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Put bunny down?

AngelicaBellica

AngelicaBellica

New Kit
Hi this is my first post. Bunny is about 11 ( rescue bun so unsure ). He possibly has EC as lost steadiness in back legs just before Christmas. He's on Panacur but no tangible improvement yet. Every vet visit feels like they will threaten to put him down & is really scary. But he eats very heartily, sleeps well, lies on my lap for cuddles several times a day. Always looks relaxed. He helps me to clean his bum in the mornings! Engages brilliantly with us. He is on Metacam and has been for 2 years - suspected arthritis.
Hand on heart I don't think he's ready to go yet. Can the vet make us have him put down? Strikes me that he's disabled, but contented. He has tonnes of love & attention and is doted on all the time ( house bunny ). Anyone had similar experiences? Thank you.

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No, you cannot be forced to have a Rabbit PTS. It could be that the loss of steadiness of his hind legs is related to his arthritis, not EC. This is not unusual in a very elderly Rabbit. Take some videos of how your Rabbit behaves when at home, showing that he is content and not at all distressed. You can then show this to the Vet. Vets only see the Rabbit in a clinical setting when the Rabbit is unlikely to exhibit ‘normal’ ( for them) behaviour.

Hopefully you have a good relationship with your Vet and any decisions regarding PTS will be made jointly, which is how it should be.
 
You have to give consent for PTS. A vet can discuss it with you but can't force the decision. Tell your vet what you have said here - that bunny has a good quality of life and you are continuing to support that. Rabbits can live happily with all kinds of disability. I think you will know when he's had enough and you have to make a decision on his future. It doesn't sound like it is now.
 
As said above. I always wight if rabbit has good quality of life or not. Is he happy or not? Is it bothering to him/her? And those are main factors when I decide to put animal to sleep. If my animal gets diagnosed with osteosarcoma I put them down ASAP. Before it gets too painfull for them.
 
Your vet can advise you but ultimately its your decision. He sounds like he still has quality of life, you know your bun better than anyone and it sounds like you're doing everything to keep him comfortable. I've had a disabled bun who was happy and content, but I knew when things changed and made the decision to let him go. I hope you have lots of time left with your boy xx
 
I can empathise, I have the same anxieties every time my very wonky old girl goes for her review. You sound like you're doing amazing with him & he obviously appreciates the help. Helping you clean his bum :love: He doesn't sound ready to go to me since you have such a nice bond
 
To everyone who has so kindly replied - I'm most grateful for your responses. Thank you so much. You have helped me to realize I have good reasons to stand my ground and put my case. He's a happy boy, he often purrs with contentment ( not fear ), having lived with him since 2012, we can safely say we know him far better than the vet. By the way our vet is great ( took a few attempts to find one who is bunny savvy!). The vet says she doesn't doubt how well he is cared for - so that's a good start - but I'm not sure she will see his transition to disability as something which can be managed so he is completely comfortable. Your responses have really given me hope.

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joey&boo said:
I can empathise, I have the same anxieties every time my very wonky old girl goes for her review. You sound like you're doing amazing with him & he obviously appreciates the help. Helping you clean his bum :love: He doesn't sound ready to go to me since you have such a nice bond
Click to expand...
You clearly know exactly how I feel - I very much hope your old girl ( aww!) is doing well!

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InspectorMorse said:
No, you cannot be forced to have a Rabbit PTS. It could be that the loss of steadiness of his hind legs is related to his arthritis, not EC. This is not unusual in a very elderly Rabbit. Take some videos of how your Rabbit behaves when at home, showing that he is content and not at all distressed. You can then show this to the Vet. Vets only see the Rabbit in a clinical setting when the Rabbit is unlikely to exhibit ‘normal’ ( for them) behaviour.

Hopefully you have a good relationship with your Vet and any decisions regarding PTS will be made jointly, which is how it should be.
Click to expand...
Great idea & I've started taking videos today [emoji846]

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I had elderly and disabled bunnies in the past and provided supportive care until it was their time to go to the rainbow bridge.
You should not be pressured into a decision for a bunny who is comfortable and happy.
 
Thank you bunny momma. I feel frustrated by vet appointments making us feel so anxious. Replies on here - including yours - are invaluable because it makes me realize this is not an unusual situation and the vets should not be thinking of putting bun to sleep purely on the basis of his new disability. Vet is aware I work from home & effectively give support 24/7 so I'm not sure what their argument for euthanasia will be. I really appreciate your reply - thank you

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Has your vet actually mentioned PTS? Some vets may not have seen a disabled rabbit before, but they should be able to determine the quality of life in consultation with the owner. I know there has been the odd time I've turned up with a very wobbly bunny and wondered if they would be coming home with me again, but have always been backed by my vet.

Having a good relationship with your vet makes a big difference. If you are unsure about something, ask them - it will also help them to understand where you are coming from. If they feel there is a serious case for PTS, they will discuss it with you. In most cases, though, that is just one option - especially for chronic / ongoing conditions, and there is time to make irreversible decisions. Some people and pets won't cope with a lot of handling, for example - so their treatment plan may be different to the one you could cope with. It might be a different conversation if, say, there was an accident with catastrophic injury where the animal is in pain and unlikely to survive. Vets are there to reduce the suffering, but PTS is hard on them and the nurses as well.
 
Shimmer said:
Has your vet actually mentioned PTS? Some vets may not have seen a disabled rabbit before, but they should be able to determine the quality of life in consultation with the owner. I know there has been the odd time I've turned up with a very wobbly bunny and wondered if they would be coming home with me again, but have always been backed by my vet.

Having a good relationship with your vet makes a big difference. If you are unsure about something, ask them - it will also help them to understand where you are coming from. If they feel there is a serious case for PTS, they will discuss it with you. In most cases, though, that is just one option - especially for chronic / ongoing conditions, and there is time to make irreversible decisions. Some people and pets won't cope with a lot of handling, for example - so their treatment plan may be different to the one you could cope with. It might be a different conversation if, say, there was an accident with catastrophic injury where the animal is in pain and unlikely to survive. Vets are there to reduce the suffering, but PTS is hard on them and the nurses as well.
Click to expand...
Well said.
 
Shimmer said:
Has your vet actually mentioned PTS? Some vets may not have seen a disabled rabbit before, but they should be able to determine the quality of life in consultation with the owner. I know there has been the odd time I've turned up with a very wobbly bunny and wondered if they would be coming home with me again, but have always been backed by my vet.

Having a good relationship with your vet makes a big difference. If you are unsure about something, ask them - it will also help them to understand where you are coming from. If they feel there is a serious case for PTS, they will discuss it with you. In most cases, though, that is just one option - especially for chronic / ongoing conditions, and there is time to make irreversible decisions. Some people and pets won't cope with a lot of handling, for example - so their treatment plan may be different to the one you could cope with. It might be a different conversation if, say, there was an accident with catastrophic injury where the animal is in pain and unlikely to survive. Vets are there to reduce the suffering, but PTS is hard on them and the nurses as well.
Click to expand...
That's very interesting, thank you. On the last visit, she said " this is on a knife edge - we need to consider if this is fair on him " - which I took to mean potential PTS. It was the first time she had seen him disabled ( the disability appears to have been through EC which has only recently manifested) & she asked I go back with him in a month ( this appointment is booked ). Having never been faced with PTS for any of my previous bunnies, I did not know whether vets see disability as a reason for PTS. I have a contented, very well loved bunny who has every creature comfort - any pain is medicated & controlled. This is what I'll be conveying at the next visit. All the responses on here have helped me to gain more knowledge regarding this.

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Hello. Just wanted to update ! - saw vet this morning with bunny Patrick. She said that although she personally would not keep a disabled bunny going, that it's different circumstances for everyone, and she trusts us with him. [emoji846]
She wonders whether what happened around Christmas was a stroke rather than EC. We had a really good conversation. She understands that, although dealing with a bunny with a disability is challenging at times, Patrick is contented, very loved, and not suffering. Thanks everyone again for the support you gave me on here. You really helped me to get my head round it all.

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AngelicaBellica said:
Hello. Just wanted to update ! - saw vet this morning with bunny Patrick. She said that although she personally would not keep a disabled bunny going, that it's different circumstances for everyone, and she trusts us with him. [emoji846]
She wonders whether what happened around Christmas was a stroke rather than EC. We had a really good conversation. She understands that, although dealing with a bunny with a disability is challenging at times, Patrick is contented, very loved, and not suffering. Thanks everyone again for the support you gave me on here. You really helped me to get my head round it all.

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Click to expand...

That’s great news. I hope that Patrick continues to cope well :love:
 
Thank you so much [emoji846]. Like you suggested, I had some videos of him at the ready. He's home now, having a snooze xx

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That is good that although your vet respects your viewpoint even though its different to theirs & appreciates you are giving Patrick a happy retirement & meeting all his needs :love:
 
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