I just called the vet (talking to Dean) and indeed, they already had the results back! It isn't good news, the lump was a carcinoma of undetermined origin. It is apparently one of the worst types of malignant tumours! But they don't know where it came from.
Dean said that luckily, the margin they had taken off was good. And if the tumour comes back (or probably rather "when"), then it will most likely be in the same area! So although I will check him over all over, I will keep a special eye on his chin/throat area of course.
The other problem with the tumour (which was apparently very messy), was that it was very close to the jugular vein, which means that it might have spread up or down in the blood stream...
Not the news I was waiting for at all! And particularly not before Christmas... But luckily, Sunny is doing great and he doesn't know anything about it all! I love you so much, my brave little boy!
Monday, 24 December 2007
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Sunny: not good news
When I went to pick up Sunny last night from the vets, the vet nurse told me that the lump looked very nasty and that it was probably not good news. We won't have the lab results though until well into next week, and not before Christmas...
They said that the lump was connected to all sorts of things and could be a thyroid "tumour" (I can't remember the technical word they used).
This is a big shock to me... as I really did not think that the lump was something to worry about! I was so sure it was an abscess!
Sunny is fine in himself, has been eating well, though was still a bit quiet as is to be expected after quite a big operation.
They said that the lump was connected to all sorts of things and could be a thyroid "tumour" (I can't remember the technical word they used).
This is a big shock to me... as I really did not think that the lump was something to worry about! I was so sure it was an abscess!
Sunny is fine in himself, has been eating well, though was still a bit quiet as is to be expected after quite a big operation.
Monday, 17 December 2007
Sunny's at the vets
I took Sunny into the vet's this morning and Mark kept him in. I just called the surgery (2 pm) and Sunny is coming round again without problems. However, the lump was not as I expected an abscess, but an actual mass... they are therefore sending it off to the lab to find out what we are dealing with.
This is very unexpected and I am worried now. It has all been removed, but I am of course concerned about it. But all I can do at the moment is wait for the lab results.
This is very unexpected and I am worried now. It has all been removed, but I am of course concerned about it. But all I can do at the moment is wait for the lab results.
Friday, 14 December 2007
Vet visit postponed
After having felt that Sunny's lump has not grown in size since yesterday, I have decided to reschedule the vet visit for Monday. As I have to attend the work Christmas Party tonight, I would not be there to look after Sunny should he need anaesthetics and therefore aftercare.
On Monday, I will be able to pick him up after work and check in on him regularly.
On Monday, I will be able to pick him up after work and check in on him regularly.
Thursday, 13 December 2007
Sunny has a lump
On Tuesday night, I discovered a lump under Sunny's chin. I think it is an abscess. It has grown quite a bit since then, but seems to have stagnated since yesterday... I have booked an appointment with my vet Paul tomorrow morning to have a look at it.
Friday, 21 September 2007
Dakota is fine again
Luckily, after two days of not eating too much (only the greens that I gave her), Dakota is back to her old self going mad whilst waiting for food and clearing the pellets in no time! No idea what the problem was, but I am just glad that she is fine again.
Last Saturday, I also moved Thomas (I call him Thommy Tom Tom now... LOL) next to Alaska into Angel's cage. I have decided to try to bond Thomas and Alaska... they are both pretty mellow males, so it might work.
Benji is doing ok a few weeks after Pippa went! I will try to bond him with Dakota at some point, but will give it a bit more time. The most important pair to bond now is River and Trystane as River is outgrowing his cage now! I hope I can start with them this week-end. River is growing into a fantastic rabbit... very big, a bit skittish, but beautiful and friendly.
Last Saturday, I also moved Thomas (I call him Thommy Tom Tom now... LOL) next to Alaska into Angel's cage. I have decided to try to bond Thomas and Alaska... they are both pretty mellow males, so it might work.
Benji is doing ok a few weeks after Pippa went! I will try to bond him with Dakota at some point, but will give it a bit more time. The most important pair to bond now is River and Trystane as River is outgrowing his cage now! I hope I can start with them this week-end. River is growing into a fantastic rabbit... very big, a bit skittish, but beautiful and friendly.
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
Dakota not eating properly
Yesterday morning, I noticed that Dakota had not eaten all of her pellets, which is very unusual as she normally dives into her food like there is no tomorrow. I then gave her some broccoli, which she started eating immediately. I left her with that.
Of course, I was worried after what happened to Angel last week, so when I got home, I checked on her immediately. She was ok, but still had not eaten all her pellets. I then gave her some extra spring greens, which again she ate without problems.
When I got home from training classes, she had eaten all the spring greens as well as the pellets... I was glad. If she hadn't eaten the pellets, she would have been off to the vets in the morning. I gave her pellets, some of which she ate, and I gave her more broccoli. This morning all the food was gone.
She was still not overly keen on the pellets, but she was waiting for the food again as usual, which is good. So she got more spring greens and we'll see how she goes this evening...
These bunnies really are a worry at the moment. It is strange, because my rabbits so rarely have digestive/eating problems... I really am not used to it. I just hope it is not a bug that is going around...
Of course, I was worried after what happened to Angel last week, so when I got home, I checked on her immediately. She was ok, but still had not eaten all her pellets. I then gave her some extra spring greens, which again she ate without problems.
When I got home from training classes, she had eaten all the spring greens as well as the pellets... I was glad. If she hadn't eaten the pellets, she would have been off to the vets in the morning. I gave her pellets, some of which she ate, and I gave her more broccoli. This morning all the food was gone.
She was still not overly keen on the pellets, but she was waiting for the food again as usual, which is good. So she got more spring greens and we'll see how she goes this evening...
These bunnies really are a worry at the moment. It is strange, because my rabbits so rarely have digestive/eating problems... I really am not used to it. I just hope it is not a bug that is going around...
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Angel's gone...
I am devastated. Yesterday evening I noticed that Angel hadn't eaten her breakfast and wasn't eating her dinner. I wasn't too worried as she had done this a couple of times before and then was as right as rain the next day... Well, this morning I went into the animal room as soon as I got up at 6.30 am and she'd gone... By the way she was laying there, I knew she was in pain when she died and I am so sorry!
Angel only ever stopped eating twice in her life (she was 4 years old) for a few hours, but bounced back without problems. Once she needed her teeth done, but never again since... She was so healthy and I don't know what killed her so quickly.
I took her to the vet's for an autopsy, but it did not really shed any light on the cause, other than it was ileus (GI stasis) that caused Angel's death. But there is no indication as to why she went into a stasis... Everything seems to be fine and healthy in her body! All the other bunnies are (so far... touch wood) absolutely fine!
I can only assume that God needed yet another Angel (literally) to help him out with various tasks up in bunny heaven!
I will miss you so much, Angel. You were a very special bunny. Being a wild rabbit cross with very much the wild rabbit temperament, you never cared much about people, but you did love your partner Alaska. You were a free spirit. You caused absolute havoc in the animal room when you were out roaming free there in the night... everything was upside down, I'd never know what I'd wake up to the next morning... hay everywhere, papers on the floor from places I didn't even know you could get to, towels spread all over the place... You knew how to have fun.
Enjoy your freedom at the rainbow bridge, my darling. I will never forget you!
Angel only ever stopped eating twice in her life (she was 4 years old) for a few hours, but bounced back without problems. Once she needed her teeth done, but never again since... She was so healthy and I don't know what killed her so quickly.
I took her to the vet's for an autopsy, but it did not really shed any light on the cause, other than it was ileus (GI stasis) that caused Angel's death. But there is no indication as to why she went into a stasis... Everything seems to be fine and healthy in her body! All the other bunnies are (so far... touch wood) absolutely fine!
I can only assume that God needed yet another Angel (literally) to help him out with various tasks up in bunny heaven!
I will miss you so much, Angel. You were a very special bunny. Being a wild rabbit cross with very much the wild rabbit temperament, you never cared much about people, but you did love your partner Alaska. You were a free spirit. You caused absolute havoc in the animal room when you were out roaming free there in the night... everything was upside down, I'd never know what I'd wake up to the next morning... hay everywhere, papers on the floor from places I didn't even know you could get to, towels spread all over the place... You knew how to have fun.
Enjoy your freedom at the rainbow bridge, my darling. I will never forget you!
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Thursday, 23 August 2007
I miss Pippa
I miss Pippa dreadfully. It is exactely a week today that she went to the Rainbow Bridge (14th August). Whenever I look at Benji, I automatically look for her, then realise she is not there anymore. Benji also looks lost all on his own. He is eating fine and hopping about, but I can see he is missing Pippa too!
Pippa's ashes are ready, so I am going to pick them up tomorrow morning.
Pippa's ashes are ready, so I am going to pick them up tomorrow morning.
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Benji
February 1999 - 22nd September 2007
Benji - what a special bunny he is!
When we lost our little Casper so soon (after just three days), Cornel went to look for another baby bunny as he thought it would help me get over Casper. He found a honey brown lop baby in a pet shop in Wimbledon. I wasn't sure I wanted another bunny so soon after Casper's death, but he persuaded me to go along and have a look at this little bundle of fur. I loved him, but wanted to think about it. After a few days however (they were kind enough to keep him reserved for that length of time), I decided to have the baby. I called him Benji, because he just looked like a Benji.
He came home with us in February 1999 and settled in immediately!
Benji has never been the cause of any concerns. He is and always has been the most gentle and friendly rabbits, we couldn't have wished for better. To this day (he is now almost 9 years old), he has never been ill other than needing treatment for an abscess that healed quickly. He was totally devoted to his girl Pippa and is now very sad that she is gone! He is eating well and hopping about, but he does miss her and looks lonely. What else could be expected after sharing 8 years with his partner!
Benji is a very special bunny and luckily, he is fit and well even at 9 years old, so hopefully we will have many more years with him!
Benji at 5 months old in April 1999
Benji with Pippa in August 1999
Benji at 10 months old
Benji and Pippa in January 2000
Benji in November 2004
Benji and Pippa in November 2004
Benji and Pippa's (and Sunny's) cage (it is 5')- they get daily free exercise in their room
Benji - what a special bunny he is!
When we lost our little Casper so soon (after just three days), Cornel went to look for another baby bunny as he thought it would help me get over Casper. He found a honey brown lop baby in a pet shop in Wimbledon. I wasn't sure I wanted another bunny so soon after Casper's death, but he persuaded me to go along and have a look at this little bundle of fur. I loved him, but wanted to think about it. After a few days however (they were kind enough to keep him reserved for that length of time), I decided to have the baby. I called him Benji, because he just looked like a Benji.
He came home with us in February 1999 and settled in immediately!
Benji has never been the cause of any concerns. He is and always has been the most gentle and friendly rabbits, we couldn't have wished for better. To this day (he is now almost 9 years old), he has never been ill other than needing treatment for an abscess that healed quickly. He was totally devoted to his girl Pippa and is now very sad that she is gone! He is eating well and hopping about, but he does miss her and looks lonely. What else could be expected after sharing 8 years with his partner!
Benji is a very special bunny and luckily, he is fit and well even at 9 years old, so hopefully we will have many more years with him!
Benji at 5 months old in April 1999
Benji with Pippa in August 1999
Benji at 10 months old
Benji and Pippa in January 2000
Benji in November 2004
Benji and Pippa in November 2004
Benji and Pippa's (and Sunny's) cage (it is 5')- they get daily free exercise in their room
Casper
(December 1998 - January 1999)
In January 1999, my husband and I went to our usual pet shop (Petsmart) to get food for our two cockatiels. We always enjoyed browsing around and looking at the animals. We did the same on that Saturday. When we looked at the rabbits, we discovered this most beautiful white rabbit with deep blue eyes and lop ears. It looked truly stunning. However, we did not really want another animal at the time and we certainly did not want to buy one on impulse. Apart from that, I knew that my husband would never agree to having an indoor rabbit! So we left the shop and went home with only the bird food in our shopping bag.
I just could not stop myself from thinking about this lovely white ball of fur. I kept seeing it right in front of me looking at me with those big blue eyes. Throughout the evening I kept mentioning it and continued on Sunday morning. I was not trying to convince my husband - I knew he would never agree - I just expressed my feelings. Out of the blue, my husband suddenly asked me whether I wanted to have that rabbit. I did not believe what I just heard. We discussed it and I agreed overjoyed. We rushed through breakfast and getting ready and off we went hoping the bunny would still be there. And it was!
We bought all the necessary bits and pieces and were the proud new owners of a bunny. It did not take us long to find a name: CASPER - after the little white ghost with the blue eyes.
We settled Casper in his cage with bedding, food and water. He did not look terribly interested in things - we put it down to the stress of being moved around. He did not touch his food, only drank a little water. When he did not eat anything the next day either we got concerned. We booked him in for a vets appointment the next morning. Before taking him there, I phoned the pet shop to inform them, that Casper needed veterinary treatment straight away. I was first told that rabbits never eat in the first 48 hours until they settle... (they could not have been more wrong about rabbit care; rabbits need food in their intestines all the time)! I was then asked to bring him in and they would attend to it. I refused - I had this feeling that he would just be left alone somewhere without the veterinary attention that he so urgently needed. After talking to about three people on the phone, it was finally agree that they would carry the cost for my own vet. I would not have accepted anything else.
Our vet diagnosed a very serious condition which basically meant that Casper's digestive system was not working at all. The intestines were not moving anymore. Casper was given injections and oral medicine as well as pineapple juice in a desperate attempt to save him. But it was too late, he did not make it through the night. The vet stated that Casper was very thin which indicated that he had been ill for some time. Because it was our very first rabbit and we had no experience whatsoever, we did not recognise the serious condition straight away.
We were refunded the cost of the vet and of the animal itself. Of course this was no consolation in any way - but we would not let the pet shop make any profit out of this. That is why we accepted the money.
After this very distressing experience I did not want to get another rabbit straight away. My husband however thought it would be best to look for another one as quickly as possible to help me get over it. He found one in another pet shop that was recommended to him by a friend. He reserved the baby rabbit for me to have a look at him. He was honey brown with lop ears and a lovely, mischievous face. Nevertheless I wanted to wait a while. It was too soon after Casper. We kept him reserved for another few days to give me time for a decision - which the pet shop did not mind doing - even knowing that we may end up not buying him. They were most helpful indeed.
Casper however had already infected me with the "bunny bug" and after over a week we finally went ahead and brought Benji (see his own post) home. He started eating within the first five minutes without problems. Nevertheless we brought him to the vet for a check up right the next day, just to be on the safe side. He was perfectly healthy (and still is after one year). He's turned out to be the most wonderful animal one could imagine. He loves cuddles, he is so gentle and has a fantastic character all around. Although he cannot replace Casper (and we never wanted him to), he certainly is a great honour to him!
Unfortunately I don't have a picture of my beautiful baby boy Casper, but he was the most stunning blue eyed white dwarf lop!
In January 1999, my husband and I went to our usual pet shop (Petsmart) to get food for our two cockatiels. We always enjoyed browsing around and looking at the animals. We did the same on that Saturday. When we looked at the rabbits, we discovered this most beautiful white rabbit with deep blue eyes and lop ears. It looked truly stunning. However, we did not really want another animal at the time and we certainly did not want to buy one on impulse. Apart from that, I knew that my husband would never agree to having an indoor rabbit! So we left the shop and went home with only the bird food in our shopping bag.
I just could not stop myself from thinking about this lovely white ball of fur. I kept seeing it right in front of me looking at me with those big blue eyes. Throughout the evening I kept mentioning it and continued on Sunday morning. I was not trying to convince my husband - I knew he would never agree - I just expressed my feelings. Out of the blue, my husband suddenly asked me whether I wanted to have that rabbit. I did not believe what I just heard. We discussed it and I agreed overjoyed. We rushed through breakfast and getting ready and off we went hoping the bunny would still be there. And it was!
We bought all the necessary bits and pieces and were the proud new owners of a bunny. It did not take us long to find a name: CASPER - after the little white ghost with the blue eyes.
We settled Casper in his cage with bedding, food and water. He did not look terribly interested in things - we put it down to the stress of being moved around. He did not touch his food, only drank a little water. When he did not eat anything the next day either we got concerned. We booked him in for a vets appointment the next morning. Before taking him there, I phoned the pet shop to inform them, that Casper needed veterinary treatment straight away. I was first told that rabbits never eat in the first 48 hours until they settle... (they could not have been more wrong about rabbit care; rabbits need food in their intestines all the time)! I was then asked to bring him in and they would attend to it. I refused - I had this feeling that he would just be left alone somewhere without the veterinary attention that he so urgently needed. After talking to about three people on the phone, it was finally agree that they would carry the cost for my own vet. I would not have accepted anything else.
Our vet diagnosed a very serious condition which basically meant that Casper's digestive system was not working at all. The intestines were not moving anymore. Casper was given injections and oral medicine as well as pineapple juice in a desperate attempt to save him. But it was too late, he did not make it through the night. The vet stated that Casper was very thin which indicated that he had been ill for some time. Because it was our very first rabbit and we had no experience whatsoever, we did not recognise the serious condition straight away.
We were refunded the cost of the vet and of the animal itself. Of course this was no consolation in any way - but we would not let the pet shop make any profit out of this. That is why we accepted the money.
After this very distressing experience I did not want to get another rabbit straight away. My husband however thought it would be best to look for another one as quickly as possible to help me get over it. He found one in another pet shop that was recommended to him by a friend. He reserved the baby rabbit for me to have a look at him. He was honey brown with lop ears and a lovely, mischievous face. Nevertheless I wanted to wait a while. It was too soon after Casper. We kept him reserved for another few days to give me time for a decision - which the pet shop did not mind doing - even knowing that we may end up not buying him. They were most helpful indeed.
Casper however had already infected me with the "bunny bug" and after over a week we finally went ahead and brought Benji (see his own post) home. He started eating within the first five minutes without problems. Nevertheless we brought him to the vet for a check up right the next day, just to be on the safe side. He was perfectly healthy (and still is after one year). He's turned out to be the most wonderful animal one could imagine. He loves cuddles, he is so gentle and has a fantastic character all around. Although he cannot replace Casper (and we never wanted him to), he certainly is a great honour to him!
Unfortunately I don't have a picture of my beautiful baby boy Casper, but he was the most stunning blue eyed white dwarf lop!
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