O.M.G.: a Zoe update...

This is the most insane/miraculous/incredible situation I've ever experienced. And before I explain the story in full, I want to thank everyone who sent positive thoughts and/or prayers for Zoe and her family.

Two hours' before Zoe was scheduled to be euthanized, she began grinding her teeth; I said to my DH, "As hard as it is, we're making the right decision; she's really feeling pain now."

At the vet's office, we listened to the vet tech. go over our cremation (or not) options and what to expect during/after the euthanasia procedure. She also had me sign the paperwork for legal purposes. I started crying between the time I signed the paperwork and when the vet tech. popped back into the room to take Zoe to the back to insert the catheter.

My DH and I sat in the exam room for what felt like a very long time. Finally, the vet came in and said, "I'm sorry to have to do this to you, but I wanted to let you know that Zoe just pooped. She pooped a huge fecal pellet, and more is coming out of her. Would you like to see it?" Of course, I said, "Definitely!"

Apparently, Zoe's massive fecal stuck partway out her backside as the vet was repositioning her in order to insert the catheter. The vet grabbed on to the fecal and pulled it out. Right after that, Zoe passed a large quantity of diarrhea and mucous.

The vet said she would honor whatever our decision but offered to let us take Zoe into the exam room to see how she acts. We set Zoe on the exam room floor, and she started moving all around, passing a bit more fecal mush and mucous. Her eyes were suddenly bright and alert again, and she ate some hay that we set on the floor for her.

Long story short, Zoe is back home with us. We're not deluding ourselves into believing that we're out of the woods; we haven't forgotten that Zoe still has a mass of some sort, which could be contributing to her issues. But we figured that we'll at least give her a fighting chance, as long as she's not showing signs of pain, lethargy, and/or inappetence (all of which she'd been showing for the last three days' time).

This is a story for the history books, I swear it....

I can't thank all of you enough for being such a great, supportive community. I think Zoe thanks you, too.
:big kiss:


Jenk

YAY! Go Zoe, go! I so hope she will start to improve now. Give her a kiss kiss from me, please!

YAY!!! Just in time!!!

:yahoo::clapping::yahoo::clapping::yahoo::clapping::yahoo::clapping::yahoo::clapping:

:yahoo:Zoe, you go girl!arty0002:

Congrats Zoe! Hopefully everything goes up hill for her!
Keeping my finger crossed and have her on my mine!

Wow talk about perfect timing!!!!!
Fabulous wonderful outcome at least for today

What incredibly wonderful news. Keep the greens, hay etc going. Put her on some plain probiotic yogurt, mobility drugs to keep it coming. Maybe some fur ball medicine to keep things lubbed. I am so happy that things are looking up. I know that she is not out of the woods, but the bunny god felt it was just not her time yet. Give her pets and hugs from Benjamin and I, more hugs to her family.

Praise the Lord! YAY! GO GO ZOE!! :hugsquish::woohoo

I'll continue to pray for Zoe that thinkgs keep going well! Give her a pet for me! DD

I avoided checking RO all day....thought I knew what would be here.....WOOHOO!!!!! I don't think I've been this glad to be wrong in a LONG time.

:bouquet::hugsquish::flowerskiss::highfive::toast::thumbup:woohoo:great::shock2::bunnieskiss:happyrabbit:arty:

:yeahthat: Didn't want to log on here at all today. Such good news, I'm speechless.

We are all a bunch of softies when it comes to our bunnies and other bunnies that we know and care for. What an incredible day, started bad but has turned around. Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pumpkinandwhiskersmom wrote:

I avoided checking RO all day....thought I knew what would be here.....WOOHOO!!!!! I don't think I've been this glad to be wrong in a LONG time.

:highfive::thumbup:woohoo:shock2::bunnieskiss:happyrabbit:arty:

Click to expand...

I realize that things are still iffy, all things considered. As of early this evening, she's again acting like she's a bit "stopped up." All we can do is keep a close eye on her this weekend, push the sub-Q's/oral fluids, and continue her medications.

Even if she weren't to stay with us much longer, I must say that I've never had such a shock in my entire life. I could only stare at her open-mouthed as she moved around the exam room, occasionally dropping fecal muck on the floor. :shock:

No matter what happens, I think this experience is one for the record books. :nod

:yahoo:arty:arty::woohoo



So glad to hear this! I haven't been posting (I really have no experience in this) but I am so happy to hear that there has at least been some sort of improvement!

Update please on Zoe's condition today. As I posted on another thread about melacolon I am curious if a probiotic formula for babies and children that contained several billion units of Lactobacillus and Bifdobacterium would not help these little rabbits. My husband has ulcerative colitus ( in human terms pretty similar to melacolon - expect you get slow downs of gut, improper food digestion, extreme gas, diaharea, bleeding, fatique, joint pain etc ). He takes a drug called sulfasalzine for the condition, which has incredible side effects. During one horrid flare up he had lost 30 pounds and couldn't drag himself up the crane truck ladder anymore. By chance I went on the chrones web site and learned about Natural Defense a probiotic blend that contained 13 different Lactobacillus and Bifdobacterium strains, each containing several billion each. He went on this and within 2 weeks was able to cut his pills in half, then 1/4 and then nothing except the probiotic strains. He has put on weight, colitius is in remission and feels great. I know that they make this for babies, so it could be dissolved and syringed. Would this not help??

gmas rabbit wrote:

Update please on Zoe's condition today.

Click to expand...

Please see the thread I'd started first thing this morning entitled "Zoe update: the roller-coaster...."


Jenk

Gmas, I don't remember if Jenk uses probiotics (although I'm pretty sure she does, and likely Benebac which seems to work the best for rabbits), but it does help some with megacolon rabbits. Probiotics are commonly used for rabbit tummy problems. Unlike ulcerative colitis, megacolon is caused by improper nerve distribution in the intestines. There is no cure, just managament.

naturestee wrote:

Gmas, I don't remember if Jenk uses probiotics (although I'm pretty sure she does, and likely Benebac which seems to work the best for rabbits), but it does help some with megacolon rabbits. Probiotics are commonly used for rabbit tummy problems. Unlike ulcerative colitis, megacolon is caused by improper nerve distribution in the intestines. There is no cure, just managament.

Click to expand...

I've given Zoe various probiotic-type items at times. I used to give her Bene-Bac following a course of antibiotics. Then the vet I was using at the time switched Zoe to Plant Enzymes & Probiotics by Animal Essentials.

For over a year now, I've given her Pro Bi, which is a supplement used by the horse community. I started giving it to her daily maybe six months' ago, maybe more. I also give it to my other two buns when they're shedding, showing signs of gut slowdown, and/or after a course of antibiotics.

Naturestee is right, though. There is no current cure for megacolon symptoms, just management.

that really sucks!!