Benjie came to me on Jan 18th. He was found trying to cross a busy dual carriageway in rush hour, in the dark & was jet black. No one claimed him, so I took him in. it wasn't just simple snuffles, he had pasteurellosis with 2 abcesses. Even the vet's face fell. She doubted he'd get through his 1st year. I've lost track of time but think he's now nearly 6.
A totally different temperament from Thumper, Benjie was scared of everything & tended to stay in his artificial warren but he was the most amazingly affectionate furry friend I have ever had. He would even leave eating to come over for a stroke. We were heavily into allogrooming! As I gave him nose rubs lying on the floor, he'd rest his face on my cheek & give me nose licks.
Before he'd worked out that hands legs & head were all me & my fur was removable, I had to stop wearing my ancient wooly jumper, because he'd carefully "groom out the bobbles" giving me a look as if to say "Don't you ever groom? Your coat is disgraceful."
He's mainly known for nearly getting me admitted to geriatric hospital when he went severely hormonal very quickly. I have no idea how bucks can produce so much urine on demand. Yep he peed my bed & after 2 days all my downie covers & sheets were in the wash slow to dry in Feb/March. So the nurse visits me. Looks down the garden & after considerable effort to find the words said "Do you have wee wee problems?" Innocently I just said "Nope" wondering what had occasioned the question, followed her gaze & saw the full washing line. "Oh it's my rabbit!" Nurse gave me THAT look which basically says "pull the other one".
Benjie did really well with the snuffles & just had regular bisolvon for the last 3 years. Life was unkind to him because last autumn he got thrombocytopaenia (A bit of a shock) weight loss incredibly nervous, dysbiosis & GI slow down - abdominal pain with "cradling" which gave him minor hock sores, then relapse of snuffles with tear duct blocked with the infection. Benjie's snoring got worse so he'd wake himself up with it, started sleeping with his chin on the ground & got a "hock sore on his chin". He had 2 courses of injectable ABx over winter (tetracycline family) He'd had a longstanding skin condition which waxed & waned - identical to human piliform acathoma except it made bigger plaques.
Following on from the last thread about forage & unusual behaviours. We got his GI tract under control, pain free - with dill leaves & during winter weeping willow twigs until the leaves came into bud +broad leaf & ribwort plantain. He actually regained weight. His chin & hocks healed. Tear duct unblocked (needed help with ABx eye ointment the last time. Changed to dill, thyme, hawthorn & dandelions in spring, but were starting to lose the battle with weight. Poor little fella couldn't get enough nutrient in - cut back on woody fibre, & latterly cut back on dandelions because they're diuretic & he was filling himself up with water. So his poohs were small & black but well formed & no uneaten caecals. He needed about 3/4 carrierbagful of forage per day & for the last month mainly yarrow which has only just appeared. There are a few reasons why it might help his skin.
Then his skin condition went crazy a large hard plaque under his left eye & upper eyelid, on his muzzle, & lips but he seemed to be eating OK despite it. Finally the lumps invaded his right nostril,which I had to clear of discharge with gentle massage. The discharge was surprisingly clear. Obviously his nose "bubbled" a bit as he breathed but he wasn't in "respiratory distress". By 2 weeks ago he was painfully thin having lost 700 Gm, his coat was magnificent, silky soft & glossy & he was into allogrooming me as always, as well as hopping round the house. The only reliable treatment for his skin condition was surgical removal which wasn't practicable.
At some time between Sat midday & Sun. midday the council mowed every verge & bridleway on both sides in the area. I had to drive about 50 miles down all the lanes just to get enough food for 24 hours & there was none left. I couldn't feed him. So we had a mammoth allogrooming all day, & he fell asleep at the vets last evening.
He was much braver than I was - I've never known him so calm.
I didn't ask for a pm. Some frown at me for keeping single buns but there have been good health reasons for both. Instead I learned the rabbit behaviour needed from partner buns & provided it to the best of my ability - I assure you it gives a very close relationship. Dear Benjie never really understood about my use of words, but I can assure you he knew exactly what I was thinking!
So to Mighty Max, Omi, Griffski & Tonibun all who very kindly supported me on my last thread. That is the end of our story. Absolutely nothing happened as I expected.
Tell you what - I'm really missing him snoring. So used to waiting for him to start snoring then "Good He's asleep - I can go to sleep now!". What!!! a rabbit lullabye Eh?
I'd like to say that terminal care is far from "giving up". It's battle royal with meticulous attention to every detail to maintain quality of life.
Because Benjie got incredibly distressed by "interferance" we don't have a "definative diagnosis". We just took tests to the point where we were certain that we weren't missing anything treatable or which would alter management.
I feel that I have been an advocate for my bunny. I've said "If it's going to affect his management we'll get through it somehow, but please don't put him through terror just to satisfy our intellectual curiosity."
A totally different temperament from Thumper, Benjie was scared of everything & tended to stay in his artificial warren but he was the most amazingly affectionate furry friend I have ever had. He would even leave eating to come over for a stroke. We were heavily into allogrooming! As I gave him nose rubs lying on the floor, he'd rest his face on my cheek & give me nose licks.
Before he'd worked out that hands legs & head were all me & my fur was removable, I had to stop wearing my ancient wooly jumper, because he'd carefully "groom out the bobbles" giving me a look as if to say "Don't you ever groom? Your coat is disgraceful."
He's mainly known for nearly getting me admitted to geriatric hospital when he went severely hormonal very quickly. I have no idea how bucks can produce so much urine on demand. Yep he peed my bed & after 2 days all my downie covers & sheets were in the wash slow to dry in Feb/March. So the nurse visits me. Looks down the garden & after considerable effort to find the words said "Do you have wee wee problems?" Innocently I just said "Nope" wondering what had occasioned the question, followed her gaze & saw the full washing line. "Oh it's my rabbit!" Nurse gave me THAT look which basically says "pull the other one".
Benjie did really well with the snuffles & just had regular bisolvon for the last 3 years. Life was unkind to him because last autumn he got thrombocytopaenia (A bit of a shock) weight loss incredibly nervous, dysbiosis & GI slow down - abdominal pain with "cradling" which gave him minor hock sores, then relapse of snuffles with tear duct blocked with the infection. Benjie's snoring got worse so he'd wake himself up with it, started sleeping with his chin on the ground & got a "hock sore on his chin". He had 2 courses of injectable ABx over winter (tetracycline family) He'd had a longstanding skin condition which waxed & waned - identical to human piliform acathoma except it made bigger plaques.
Following on from the last thread about forage & unusual behaviours. We got his GI tract under control, pain free - with dill leaves & during winter weeping willow twigs until the leaves came into bud +broad leaf & ribwort plantain. He actually regained weight. His chin & hocks healed. Tear duct unblocked (needed help with ABx eye ointment the last time. Changed to dill, thyme, hawthorn & dandelions in spring, but were starting to lose the battle with weight. Poor little fella couldn't get enough nutrient in - cut back on woody fibre, & latterly cut back on dandelions because they're diuretic & he was filling himself up with water. So his poohs were small & black but well formed & no uneaten caecals. He needed about 3/4 carrierbagful of forage per day & for the last month mainly yarrow which has only just appeared. There are a few reasons why it might help his skin.
Then his skin condition went crazy a large hard plaque under his left eye & upper eyelid, on his muzzle, & lips but he seemed to be eating OK despite it. Finally the lumps invaded his right nostril,which I had to clear of discharge with gentle massage. The discharge was surprisingly clear. Obviously his nose "bubbled" a bit as he breathed but he wasn't in "respiratory distress". By 2 weeks ago he was painfully thin having lost 700 Gm, his coat was magnificent, silky soft & glossy & he was into allogrooming me as always, as well as hopping round the house. The only reliable treatment for his skin condition was surgical removal which wasn't practicable.
At some time between Sat midday & Sun. midday the council mowed every verge & bridleway on both sides in the area. I had to drive about 50 miles down all the lanes just to get enough food for 24 hours & there was none left. I couldn't feed him. So we had a mammoth allogrooming all day, & he fell asleep at the vets last evening.
He was much braver than I was - I've never known him so calm.
I didn't ask for a pm. Some frown at me for keeping single buns but there have been good health reasons for both. Instead I learned the rabbit behaviour needed from partner buns & provided it to the best of my ability - I assure you it gives a very close relationship. Dear Benjie never really understood about my use of words, but I can assure you he knew exactly what I was thinking!
So to Mighty Max, Omi, Griffski & Tonibun all who very kindly supported me on my last thread. That is the end of our story. Absolutely nothing happened as I expected.
Tell you what - I'm really missing him snoring. So used to waiting for him to start snoring then "Good He's asleep - I can go to sleep now!". What!!! a rabbit lullabye Eh?
I'd like to say that terminal care is far from "giving up". It's battle royal with meticulous attention to every detail to maintain quality of life.
Because Benjie got incredibly distressed by "interferance" we don't have a "definative diagnosis". We just took tests to the point where we were certain that we weren't missing anything treatable or which would alter management.
I feel that I have been an advocate for my bunny. I've said "If it's going to affect his management we'll get through it somehow, but please don't put him through terror just to satisfy our intellectual curiosity."
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He could not have been in better care, not only for his physical well-being but just as importnat, for his psychological and emotional well-being.
it's so hard but sounds like you gave him all you could. Xx 
