• Please Note - Medical Advice

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Heidi cancer update March 15 2024

joey&boo said:
For now I think there is some hope that amputation could well be the best treatment option for Heidi. My Joey was the same age & appeared otherwise healthy when he got his tumour but Heidi has more things going for her. That its her front paw, that she is good with hands on care and not overly active & prob smaller than Joey. If we had opted for Joeys amputation (his xrays showed undiagnosed arthritis of spine which clinched our decision to offer only palliative care) his treatment would have been meticulously monitored & if he wasn't happy we'd have opted to pts without struggling on. In my research I read some rabbits cope brilliantly.

I'm so sorry you've got so much to deal with bm. Sending lots of postive vibes for Heidi, Raven & you
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this situation, though like Joey, it may not even require a decision.
Heidi was a star at the vet when vet aspirated the growth. She is a very good bunny and she got an entire box of fibafirst sticks sent from UK just for her for Christmas. They weigh more than she does!
 
After a three week wait, tomorrow 1/16 is Heidi's appointment with the vet. She will be sedated so they can get good x-rays to see if the tumors that were aspirated on her last vet appointment are restricted to her arm from the elbow down, or if she has similar tumors elsewhere. If there is no obvious spread, the vet will amputate her arm above her elbow and she will be a tripod bunny. If it did spread, she will go home and get palliative care for as long as it is in her best interest. Either prospect makes me sad.
She is mostly using her litterbox for pee and poo since she began regular Medicam.
She stopped using her litterbox a couple months ago and I had her to the vet thinking it was a uti, or arthritis. Now I believe the tumors were there and they went unnoticed.
Even with Medicam at a mid range dose, she is not bearing weight on her bad arm.
I know I can up it, yet she still tries to dig.
I would appreciate vibes for my super soft black mini rex Heidi.
 
Sending good news vibes for Heidi, hoping the outcome of her vet visit will be what allows you both to have comfortable and happy memory making time. ((((((Vibes)))))) xxxxx
 
Sending Heidi so, so many vibes. I really hope she has no tumours elsewhere and that the ones in her arm haven't spread so she can have a chance at life as a tripod bunny, even though of course that possibilty makes you sad, too... I'm really hoping for the best possible outcome for her. 💜
 
Loads & loads of vibes for Heidi. I hope the xrays show amputation would be a viable outcome & everything goes smoothly for her. Vibes for you too ❤️
 
Vet just called. Not doing surgery. X ray showed tiny spots in lungs. Vet asked other doctors to check her x rays too. Cancer in her arm advanced. She probably has a couple months to be spoiled, so not putting her through surgery.
Vet is open to different pain management in addition to medacam so any suggestions would be appreciated. Perhaps Gabapentin which we would have compounded into a liquid. Others?
Techs shaved her shoulder before her x ray, so she will not be very happy we messed with her beautiful soft fur. I am picking her up in an hour.
 
Sadly, it is what it is :cry:

It's not the result that you were hoping for, but I'm pleased that you have established the extent of the cancer. Whilst it is desperately sad, it has at least allowed you to make a decision based on evidence, which is in the best interests of Heidi.

Thinking of you lots as you collect your beautiful girlie.
 
I'm so sorry to hear this bunny momma, but at least you know now. I hope Heidi remains as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. Big hugs for you xxx
 
I'm so sorry Heidi's cancer has spread. I'm sure you will make sure her remaining months are filled with love and treats. Nose bumps for your lovely girl & big hugs for you xx
 
I appreciate the support. Vet showed me the x rays. The tiny growths around her lungs are hard to see. They show she has a pathological break just above her elbow. It is stable because it encased by the tumor.
Vet gave her pain med and sedation and I am going to do medacam and gabapentin which is being compounded as a liquid. Vet says they work in different ways so can have both of them.
As soon as she got home she jumped in her litter box.
 
bunny momma said:
I appreciate the support. Vet showed me the x rays. The tiny growths around her lungs are hard to see. They show she has a pathological break just above her elbow. It is stable because it encased by the tumor.
Vet gave her pain med and sedation and I am going to do medacam and gabapentin which is being compounded as a liquid. Vet says they work in different ways so can have both of them.
As soon as she got home she jumped in her litter box.
Click to expand...
I hope that Heidi is able to remain comfortable for as long as possible. I'm certain she will feel secure and loved with your care.
 
I am so sorry. I hope you can find all sorts of ways to spoil her and make her time as good as you possibly can. The one advantage of having a limited timeline is that you can use all the pain meds available if necessary without needing to consider longterm implications, and that is a precious thing to be able to offer them. I hope she does well on the gabapentin.
If it's any help, Odin is on paracetemol to manage his arthritis pain, and does very well on it. Just mentioning it in case it's useful.
 
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