondering whether anyone had a healthy bunny who died under anaesthetic. She was healthy and happy. I am devastated and feeling so guilty for putting her through the operation and feel maybe that I took her to the wrong vets. Although the vets say they often spay rabbits and they are fine and this was extremely unlucky. They think she had an allergic reaction. I feel so guilty for putting her through an operation to be spayed but I wanted to give her a friend from a rescue centre and they require your existing bunny to be spayed. She died once the vet had started the operation so I hope she knew nothing about it but the guilt is terrible!
 
Hello, I’m so sorry you lost your rabbit under anaesthetic :cry: that is tragic. You were doing the best you could for her, it’s best to spay to avoid common uterine cancers later in life, and also to make bonding possible, so please try not to feel guilty. She perhaps had an underlying health condition that wasn’t apparent. It’s rare for it to happen. I’m so sorry for your loss.

I moved your post to your own thread as the thread you posted on was an old one which might have meant your post was missed.
 
I am so very sorry. I have lost a Doe due to a bad reaction to the GA for her spay. I totally empathise with the devastation you feel :cry: It is a very rare event, it has only happened to me once in over 22 years involving over 150 Rabbits.

My sincere condolences :cry:
 
Thanks so much for your kind replies. I’m glad to hear am not alone. I have been having nightmares that maybe I should have taken her to a specialist vet. However the vet I took her to is well qualified and do lots of spays. But maybe as you say it was unusual. If it was a reaction to the GA then I suppose it would have happened anywhere. It’s so upsetting to think I caused her death by putting through an operation.
 
Amy bennett 1 said:
Thanks so much for your kind replies. I’m glad to hear am not alone. I have been having nightmares that maybe I should have taken her to a specialist vet. However the vet I took her to is well qualified and do lots of spays. But maybe as you say it was unusual. If it was a reaction to the GA then I suppose it would have happened anywhere. It’s so upsetting to think I caused her death by putting through an operation.
Click to expand...

You didn’t cause her death, it was a tragic event that no-one could have avoided x
 
I’m so sorry. And I definitely agree with Inspector Morse, this was not your fault at all and couldn’t have been avoided.
 
I am so sorry to read of your tragedy. Sadly bunnies are prey animals that have great ability at hiding conditions and often we don't know there is something wrong until it's too late and, as has been mentioned, it is just one of those rare occurances that cannot be prevented. Rest assured you did nothing wrong in trying to prepare your bunny to have a friend. ((((Hugs))))

Please do remain as a member of our online family if you wish. Perhaps one day when your heart has healed another wee bunny in need may find a loving home with you. My thoughts are with you at this very sad time. xxxx
 
Thank you everyone. I so appreciate the kindness. I hope one day to have a pair of bunnies to post happier things about. But will never forget this one. X
 
So sorry for your loss :( I know you won't feel like it now but you were doing what you thought was best for her. Bunnies are so much happier with a friend which can only really happen with spaying, and females are incredibly prone to developing uterine cancer if not spayed which is why so many of us take the risk of surgery. I left it late to spay one of my females and by the time they operated she was riddled with cancer, she must have been living in so much pain and it was completely avoidable. Try not to beat yourself up about the vet either, if her passing was due to an allergy, or some underlying health condition, then even the most specialised vet probably wouldn't have had a different outcome. And, if like you said, the vet had already started the op when she passed, she will have drifted away whilst asleep, pain free x
 
I am sorry for your loss. It was absolutely not your fault - reactions to the anaesthetic can occur even in people, it is no-one's fault, and there would be no way of knowing beforehand.
You won't ever forget her, but don't let it put you off neutering in the future either. Though maybe next time you might find it easier to look for a neutered and bonded pair already so you don't have to cope with the understandable worry of this again just yet?
 
dollyanna said:
I am sorry for your loss. It was absolutely not your fault - reactions to the anaesthetic can occur even in people, it is no-one's fault, and there would be no way of knowing beforehand.
You won't ever forget her, but don't let it put you off neutering in the future either. Though maybe next time you might find it easier to look for a neutered and bonded pair already so you don't have to cope with the understandable worry of this again just yet?
Click to expand...

Thank you so much. I have started to believe perhaps she did have underlying conditions or it was indeed a reaction. I have looked up the vet and she is very reputable as I thought and trained at a very good school. I agree I do not think I could put another bunny through an operation as it would just be too worrying. Thank you all so much for your help and advice in a extremely devastating situation I really appreciate it x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
New bunny owner with questions
Replies
5
Views
224
Shimmer
S
S
My Rabbits broken leg advice
Replies
9
Views
316
Barn Yard Bunnies
Barn Yard Bunnies
Cocoandpickles
general advice for new baby
Replies
8
Views
254
Cocoandpickles
Cocoandpickles
Back
Top