Dakota is gone!

Yesterday morning, I found Dakota sitting in her own wee when I got up in the morning. She was sitting on the carpet next to the radiator. She wasn't interested when I put the food in, even the broccoli couldn't tempt her. Her breathing seemed very loud and her nose was wet; I also thought she had red urine though I think this was now dye from the wood where she weed. I booked her into the vets.

Mark had a good look at her and took an x-ray of her bladder and chest, but all was clear. He could not find anything else amiss either other than the obvious symptoms above. So we assumed it was some sort of infection. Mark gave her antibiotics and booked her back in to see him for this morning at 8.

I then had to go to work, but although Dakota looked unwell, she hopped into her cage without problems so I wasn't too worried about leaving her.

How wrong was I... when I came home at 6 pm, I found her dead stretched out. It is such a shock that she is gone. I know she is 7 years old which is good for a French Lop, but she didn't look or behave old at all. So I asked Mark to do a pm on her, and then cremate her individually.

I still can't believe she is gone. This has really knocked me for six! She was such a fantastic bunny... I really miss her.

Update

Magic's eye definitely looks much better now, the fleshy bit much smaller and no more pus. However, he isn't eating properly anymore; I am not sure whether this is a side effect of the Streptacare. If he hasn't eaten by tonight, then I will take him to the vet tomorrow morning.

PS. added on 24/5/2011: Magic recovered fully and has not had a problem anymore since!

Magic - eye abscess

I took Magic to Mark's on Thursday to check him out as he wasn't eating. When on the table, I noticed that his eye was infected and Mark confirmed this. He gave him antibiotics, eye drops and gut motility drugs and we went back on Friday morning. We added Metacam to the mix.

On Friday, there was now also pus coming from the eye, so we are dealing with an abscess. The eye didn't look good and Mark didn't look very optimistic.

On Monday, I took Magic back again. The eye was less red, but still pus there. Mark put him on Streptacare which I inject daily now and I continue with the eye drops and Metacam.

It looks a little better now, but although Magic is still eating his veg and fruit, he isn't eating anything else still. We are due to go back next Monday and hopefully by then, things are looking a bit better.

Update on Tommy

Tommy has now been on Streptacare for a week.

I give him the injection in the morning (without problems) and also lance the abscess. Over the last couple of days, the abscess seems smaller and much less puss is coming out. So I think that the Streptacare is working. I also give him Fibretex which is helping him too.

He still doesn't eat as much as I would like him to, but he eats pellets, grated carrots and broccoli and occasionally also hay. So I think we are getting there. He is certainly very well in himself.

He is due for a vet follow-up tomorrow evening with Mark.

Tommy update

Tommy is home and he has been eating bits and pieces (pellets and greens), but no hay as yet.

This morning I gave him the first injection of Streptacare which is the antibiotic (penicillin) which Ian gave me to inject. The injection was surprisingly easy as Tommy didn't struggle at all being cornered in one corner of the cage. It was a bit more difficult to clean off the abscess, but we got there in the end. I am not flushing the abscess as it goes right through to his mouth and I don't want him to swallow anything.

He is pretty bright, but doesn't like the abscess being touched. I don't blame him, but it has to be done.

Tommy at vet's

As Tommy was very reluctant to eat anything this morning, and ate the pellets very, very gingerly, I decided to take him in asap. Mark couldn't see anything in his mouth for all the puss in there, so his teeth must be quite bad. Not sure yet what the lump is.

Update, 2.30 pm:

The lump is a jaw abscess that's also affected the bone. I will need to inject antibiotics to give him the best chance possible, but it really isn't good news. Jaw abscesses are so difficult to treat. Tommy needs all the strength he can muster for this.

Tommy

I have noticed that Tommy isn't too keen on eating hay at the moment. I think his teeth are giving him bother again. I will have to pop him down the vet's some time soon.

Benji's Passing

Benji went to sleep forever at 10.50 am today. Ian, the vet, was wonderful (Ian also said that Benji was the oldest bunny is has ever met in his career)! Benji looked so peaceful and relaxed when Ian brought him back to me.

This was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. And I will miss my most wonderful Benji bunny... with his passing, a era has come to an end! He has seen so many bunnies come and go and survived them all! But now his time had come as well as his body let him down. God needed a very special angel when he called Benji's name!

Benji

Benji's legs have completely given up now. He can't use them anymore and just drags them around. The tumour has grown huge and he gets wet from urine now!

I am giving him lots of veg he loves (he doesn't eat much else anymore) and have booked him in at 10.30 tomorrow morning to make his last journey to Rainbow Bridge. It will be the saddest day as Benji is a very special bunny. But he looks tired now and frustrated that he can't get around properly.

Chiro

Benji went to see Sue again today (together with Troy and me). He really enjoys it. We will see whether it will make a difference to him this time. The lump is really quite big and he finds it very hard now to get round... though he does still keep himself clean somehow. He is a brave bunny!