Benji

I took Benji to see Susan, the chiropractor, twice now and Benji is definitely better. He now puts weight on his left hind leg again which he didn't before. He also really enjoyed the massage.

Unfortunately I found a big lump on his back this morning. I took him straight to see Mark. The lump looks quite nasty. We are treating it with antibiotics for now, but I suspect it is more serious than that. Mark and I have ruled out surgery as Benji is old, has knackered knees and a not very well working immune system (he keeps getting mites).

Whatever the lump is (and it doesn't seem to be uncomfortable), we will just keep Benji as comfortable as possible! He still likes a bit of a hop around, is alert, eats well and has a good quality of life.

DAKOTA and BENJI

Dakota's abscess has completely healed from what I can see. I am so pleased. I was getting ready for a major battle like bunny abscesses often are, but baytril worked great this time round.

Benji has now been on metacam for a week and seems more comfortable hopping around. I'll give him another couple of weeks and will then probably take him with me when Troy and I go to the chiropractor next time.

BENJI: arthritis

Poor old Benji has indeed quite severe arthritis in both his knees. Mark put him on metacam now. Once that has kicked in properly, I will take him to Sue to have a look at him and release any tension in the muscles etc that are caused by the arthritis.

Otherwise, Mark commented, he is in good shape and doing well for a bunny of his age, which made me pleased.

DAKOTA: abscess

This morning, Dakota gnawed the bars as she always does whilst I am giving everyone the food. I saw something which looked like a sore, so I had a closer look! I found a lump in the corner of her mouth with a scab on it. The scab came off very easily and out came lots and lots of puss!

I took her straight to the vet. Ian gave her baytril, though I must say I have a feeling it won't work, but I'll give it a go. If it's no better within a week, then I will take her back and ask for Depocillin (though Ian wan't keen at all when I mentioned it ...).

Luckily, Dakota is absolutely fine in herself, eating and drinking well. She was of course a bit stressed by the travelling, but was very good at the vet's. She was also weighed and she is 4.6 kg.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Benji - 11 years old!

I can't believe that Benji is already 11 years old today! He is an old man now, his hind legs are a little weaker, but he is still the same friendly, cuddly and wonderful little bunny enjoying life! What a start he is.

Tommy's and Alaska's move

Yesterday, I dismanteled and discarded of Tommy's and Alaska's old cage. They have now moved into River's cage. I was worried at first because they would never use a litter box and that is imperative in that cage. But as it is just laminate and carpet in there and only the little box contains newspaper and hay, they have had no problem using the litter box and have been perfectly clean! Great stuff!

I gave the wall and the carpet where Magic still is now a good clean, it was necessary. It looks much better again now.

I am still toying with bonding Magic with Tommy and Alaska or perhaps with Dakota as he does look very lonely now and I think he is also pining a little. But I am not sure whether the cage will be big enough for three, and with Dakota I don't want to risk any injuries as she is so big and he is so small. I'll have a think about it all...

Benji - mites again

On Sunday, I gave Benji another bath as the mites have returned. However, he got quite stressed about it this time, so I won't be doing that anymore with him, eventhough it is the most effective way to treat the mites. But I will from now on treat him regularly with Advantage Drops to keep it under control. He is 10 1/2 years old and too old to be stressed out.

River and Charlie ashes home

On Saturday, I picked up River's and Charlie's ashes! I put Charlie's ashes next to Apollo's, her first partner! I miss the two bunnies, it feels quite empty in the room without them!

CHARLIE has died too - my brave girl finally lost her battle!

Tonight I came home and found Charlie collapsed! I knew immediately that there was nothing more that I could do for my little girl. She has finally lost her battle!

I bedded her comfortably and stayed with her. She was comfortable, not in distress and breathing calmly! I wanted her to die here at home, not at the vet's where she would be frightened and where she would have felt Magic's distress too. I stayed with her a couple of hours, then I just went toilet quickly and when I came back she had gone!

I am devastated, even more so as her death comes just 24 hours after River's very untimely death last night... On the other hand, Charlie's brain is all healthy again now and River will be waiting for her!

Sleep tight, my little angel! We will miss you lots and Magic will feel very lonely too without you bossing him around!

Poor River

Last night at around midnight, I gave all the bunnies their pellets as usual. River is always very keen and rushes his food, probably because he only used to get a few pellets due to his teeth.

After a few pellets he suddenly started choking... I tried everything to get the pellet(s) dislodged including turning him upside down. But nothing worked and he continued to struggle breathing and lots of fluid coming out of his nose! When it became obvious that nothing was going to work, I called the South London Emergency Clinic, but no-one answered the phone. I tried twice with no luck. Then we decided to take River just down there, but when I got back upstairs, he was just taking his last breath and I lost him!

I am absolutely devastated that I couldn't help him! The same once happened to Apollo (I think it was) and I successfully managed to sort him out. But not this time with River.

I brought him to the vet's this morning for an individual cremation. He will be coming home again on Saturday.

Sleep tight, my beautiful and special boy! God obviously needed an angel urgently and chose you.