Jay123
New Kit
This is the first time I've written on this forum. My little bunny Louie passed away this week. I'm absolutely devastated - he was my little mate, and I loved him with all my heart. I can't believe how attached I've become to him.
I've had Louie for six years. I'd never owned a pet before, let alone a Rabbit! He was sold to me as a cheap and easy pet. However, it soon became apparent that he needed so much care and attention. I quickly realised how fragile he was. I read up on how to care for him, I spoke with friends, and family. Not long after he came to live with me I noticed he wasn't eating, I'd read up on gut stasis - so I was straight off to the vets and indeed he was suffering with it. Since then Louie has been in and out of the vets, maybe once or twice a year with this awful problem. I listened to the vets on how to care for Louie. I was strict with his diet, he always had fresh hay, with limited greens and pellets. Over the years Louie has had multiple tests to see why he keeps going into stasis and we've never been able to work it out.
Anyway, over the last year or so he seemed to be doing okay, and I thought we'd cracked it! I loved my little man so much, he was a house rabbit, always able to roam freely - he slept on my bed or under it, he loved going into the garden and would sit by the back door to let me know he wanted to go out. I'm fortunate I have a garden he couldn't escape from, so as long as I was there with him he could binki about and eat grass to his hearts content.
Just recently I lost my dad, and I've been giving a lot of extra attention to my mum. Louie and I have been going to stay with her - her house is also set up for Louie so it's like home from home. He's been there lots of times. However this time she's moved to a new house and I could tell Louie wasn't settled. His eating slowed a bit, I kept a close eye on him, I made sure he had plenty of water, little tummy rubs, and he seemed to pick up. By the time i bought him home he was eating properly again, and he was excited when I took him some kale (which he loved) - he was running around in circles. I'd noticed he seemed to be drinking a lot of water and he had pooped but when I reflect now they were a bit smaller and less of them. I told myself he's eating - he had pooped and he seemed his normal self. I was tired after a long day and I took myself off to bed. When i woke up in the morning - I always check on Louie first, he was barely moving, I could hardly hear hi breathing and his ears we cold. I knew straight away - he's in stasis again - I rushed him to the vet, but it was too late and my precious little boy passed away.
He was only just six years old and I feel like I've totally let him down. I was always so vigilant about his health because he'd been poorly so many times. But I was tired and I over looked the clues (lesser poops) - I can't forgive myself, I was his defender and I missed the ball! I'm totally heartbroken.
I suppose I'm writing this to raise awareness, and to see if anyone else has had a similar experience
I've had Louie for six years. I'd never owned a pet before, let alone a Rabbit! He was sold to me as a cheap and easy pet. However, it soon became apparent that he needed so much care and attention. I quickly realised how fragile he was. I read up on how to care for him, I spoke with friends, and family. Not long after he came to live with me I noticed he wasn't eating, I'd read up on gut stasis - so I was straight off to the vets and indeed he was suffering with it. Since then Louie has been in and out of the vets, maybe once or twice a year with this awful problem. I listened to the vets on how to care for Louie. I was strict with his diet, he always had fresh hay, with limited greens and pellets. Over the years Louie has had multiple tests to see why he keeps going into stasis and we've never been able to work it out.
Anyway, over the last year or so he seemed to be doing okay, and I thought we'd cracked it! I loved my little man so much, he was a house rabbit, always able to roam freely - he slept on my bed or under it, he loved going into the garden and would sit by the back door to let me know he wanted to go out. I'm fortunate I have a garden he couldn't escape from, so as long as I was there with him he could binki about and eat grass to his hearts content.
Just recently I lost my dad, and I've been giving a lot of extra attention to my mum. Louie and I have been going to stay with her - her house is also set up for Louie so it's like home from home. He's been there lots of times. However this time she's moved to a new house and I could tell Louie wasn't settled. His eating slowed a bit, I kept a close eye on him, I made sure he had plenty of water, little tummy rubs, and he seemed to pick up. By the time i bought him home he was eating properly again, and he was excited when I took him some kale (which he loved) - he was running around in circles. I'd noticed he seemed to be drinking a lot of water and he had pooped but when I reflect now they were a bit smaller and less of them. I told myself he's eating - he had pooped and he seemed his normal self. I was tired after a long day and I took myself off to bed. When i woke up in the morning - I always check on Louie first, he was barely moving, I could hardly hear hi breathing and his ears we cold. I knew straight away - he's in stasis again - I rushed him to the vet, but it was too late and my precious little boy passed away.
He was only just six years old and I feel like I've totally let him down. I was always so vigilant about his health because he'd been poorly so many times. But I was tired and I over looked the clues (lesser poops) - I can't forgive myself, I was his defender and I missed the ball! I'm totally heartbroken.
I suppose I'm writing this to raise awareness, and to see if anyone else has had a similar experience
. Thank you all so much
