Kanga's nuts and my total meltdown

[Cuthbert&Dillon]

I have Kanga booked in for Thursday for castration. I am getting myself in a complete mess about this. I had issues with my Rainbow bunny Dillon when he had it done, and I lost Graham piggie in Feb.

I posted on here about Kanga having a sore eye and that I had booked him in for Tuesday for his eye checking.

The vets have rung, they will do all tomorrow at 9.30am - the eye and the castration. Then she (dont know if it was reception or vet) said starve him and bring him in early so we can assess - I pointed out that rabbits dont get starved .................... that has just made me completely and utterly panic.

This is me - complete meltdown and I know that we need to trust the process and that this is a different practice to the one who did Dillon and Graham but I just dont feel confident in letting him have this done.

The shed is ready at the new house - the run nearly ready to go up - he can not live on his own for the next 5 years, I know I need to have this done I am just such a worrier.
Thanks for reading and I realise that there is nothing anyone can say - I just needed an outlet.

 

[joey&boo]

I'm sorry you are so worried about Kangas castration; its only natural given your past experience . Are you happy with your new vet? Because if you needed a rethink on that front there is an exotics only practice in Irlam - I'd trust Molly Varga with any bunny. Thinking of moving my bunnies there

 

[Omi]

Oh Firstly I would be having the same reservations as you now. As you say, rabbits must not be starved. So the inclination is to worry about how competent the vet is who would do the operation.

Here's what I would do and I would definitely have to do something. I strongly suspect that the person who rung would have been the receptionist and not a vet. Receptionists usually arrange appointments. This is what would be ideal, although vet receptionists should also know the basics. So I would contact them and ask who is was that you spoke to. I would be absolutely honest about your past experiences and that you now are very concerned about the operation. IF the vets are to be trusted, they will understand this completely. Ideally I would ask to speak to the vet who will perform the op, but any vet there would be second best.

Have you used this vets previously? If so, how much?

 

[Graciee]

That doesn't sound good.. Is there not a better exotics vet nearby?

I wouldn't be happy with that at all tbh

 

[Shimmer]

Deffo go with what Omi suggests - ring them back and speak to a vet / manager. Explain as you have just done here, and get reassurance that the receptionist will receive additional training regarding rabbits and anaesthetics.

I would assume you spoke to the receptionist, and that they were on autopilot regarding neutering - ie all cat & dog owners will be reminded to starve their pet from the night before, and they did not think before they spoke. I've had it happen before. Most vets see mainly cats & dogs, with not that many rabbits being neutered in general, so it does happen with less experienced receptionists.

If you are still not happy or can't speak to anyone tonight, take Kanga in for his eyes checking, explain again about the situation, and refuse the neutering. You can rebook for another day, especially if the eyes need additional treatment - you want him in good condition and not ideally dealing with other issues if he's having a GA. If you trust the vet tomorrow morning and his eyes are OK, go ahead with the neutering (but after you have fully explained everything that's worrying you, again).

 

[Omi]

The more I think about this, the more I would not want to feel rushed into making a decision. So, I would do what Shimmer suggests and take Kanga in to have his eyes assessed. I would also not want him to have the neuter if he had something wrong with his eyes. I would definitely cancel the suggested neuter for tomorrow.

Then depending on how tomorrow goes, I might feel confident enough to take him in on Thursday. But if you can get him to Molly Varga, then I would definitely do so.

 

[Cuthbert&Dillon]

Thank you all, I am so glad to be able to speak to you. I do not want the op - I want Kanga's eye sorting first I do not want any infection on a bunny that has recently been through lord knows what.

I did speak to the receptionist who said she was just trying to save me the stress of going in twice. She also acknowledged that her mistake would cause panic and upset.

I have used this vets twice before - once for shaving him 5 days after I found him and secondly or his vaccinations.

J+B - Irlam is not too far away, not where peace of mind is concerned, I will look them up.

I will ring in the morning and say I wish to stay with my origional eye appointment only. Thank you, I have made myself quite ill with this today. I need time to decompress and do things slowly.
The castration is purely for him to get a pal - I would like the two to move into the new enclosure together giving 6 weeks post op for Kanga. If he has to live in the house a week or two so be it.

Thank you all, I do feel much better - and if when I go tomorrow re the eye thing I am reasured ie they can answer all the questions Omi has guided me on then I will consider Thursday. Thank you again.

 

[Cuthbert&Dillon]

I have registered Kanga in Irlam. I have made an enquiry about his castration there.

 

[Omi]

I have registered Kanga in Irlam. I have made an enquiry about his castration there.

Super. Molly Varga has an excellent reputation.

And regarding your current vet, it's possible and even probable that the vet knows what they're doing and Kanga would be perfectly safe in their care. However, whilst I would not want to suggest your current vet isn't competent, I would also say that vets do need to make absolutely sure that their receptionists give the correct advice especially before operations. Also the fact that they wanted to run the two appointments together (eye and neuter) would make me nervous. Yes, I can appreciate her wish to save you the stress of going in twice, but her prime focus should be on what is best for Kanga.

And regarding timescale, a few days will make no difference at all in the road to getting Kanga a friend. It's possible that it will take some time to find a suitable female bunny for him, so there is really no panic or rush with any part of it. The shed will be ready and can be used when you have a happy couple ready to move into it.

I'm glad you're feeling better. It really is horrid to be faced with such a situation.

 

[joey&boo]

Aww that is really good news. Even if you dont get molly youll get an exotics working under molly's guidance. They have sep wards for prey animals too. I personally wouldnt want a bunny having non emergency GA until his eyes had chance to clear cos sometimes bunnnies seem to get temp eye issue following surgery. I did know the cause but forgot

 

[Cinnabun14]

You were right to get Kanga's eye sorted out first, AND to get a new vet to do the castration. Sounds to me like the vet applied a rule for cats and dogs to a bun, which wasn't a good sign at all. I'm glad you're able to go to the Irlam vets, I wish we had Molly Varga in the US!

Sending vibes for Kanga that he gets his eye sorted out well without any complications.

 

[joey&boo]

For the benefit of any viewers I said Irlam but I meant Urmston ...sure people would find it anyway

 

[Cuthbert&Dillon]

Thank you all, so as Kanga's eye needed seeing to we went with Rose Valley - the one near home. The vet I saw had a not to apologies for the upset caused - I thought that was nice.
We arrived for our appointment early as I did not realise it was half term - oh the pleasure of driving at half term.

We went in and the vet started with a full exam, tummy felt, tummy sounds, ears, teeth, heart, lungs, feet and skin, then the eye. Both eyes had dye put in and then checked with a small infection found in the right eye - the eye was then washed with saline and we were given anti biotic drops.

The vet could not believe how Kanga climbs up my legs to be picked up and stroked. He climbed my legs, I picked him up and snuggled him and put him down, three times kanga did it and the vet was amazed that a prey animal wanted to be picked up.

He has put on weight, was completely unphased by the experience and sat eating corriander on the way home. We had to call at my dads - who is on the same eye drops and do Dads eyes and Kanga bounced around the kitchen happily - he is so not bothered by going somewhere new.

I will ring Urmston tomorrow - I wanted to get today out of the way, Thursday castration is cancelled. I was however reassured by the 45 minute appointment and the full exam of my boy but I will see what the other vets say.
Thank you all again for your support.

 

[joey&boo]

That all sounds very positive. He sounds a very confident boy. Many, many moons ago I had Ralph & he would run his paws up & down your legs to be picked up. If any guest sat down he'd be on your knee. He'd snooze on my chest while i lay watching tele on the sofa. Enjoy All buns are special but its a very special thing having such a human orientated bunny.

When I had Rudey & had to get urine for tests my practice told me to get the first pee of the morning Brain melted. I spent far too long thinking just when would be that first pee of the morning? After midnight? As the sun broke? .....

 

[Omi]

The vet examination sounds thorough and also the vet sounds competent. Kanga is certainly a very special bunny. Has anyone commented on what his possible age is?

 

[Cuthbert&Dillon]

The vet examination sounds thorough and also the vet sounds competent. Kanga is certainly a very special bunny. Has anyone commented on what his possible age is?

Between 4 and 5 years. I think he is so special too

 

[Cuthbert&Dillon]

Kanga is booked in at Urmston for the 4th March - 9.40am I wonder when my next meltdown will start

J+B - I had registered using the online thingy - it had not gone through so I had to re register today, just thinking about your Gerbil registration.

 

[Cuthbert&Dillon]

That all sounds very positive. He sounds a very confident boy. Many, many moons ago I had Ralph & he would run his paws up & down your legs to be picked up. If any guest sat down he'd be on your knee. He'd snooze on my chest while i lay watching tele on the sofa. Enjoy All buns are special but its a very special thing having such a human orientated bunny.

When I had Rudey & had to get urine for tests my practice told me to get the first pee of the morning Brain melted. I spent far too long thinking just when would be that first pee of the morning? After midnight? As the sun broke? .....

That is so lovely that Ralph did this, he sounds like a very dear rabbit.
Rudey's sample - what time did you go with?

 

[joey&boo]

I think it was 10 (hours) past removal of litter trays & floor coverings

 

[tulsi]

I had a vet receptionist give me this dangerous advice as well. I immediately notified the practice who assured me that they would take time to teach her the correct advice.