Eye removal for bunny with enlarged heart, advice and question about CPR?

[Sammy&Patch]

Hi, Shadow is approx 7-8 years old, we've had him just over 6 years. In Nov 2024 he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and fluid on the lungs. We have managed this with medication and he has been pretty stable. It progressed to a murmur but has been the same stage since, not got worse. He has been having monthly check ups then 3 monthly as he was doing well. I took him back for his checkup about a month ago and he also had sore hocks. My vet also noticed he had developed cataracts. The hocks didn't clear up in 10 days of using cream so the vet wanted to see him again. Unfortunately she then noticed the lens in his left eye had luxated. The pressure was at 30 in that eye so we have been giving him eye drops. The next week it was around 25/27. This saturday I took him to the vet as he was clearly in pain, I thought stasis/blockage but that side of things was fine. His eye looked a bit bulging but could have just been scared being at the vet. It wasn't my usual vet so she couldn't tell but it wasn't red. He got a pain killer injection and pain killers and gut medicine for home. He didn't stop eating so that was good. He still seemed off on sunday but normal again monday. My vet was in today so I got an appointment with her and the eye pressure was high 27/31. So she consulted with a specialist to see if we have other options than eye removal but they have said we need to do the removal. So he is scheduled for eye removal this friday with my usual vet. She is going to do his operation first thing so he doesn't have to wait around too long. She has warned me of the high risk of anesthetic and she had already warned me his chances of making it are not good. She mentioned today that I will need to decide if I want them to try CPR on him if needed or just let him go, she said she wanted to pre warn me so I can think about it as I will have to sign something friday. I haven't ever been asked that before as far as I remember. I read they can break ribs doing it and also the vet mentioned something about risk of hypoxia. My gut is to say yes try anything but I was hoping other people might have experience or advice as to whether it is cruel to try if it's unlikely to work and just cause him stress and trauma etc or whether he wouldn't even know. And that after if he was then recovering with other problems alongside the eye whether that would be cruel to put him through. He's still a very mobile bunny, still jumping up on the bed for cuddles so he still had a good quality of life other than the pain now with the eye is impacting that. I had previously asked my vet if it would be cruel to put him through the op and she said it would be cruel not to as he would be in pain. Thanks for any advice xx

 

[Shimmer]

Having re-read your post a few times, it's the last line that is important - the eye is causing pain and it can't be managed other than by removal, so it will adversely affect his quality of life if you do nothing. Other treatment hasn't worked. It's a tough call for you, though.

Sometimes there isn't really an option IMO, if it's operate or PTS. I've always taken the risk and hoped for the best outcome. Losing a rabbit under anaesthetic is always a calculated risk, but the rabbit won't be suffering and you know you tried. I've sadly lost a couple over the years, but generally have beaten the odds with a good outcome. I haven't regretted those decisions as they were the best ones under the circumstances and made after extensive discussions with my vets. I've also lost an apparently perfectly healthy young rabbit after a routine neuter, but that's not something I would have done differently, either.

The options you do have are to make sure that he's in the best condition he can be on the day (ie has eaten well, had his usual meds if appropriate, and minimised stress), and that you have a vet experienced in rabbit anaesthetics and the procedure you are having done. Then you need to be prepared for the post-op recovery (ie keep him eating) until he's back to normal.

Removing the source of ongoing pain will dramatically improve his QoL, and animals generally cope really well with the loss of an eye. Once the fur regrows, it's often not obvious at all.

I will be thinking of you and keeping everything very firmly crossed for a good outcome on Friday.

 

[Sammy&Patch]

Thankyou for your reply. Luckily my vet is an exotics and very experienced/knowledgeable so that side of things I know he's in good hands. I just wish the odds were better for him. She estimated 10 to 20% chance of him not making it through because of his heart but it's something that's got to be done. And it's actually better odds than I thought she was going to say. He's going to be spoiled over the next couple of days, although I always spoil him anyway, just extra spoiled! I have bought extra of all of his favourite treats ready and hopefully he can make it through.

 

[Omi]

I agree with Shimmer's comments, in that you really have no other main options. I am sorry you and Shadow are in this position though and hope that the operation goes well on Friday and he makes a good recovery.

 

[Cuthbert&Dillon]

So sorry this is your situation, sending vibes for Friday to you both.

 

[bunny momma]

I would opt for CPR because he was happy and active before the eye pain. My vet asked about CPR with any GA. Good luck with the op.

 

[Sammy&Patch]

Just a quick update to say Shadows operation went well, I am so happy He does look a sorry state and obviously we've got to get him eating and pooing etc but the scariest part is done Thankyou all

 

[Shimmer]

So pleased for a positive update, and sending loads of recovery vibes for Shadow.

 

[Omi]

I'm so happy to read this news too. As you say the scariest part is now over and you can concentrate on his recovery. Well done everyone

 

[katbun]

That's great news! I'm glad he's home with you and eating Sending happy bunny vibes

 

[bunny momma]

I was pleased to read op went well. Sending Vibes he is recovering well.

 

[Shimmer]

How are you both doing today?

 

[Sammy&Patch]

How are you both doing today?

I'm so sorry I missed your reply, Shadow is finally doing fantastically well He refused to eat or drink friday and saturday and he was just letting the meds drip out so saturday afternoon we had him at the vets to get meds in him and a stronger pain killer. My usual vet had left instructions with the vets on at the weekend and they could also contact her if needed so we were in good hands. Sunday he did the most awful squelchy poo so I phoned the vets and we agreed to take him later in the afternoon so he could also get his next meds. But he then did a couple of tiny poos so we decided to cancel that and try at home. We had managed to get a tiny bit of critical care in him but not much and same with meds not getting it all in but he was at least more lively. Monday he was still just tiny poos and not eating etc. I had told the vet on sunday that I felt it was all the stress of trying to get all the meds in him and some critical care that was making him just sit and not want to eat rather than it being unmanaged pain. I expect the pain would be a part of it too as we weren't getting all the meds in but definitely we were massively stressing him. He also has to have his dieuretic, heart pill and steroid daily as well as all these extra ones. And he usually just eats his medicine on nuggets and his heart pill in a pocket treat. Trying to crush up and get him to eat his pill is really hard and we also had cisapride pill too. Having to buritto him 3 times a day is really hard or if we don't do the medicines all at the same time that's another twice we would have to stress him so we try to do it in one go. Either way is so hard! Therefore I decided monday evening to take him back to the vets for his meds and the extra pain killer too. They used an iv for some and injected others, we still had to do his normal ones at home but that was a lot easier with less to do and luckily my vets is just a 5 minute walk so balancing stress of that outweighed the stress at home! The vet on sunday had mentioned an option of having him in for daytime to get fluids and meds etc then back home overnight, same next day etc if we needed. So we discussed that on monday evening and were prepared to start that tuesday, he had his checkup due tuesday morning with my usual vet anyway. But miraculously when we got home monday he ate one dandelion leaf, then another and another, I shouted to my husband to quickly go back outside and grab a load more leaves! He ate some othet stuff too and brought tears to my eyes when he finally went and drank some water! He did some very small poos but so much better. Tuesday morning the vet gave him his meds for me and we agreed best to just take him home and carry on trying. Luckily he carried on eating and eating, his poos have got bigger. And he's back to being a cheeky little monkey trying to get out his pen! The vet said he can have a bit more space supervised only, he still wants more as he is used to having his whole room, hallway, coming into our bedroom supervised, downstairs if he wants. Last time we had to confine him when we were trying to get him a new friend, he jumped the dog pen so we are having to be extra watchful as we don't want him to burst his stitches! He is usually active and loves to jump even though he'snot meant to because of his heart! So far the wound is looking good so fingers crossed it continues to be ok. He has another checkup tomorrow afternoon. My vet said she is just so amazed he's coped so well. And the other vets all think he's done amazingly well too, the one on sunday had never seen him before, he said he was quite lively and thought he was in great shape for his age and heart problems and going through the op! I think he was expecting a docile bunny which shadow is definitely not! Also I have been delighted that Shadow wants attention and strokes the last couple of days, I thought he would be so annoyed with us over the meds that he would want to avoid us! My vet warned me his recovery might take longer than other bunnies, hopefully things will continue like they have been the last couple of days

 

[Sammy&Patch]

 

[Sammy&Patch]

 

[Sammy&Patch]

This was him the other day, he gets penned in up to the pink blanket and cover over the top in case he tries to jump out!

 

[Sammy&Patch]

 

[Sammy&Patch]

Some supervised extra space, the day before we had it a bit bigger but he tried to climb the beanbag so we made it a bit smaller. The airbed was from sleeping next to his pen, I'm back to my bed now he's eating again!

 

[katbun]

Wow what a rollercoaster! What a lovely bunny, I'm so glad he's eating for you now! You must be exhausted doing such a good job looking after him, you must be so relieved he's back on the mend !

 

[Sammy&Patch]

Yep, sooooooo relieved, I was stressing feeling out of my depth, I'm lucky to have such a good vet and team behind me. I was so amazed he got through the op and now so amazed he's suddenly picked up. He's currently doing little exaggerated hops everywhere he goes, which normally means he wants to have a little run and binky, I will try to put him off!