Lillabelle not eating

[Pets mum]

Try not to beat yourself up over your bunnies, I've only ever read love and care in your posts. I'm sure we've all been guilty of showing a bit of love by giving treats, especially when they've been reluctant to eat, so please dont beat yourself up. I hope both Lillabelle and Mischief have a happy and healthy year ahead of them, they are in very safe hands. I also hope that your own health improves too, and that your pain can be managed. Look after yourself, I'm sure the buns would tell you the same if they could xx

 

[redmal]

It is obvious that you love both your bunnies dearly, and you do all you can to give them good lives. What happened in the past can't be changed but Lillabelle is living her best life right now, thanks to you and your OH. I am a very new and ignorant rabbit mum trying desperately to learn as much as I can in order to give Prince the best life I can. It is quite clear to me and I'm sure to the other readers of Lillabelle's story that you are th most caring and loving bunny mum you can be. Stop beating yourself up and start feeling good that you can help and support the buns the way that you do. I admire you both for the care you take of the rabbits in your care.

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Thank you everyone. We really appreciate your comments and it has helped to know you all can see we love them and just want the best we can do for them both

It has been a stressful few weeks and it is difficult to know that Lillabelle has this abscess as she seems fine outwardly. We hope the ultrasound shows good news.

Also Mischief has sneezed on a couple of occasions now and his nostrils were wet when he sneezed but they are dry now and his paws are clean however we will be taking him to our local vets for his 6 monthly check up next week and ask her to check his airways and breathing for any concerns. Also we will ask the vet to check his teeth and his bones for any arthritic changes knowing that Lillabelle has some now.

We have given up using the crates by our bed for Mischief and Lillabelle to use as steps as they don't often use them plus I worry they will hurt themselves as they are hard. We have considered getting foam steps but Mischief likes to chew things. So we are looking for steps for beside our bed. If any body has suggestions we would love ideas on this subject. Thank you

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Just to add that Lillabelle has her war paint on ready for her ultrasound ❤

 

[bunny momma]

Sending positive vibes for her ultrasound.

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Hi everyone. Happy New Year! My OH cancelled the ultrasound this morning as I was still up at 9am this morning in pain. I fell asleep so he didn't wake me. I wasn't very happy about it but he said he couldn't wake me. I missed seeing my daughter and granddaughter as well.

Next appointment he could get is 13th January so I hope it does not cause any problems for Lillabelle to do it a week later as her antibiotics finish in 4 days. I will ring vets tomorrow and say if there is a cancellation we would like that spot.

Just to add that Lillabelle has her war paint on ready for her ultrasound ❤

Just to say that it's her moult causing the pattern not actual war paint!
Her marks are getting more prominent now. It looks really striking on her.

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

We have decided NOT to get Lillabelle's op done. She is petrified of being picked up. She runs away from my OH all the time when he tries to stroke her. It has gotten slightly easier to give her her meds but we just think she will be so scared staying in Camden without Chief for days.

We are hoping her ultrasound shows the antibiotics have helped her abscess but we are not holding our breathe. It is a really difficult choice to make but now Mischief is no longer going with her it seems cruel to make her go alone.

We will do all we can to make sure she is comfortable as long as possible. We have had long chats about what we think is best for her and we don't believe an operation is the way forward.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Inspector Morse for all her help with Lillabelle. We just feel that enough is enough now.

 

[Pets mum]

I'm glad that you've come to a decision about Lillabelle, and that both and your husband can rest easy a bit. Sending lots of vibes that the antibiotics have made a difference to the abscess, and that your girl stays happy and pain free for as long as possible. You've both done a wonderful job getting her to this stage x

 

[bunny momma]

I know you and your OH love Lillabelle and you have made your decision based on what is best for her. It sounds like it would have been a challenge to hold her to give her meds and feedings after such a delicate op without causing damage to to incision. Plus the op sounded risky for a bunny who enjoys hopping and jumping on things.
Sending lots of vibes the abx can keep her abscess under control for a long time and she will continue to be happy with your, your OH, and Chief.

 

[InspectorMorse]

I hope that today’s follow up U/S and blood tests will show that the abx have had some beneficial effect and that her liver enzymes are within normal ranges. It might be that she will need to remain on treatment for the rest of her life to buy her more time if surgery is now not going to be an option.

 

[Omi]

I hope that Lillabelle's scan today will show some improvement.

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

My OH has been sick this morning so we could not go. I only go out the house if my OH or children come with me. I feel so guilty that she missed it again

I also don't know if we are doing the right thing not taking Lillabelle to have her operation. There are arguments both sides but Lillabelle's nervousness and the fact that Chief could not do another taxi ride has swayed us against her having an operation. Plus it is such a serious operation and the consultant told us she may not be able to remove the abscess successfully.

I don't know what will happen to her if she does not have the operation though. This is the problem. We keep going over and over it trying to decide what is best for Lillabelle and we just can't find the solution. I hope we have made the right decision.

I will let you know how the ultrasound goes next week. Thank you everyone for your kind wishes

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Hi everybun.
Sorry I did not come on here yesterday.

We took Lillabelle for her ultrasound and repeat blood test again yesterday. The inflammation around her liver has gone down and the abscess in her abdomen has got reduced 'a little bit' as my vet stressed. We are waiting on the blood test now.

We spoke to our vet about how we feel that Lillabelle could really struggle with being away from Mischief for the operation and the time sitting in a cage on her own in RVC after the operation. She said she understands our concerns as she now knows Lillabelle pretty well and although she is good at the vets she understands how nervous she is generally.

It does not feel very good for us right now though. We also do not have the finances any more to do this but the idea of us potentially owing £4000 is also stressful. We feel sad and worried but we also know Lillabelle is much less stressed at home now she is not being picked up anymore. She has become quite cheeky actually which is good. We are hoping the blood profile has improved especially in her liver.

We have to remind ourselves we have decided this for Lillabelle's sake and she is living the best life with Mischief now. We are hoping we could possibly give her more antibiotics and Loxicom to reduce the inflammation more although we do not know if this would reduce the inflammation or the abscess any more than it is already. Of course there is every possibility that we can't give her any more medication without a long break due to causing her other health issues.

I will let you all know what the consultant says. Thank you everybun for your vibes and kindness through all of these worries about Lillabelle

 

[katbun]

Great to hear Lillabelle has been having fun at home, and that the ultrasound was fairly positive! Sending vibes for her blood test results and continued recovery

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Great to hear Lillabelle has been having fun at home, and that the ultrasound was fairly positive! Sending vibes for her blood test results and continued recovery

Thank you so much for your well wishes

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

We also found out yesterday that the blood test cost in total £190 including the cost of taking the blood of £28. We knew it would cost around £100 as our vet warned us. We did not realise it cost this much though.

We are not sure if we will need to keep repeating the blood test and ultrasound every month but we can only just afford it bimonthly due to being £400 each time. We will need to get advice from the consultant how best to proceed from now on

 

[bunny momma]

I am glad to read the U/S showed some improvement and she is enjoying time with Mischief. Sending vibes her blood values are good and she continues to do well. Is it possible the blood work cost more than you were quoted because they tested more items than planned?
It would be nice to see photos.

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

I am glad to read the U/S showed some improvement and she is enjoying time with Mischief. Sending vibes her blood values are good and she continues to do well. Is it possible the blood work cost more than you were quoted because they tested more items than planned?

Thank you Bunny Momma for your vibes as always

Well the blood test was a blood profile so I guess it tests everything? It was another vet that did the U/S and blood test so I can ask our usual vet when she rings us about her blood results.

We have been talking about this and we are going to ask if we could do the U/S and blood tests bi-monthly to assess how Lillabelle is doing. Whether it will make any difference to how we manage her condition ongoing I don't know. The consultant from RVC will ring us once the test results are sent to her for evaluation so I will ask her then.

Other than this Lillabelle continues to do well. She is eating hay, greens and forage quite happily and is constantly trying to get in our lounge to explore. Her weight is gradually getting nearer to ideal weight agreed by our local vet at 4.7 kg however I have yet to ask the consultant at RVC what she thinks her ideal weight should be after her CT scan.

Lillabelle is currently moulting and she hates being brushed so I have been using my hand wet from water and it seems to get some. Her coat is so thick and soft now she has her winter coat.

I will try and post some photos of them both soon after you said it would be lovely to see some x

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Hi everybun
I just wanted to let you all know that as yet we do not know Lillabelle's blood results. I will update you all on here once we hear. Our usual vet is apparently waiting to speak to the specialist from RVC about her blood results and recent ultrasound.

They say no news is good news but the fact that it has now been 2 weeks and we have not been told anything is a bit disconcerting. I will chase our vet again tomorrow and try and get some feedback at least.

Other than that Lillabelle is still doing really well. She is eating hay pretty much all the time now which is great and her weight 4.75 kgs and so is as the ideal weight which our local vet has suggested at 4.7 kgs pretty much.

She does keep throwing the hay out of their litter trays. I presume it is because she was spayed very late perhaps? We hoped she would stop this in time but she does it nearly every day.

Lillabelle has become so tame now. She comes up and puts her head down for head rubs and my OH said she was making that comforting teeth chatter noise which is the first time ever. Chief does that a lot but for Lillabelle to be so content being stroked is lovely.

Just to say Mischief is also doing really well and does little binkies a lot shaking his ears and booty and dashes about. They are both so much more active now they have lost their weight and are eating timothy hay a lot more. Thank you to Omi and Inspector Morse for helping us get them down to a much healthier weight with their excellent advice on diet.

I will update you all when I speak to the vet and hope it is good news. Wouldn't that be a lovely surprise!

 

[bunny momma]

It is wonderful Lillabelle is doing so well, yet it must be frustrating to not have her blood test results after two weeks.
Her making the teeth chattering and enjoying head pets sounds lovely.
I am glad Mischief is also doing well.
Sending lots of positive vibes for good results.