Bunny had Ulcer after dental U/D post 35 - pseudomonas aeruginosa

[Omi]

Really good news that she's home. I imagine she will have been given strong pain relief, Buprenorphine perhaps, which will probably increase her sleepiness.

I think the decision about whether to split them is really difficult. I also think that a lot depends on the two bunnies. You know your bunnies and will know how they usually interact with each other. I have never split bunnies up, where one has had an op with stitches, but I will have made that judgement based on my knowledge of them.

I've always been more concerned about the risk of them falling out, because the bunny who had the stay at the vets had a different smell to usual. But again I have never experienced this happening.

I do think that now that Willow is completely blind, she would obtain a lot of comfort from Ozzie being with her. It would make a very frightening situation seem more like normal.

I think if I were you I would go with your gut feeling, but obviously try to be very vigilant.

 

[a reader of books]

I am thankfully able to WFH, however I do need to sleep at some point which is my worry it only takes seconds for stitches to be nibbled.

She’s very sleepy tonight bless her; though alert. She’s not taken anything from us, I’ll be feeding some recovery soon I think.

My only concern with splitting them up, it’s not just going to be for a night or two it’s 10 days before they’re removed and I think even living side by side in a pen/dog crate whatever that’s going to affect their bond and I think the last thing she needs is to be dealing with re bonding.

Plus where she’s fully blind now. He is going to be her support and comfort blanket.

I just don’t know what’s going to be for the best with this. It’s a tough one for sure

Yeah, I definitely do understand your dilemma, and I don’t envy your having to figure out what the best thing to do is here. Living side by side all night for 10 days is a lot of time to be apart, you’re right, especially when she could really use his support and comfort right now, and you think it would affect their bond to the point where they might have to rebonded. I think if her stitches were in any other place, it’d be less of a worry, but with how bunnies tend to want to keep each other’s eyes clean, I’d be concerned he would be more likely to chew them. I don’t know if that’s something he does, though, grooming her eyes? I think it’s maybe a matter of thinking about what the worst outcome could be, with rebonding on the one hand and her wound reopening on the other, with maybe it possibly getting infected. Though since she has internal stitches as well, maybe the damage would be limited. I’m sorry, this whole situation must already be so hard without you having to worry about this.

 

[FireRose]

Really good news that she's home. I imagine she will have been given strong pain relief, Buprenorphine perhaps, which will probably increase her sleepiness.

I think the decision about whether to split them is really difficult. I also think that a lot depends on the two bunnies. You know your bunnies and will know how they usually interact with each other. I have never split bunnies up, where one has had an op with stitches, but I will have made that judgement based on my knowledge of them.

I've always been more concerned about the risk of them falling out, because the bunny who had the stay at the vets had a different smell to usual. But again I have never experienced this happening.

I do think that now that Willow is completely blind, she would obtain a lot of comfort from Ozzie being with her. It would make a very frightening situation seem more like normal.

I think if I were you I would go with your gut feeling, but obviously try to be very vigilant.

Hey,
Yes she has had Buprenorphine, so very sleepy, no interest in dinner which I knew would happen. I’ve syringe fed her 30ml recovery though.

My partner and I have decided we are just going to be sleep deprived (mostly me) we are lucky from Friday they have 4 days off, so for tonight they’ve gone to bed for a few hours, then I’ll get a few hours and get up before they go to work then TRY stay awake all day.

They’re really good together normally, he hasn’t really bothered much with grooming her eyes since this is all been happening tbh, but now she is hairless, smells funny, got wound so I suspect at some point he may groom her, will he chew her stitches? I’m not sure, he doesn’t chew anything really in the house (aside from the odd skirting board chew lol!) but he doesn’t chew wires, blankets, furniture etc that’s normally willow. So I think I need to put some trust in their bond.

I’m very reluctant to split them for 10 days, purely because she is technically blind at the moment until her other eye is healthy, and this bond was not an easy one, it took over a year of very hard work and persistence, lots of factors to it, but it nearly broke us at the time lol.

They’ve a very good bond now though, he’s been chasing her a bit during the last couple months but I think that’s more jealousy because she is getting LOTS more attention with medicines/drops etc every 3-4 hours and he obviously thinks she’s getting treats and love and affection, plus I think he is missing his playtime bunny so I think he gives her a little nip as if to say “come on let’s cause trouble”

They’ve been together at the vets all day, I think they put a small barrier between them to monitor her poo output, but they travelled home fine together too….

I think another way around it would be to have one in the bedroom and one in the living room at night and one each of us sleeping with them but again, that’s not fair on either.

It’s a toughie, I wasn’t expecting to have to make it. But perhaps he’ll be a good boy and leave it alone. I guess a couple sleep deprived nights is nothing new when having poorly bunnies anyway.

I’m just hyper aware that it will be a quick nibble and that’s all it would take

 

[FireRose]

Yeah, I definitely do understand your dilemma, and I don’t envy your having to figure out what the best thing to do is here. Living side by side all night for 10 days is a lot of time to be apart, you’re right, especially when she could really use his support and comfort right now, and you think it would affect their bond to the point where they might have to rebonded. I think if her stitches were in any other place, it’d be less of a worry, but with how bunnies tend to want to keep each other’s eyes clean, I’d be concerned he would be more likely to chew them. I don’t know if that’s something he does, though, grooming her eyes? I think it’s maybe a matter of thinking about what the worst outcome could be, with rebonding on the one hand and her wound reopening on the other, with maybe it possibly getting infected. Though since she has internal stitches as well, maybe the damage would be limited. I’m sorry, this whole situation must already be so hard without you having to worry about this.

Yes it’s never easy with bunnies is it!

I wouldn’t have it any other way (Well perhaps her not loosing her eye would’ve been nice) but we have to deal….

I think I’m just going to be very sleep deprived, 10 days is a long time for a bonded pair to be split up even if it’s a dog crate and he can still see/smell each other. I don’t think she would tolerate being penned up for long either, once her sedative is out the system, I think penning her in would be more stress, plus new smells, a new environment for her to learn as she is blind now….

It’s a risk but we are going to put faith in Ozzie to be a good boy, groom but not chew and get her through this with us.

If he starts chewing it and won’t leave it alone, we will obviously have to change tact. I think tonight is a false sense anyway because she’s too drowsy to move much and he’s sulking for being at the vets all day

 

[FireRose]

Also thank you everyone for your well wishes and messages of support.

It really does mean a lot, I normally lurk as opposed to post these days, but it’s always nice to have people who know what it’s like with bunnies.

A lot of people just make the old age joke of popping them in a pie blah blah. And although I can laugh it off. It doesn’t seem as easy to laugh of when they are so poorly and I am so sleep deprived.

She doesn’t look as awful as I was imagining her to be though, I won’t upload photos as it may upset some. And I’ve had a good cry for how sad and pathetic she looks (bless her)

But thank you everyone!

 

[Zoobec]

I’m just catching up on everything, so sorry you had to make the big decision for her, but I’m sure she will be feeling better soon. Sending lots of vibes and hugs xx

 

[Shimmer]

The fur will regrow in a few weeks and you probably won't really notice the lack of an eye. She will be much more comfortable without the pain and discomfort from the eye, and it wasn't really functional anyway before the op - so she will probably adjust really quickly, once the effects of the anaesthetic, etc have worn off.

 

[FireRose]

The fur will regrow in a few weeks and you probably won't really notice the lack of an eye. She will be much more comfortable without the pain and discomfort from the eye, and it wasn't really functional anyway before the op - so she will probably adjust really quickly, once the effects of the anaesthetic, etc have worn off.

when she was spayed, that took nearly a year for the fur to regrow, so fingers crossed this isn’t as long as I reckon her face maybe a bit chilly lol.

TBH, she isn’t missing as much as some photos I googled, it’s just sad seeing her like it (Not because the eye isn’t there but just because it looks sore, and it’s sad it’s come to this)

However you are right, with there being so much pressure behind it, it would’ve been uncomfortable. She still has the infection/blindness in the other eye so I hope we can save that but time will tell.

She’s still sleepy but I think it’ll be tonight/tomorrow when she’s back to “normal” Ozzie has so far been a good boy and left her alone.

 

[Omi]

How has Willow been today?

 

[FireRose]

How has Willow been today?

Hey!

Still very drowsy, she’s nibbled some hay, and forage, so still syringe feeding at this time.

Ozzie has left her be, I think once the sedation wears off and she’s seeking him out more, then that maybe trouble territory.

She’s also been very intolerable to medicine for her remaining eye, which I feel horrendous for, but it is being cruel to be kind and this is the sad thing about this whole situation, we still have another eye we are needing to try and still don’t know the outcome of that one - (However it is no where near as bad as her other one was and vets remain quietly confident about it)

I think once her sedation wears off, pain from the surgery blah blah we shall be in a better position.

 

[Omi]

Sounds like she is making reasonably good progress. Hopefully tomorrow the sedation will have worn off and she will feel more like eating. I think though that nibbling is fine at this stage.

I hope also that Ozzie continues not to be a problem for her. I think though as days go by the wound will become more healed and robust, although obviously still with stitches remaining for a while.

I'm sure she must feel quite fed up at the moment and of course she doesn't know that things will improve. As far as she knows this is how it will be. I'm sure you must feel quite drained by it all.

 

[FireRose]

Sounds like she is making reasonably good progress. Hopefully tomorrow the sedation will have worn off and she will feel more like eating. I think though that nibbling is fine at this stage.

I hope also that Ozzie continues not to be a problem for her. I think though as days go by the wound will become more healed and robust, although obviously still with stitches remaining for a while.

I'm sure she must feel quite fed up at the moment and of course she doesn't know that things will improve. As far as she knows this is how it will be. I'm sure you must feel quite drained by it all.

I’m not going to lie, I have had a good cry today.

I just feel absolutely overwhelmed, it’s hard work on my own (my partner works) I’m currently at home.

But Ozzie hasn’t been himself today either, it’ll be the stress of being at the vets all day, so he’s not been eating properly,

So I’ve had them both with gut stimulant, Ozzie has been eating very small amounts, so I haven’t recovery fed him yet but if he skips breakfast again I think I might kick start him off.

so then willow is still getting eye drops in her other eye, plus serum, then recovery. It’s a lot for me to manage on my own on very little sleep.

We are back at the vets Friday to have a checkup and then next Friday her stitches will be taken out. So I am guessing we won’t have to be helicopter parents

 

[Cinnabun14]

I'm glad Willow made it through the surgery okay. It's always rough when they get out, fur all missing and stitches and such. I'm sorry Ozzie's off too. I wonder if he feels Willow's pain and it's maybe transferring to him, like an empathy thing? But I'm glad he's not grooming/chewing her stiches, he's been very good it sounds like.

Sending big vibes for Willow and Ozzie, and a big hug for you . I hope you regain some rest so you can function a bit better, and that Willow and Ozzie heal as well.

 

[Omi]

Lots of hugs from me too. Looking after poorly animals or people is very draining, both physically and emotionally. There's no shame in crying or of feeling overwhelmed. It's completely normal in the situation you are in and of course have been for some time. It's completely understandable.

I hope that both your bunnies show signs of improvement today.

 

[FireRose]

Willow is up and about a fair bit more today, she’s taken dandelion root, eaten forage, eaten some hay. No interest in herbs/greens except a solitary strand of dill

She’s let me clean her face up a bit today too, been more tolerable of drops in her other eye, so I am keeping things crossed that we don’t hit any bumps on this road. She’s had a couple incidents of getting a bit excited and “forgetting” and bumped her head of their hay box so I’m looking to get some potting trays to hopefully reduce that - but obviously with her now blind it’s a tough decision in that it’s a new item, doesn’t smell like “home” and I’m not sure if she will still continue to try jump in it, so I’ll see how she goes on that decision.

But bits of her personality have come back today so that’s nice.

Ozzie on the other hand is another matter

He seems really down, now I dunno if it’s because Willow isn’t herself, so isn’t eating breakfast etc etc. However he hasn’t eaten breakfast/dinner now for 1 1/2 days.

He’s eaten hay, but not as much as usual, he’s eaten forage, although declined treats, he has also nibbled down a dandelion root.

We are back to the vets tomorrow so I’ll see if they can see if he’s anything going on, or if like everyone else he’s fed up.

Honestly why does it always pour with rabbits Willow I can handle, Ozzie I’m not sure what it is. And I’m not sure how to encourage him to come lie with her and form that bond again (They’re not chasing eachother) he’s just not really laid with her.

He had a dental back in June? July, sadly he’s a small faced little man, I am HOPING this isn’t another dental on the cards for him, however he was eating well before Willows op, the nurses said he ate well there too so I can’t imagine this is a spur from that quick??

I’m just honestly flummoxed and honestly so overwhelmed with two unwell rabbits on my own.

When my partner is back from work, I’ll be syringe feeding him, sadly he’s not the most tolerable bunny with handling at the best of times so I don’t think I’ll be able to do him alone. However partner is now off for their 4 day pattern. So hopefully gets a bit easier for me and the bunnies

 

[FireRose]

Well what a difference a night makes.

I am SO sleep deprived, however I’ve gotten both bunnies back to eating, Willow poo’s are still very dark/some mis shaped. However her ceotrophes (sorry never sure on that spelling) are finally binding, and have lumps rather than then just being a massive stinky squishy mess (TMI? lol)

She’s NOT STOPPED eating ALL night. She’s been in and out the hay boxes, I’ve chucked some different “flavour hay” on the floor for them both, she’s hoovered that up, she’s cleaned the forage bowls out, they’ve been lying together more, grooming etc etc

Ozzie is also eating!! He has had breakfast with Willow this morning, he’s back to taking treats, dandelion root, various hays blah blah.

We are to the vets in a couple hours, so the hard work will probably be undone as he hates car journeys! But I feel SO relieved

So keep going as I’m going!! Vets in a bit so will get an update/better idea how the eye is feeling/looking.

Stitches will be out next Friday, then once they’re out I can be reunited with my bed and look at buying a new sofa cause this one is horrendous to sleep on lol.

 

[Omi]

Super update! Well done! I hope that the vet visit goes well.

 

[Zoobec]

Well done, so pleased they are both eating now!

 

[redmal]

So glad to read this update! Ozzie must have been worried too because Willow was acting strange! Bless them both. Good luck at the vets.

 

[FireRose]

They have both had a little sulk after their car journey today. However

They have both eaten dinner together and willow has eaten enough hay/forage/herbs for an elephant today

I am so glad she is eating well; however I am worried how much she is putting away lol

Vet visit was quick, basically looked at the wound, said it’s dry, looking well, her other eye is still shrinking in bacteria - still waiting on results for that to ensure the Exocin is still working on bacteria.

Stitches out next Friday. Then hopefully we are well on the golden road to recovery!

Thank you everyone for being such a safe space!