carlysoup
Well-Known Member
Hello,
I am a long-time browser, first-time poster. Sadly, it is under very grievous circumstances.
First, let me start with some background. I adopted my first male rabbit last Spring. I had him examined twice and then neutered. He and I moved to Philadelphia from upstate Pa in July, so I could attend school and take on a new job. In August, I adopted two female companions for him from a local rescue. My male is a Lionhead mix (Chewy Bear), his first female companion is a Silver (Annee), and his other female companion was a Dwarf Hotot (Marilyn). All three, until very recently, have been a healthy, happy, well-cared for, and well-loved family. I have several neurological disorders, which make it hard for me to socialize, and as such, I see my rabbits as my very best friends.
My rabbits are my life, and despite my limited income, I believe I take very good care of them, making sure to attend to their every need, as well as watching them closely for distress or illness. I firmly believe that I can always do better for them, and I always try my best. Sadly, this time it did not seem to be enough.
My Dwarf Hotot, Marilyn, was rescued from a hoarding situation, after experiencing much neglect. She always had irregularly-shaped feces, but was given a clean bill of health at her post-adoption exam. She was always eating timothy hay, fresh veggies, and drinking lots of water, in addition to being very social. She was always very excited to see me, and always gave me lots and lots of snuggles and kisses.
Very recently (within the last 4 weeks), she seemed to be gradually losing weight. I was very concerned. However, she was still eating, peeing, pooping and acting like her normal, happy self. Within the last week and a half, she began losing weight faster. I was very scared, and added additional foods to her diet to help her maintain her weight. I called many vets, trying to get her in as soon as possible. I was able to get her an appointment at my preferred exotic vet, but not until Tuesday. Knowing that she needed to be seen sooner, I found a vet (recommended by another local vet) who had Saturday hours, and specialized in exotics. I brought her in yesterday, and much to my horror, this vet manhandled my rabbit, gave her a cursory examination and told me she was severely dehydrated (which was strange because I had seen her drink/urinate previously), and likely dying of kidney failure or cancer.
She was whisked away into another room, blood was drawn, and she was given IV fluids and Baytril. When she was handed back to me, she was shaking and crying. I was aghast and speechless. They asked that I leave them with her overnight. Having no reassurance that she would receive round-the-clock care, I insisted on bringing her home, understanding my friend would bring me to an emergency vet about an hour away, if needed. I did not want my baby overnight in a facility that would not have anyone with her the entire time. In addition, I knew I could bring her home, and feed her Rescue Remedy and water via a syringe, if needed (at this juncture she was still eating and pooping).
I stayed by her side overnight, keeping her in her cage (for safety), with the door open, lying next to her. I drifted in and out of sleep, I couldn't help it. She didn't move much, and slept, too. Her condition had degraded by 7 in the morning. She wouldn't use her hind legs. She kept them close to her, only moving them if necessary. The spot on her left hip, where they had given her the injection, was swollen and warm, with a large, dime-sized hematoma at the injection site. The rest of her body was cool, and she was not interested in food or water. At 8 am, I placed her in my lap and was petting her gently. As I stroked her left side, trying to soothe her, a huge chunk of fur, and some bloody flesh came off in my hand, and a bunch of pink fluid leaked out. She cried, and shifted in pain. I almost fainted.
I called the vet at 9 am, and the answering service told me they would contact him. I called the emergency vet, and their exotics specialist would not be in until this evening. I placed soft paper towels at the site, and held her on my lap. She squirmed in pain. An hour passed and I had not heard from the vet. I called again, and another hour passed. The veterinary technician called me back, chastising me for not leaving her there overnight. She had no answer for me whatsoever regarding the injuries my baby had experienced. She told me to go to the emergency service. I decided to wait until their exotics vet came in this evening, but I knew she wouldn't make it. She looked like she was in so much pain, and she looked so afraid. All I could do is hold her.
By 11 am, she was clearly struggling and dying. Her breath was becoming laborious, her eyes were glazed and she looked even more afraid, she was becoming floppy. By 1, her lips were turning blue and her breath was slowing. By 2, she was trying to make herself comfortable, and I had placed her in her bed. By 2:30, I was on the phone with the emergency vet again, and I watched her struggle and die in my arms. I heard her cry out. I felt her last heartbeat. Then she was gone. I held her and cried.
Her trip to the emergency vet was to be cremated. I will be getting her blood work from the other vet by Tuesday. By Thursday, I will be able to pick up her ashes. My baby is gone.
Now, my male rabbit is sneezing and acting fussy. Will the same thing happen to him? He, and my remaining female rabbit, will be seeing the vet by the end of this week for an examination.
I apologize for the length of this post, please, feel free to trim it as needed. I am just devastated and afraid. Please, any advice is welcome.
I am a long-time browser, first-time poster. Sadly, it is under very grievous circumstances.
First, let me start with some background. I adopted my first male rabbit last Spring. I had him examined twice and then neutered. He and I moved to Philadelphia from upstate Pa in July, so I could attend school and take on a new job. In August, I adopted two female companions for him from a local rescue. My male is a Lionhead mix (Chewy Bear), his first female companion is a Silver (Annee), and his other female companion was a Dwarf Hotot (Marilyn). All three, until very recently, have been a healthy, happy, well-cared for, and well-loved family. I have several neurological disorders, which make it hard for me to socialize, and as such, I see my rabbits as my very best friends.
My rabbits are my life, and despite my limited income, I believe I take very good care of them, making sure to attend to their every need, as well as watching them closely for distress or illness. I firmly believe that I can always do better for them, and I always try my best. Sadly, this time it did not seem to be enough.
My Dwarf Hotot, Marilyn, was rescued from a hoarding situation, after experiencing much neglect. She always had irregularly-shaped feces, but was given a clean bill of health at her post-adoption exam. She was always eating timothy hay, fresh veggies, and drinking lots of water, in addition to being very social. She was always very excited to see me, and always gave me lots and lots of snuggles and kisses.
Very recently (within the last 4 weeks), she seemed to be gradually losing weight. I was very concerned. However, she was still eating, peeing, pooping and acting like her normal, happy self. Within the last week and a half, she began losing weight faster. I was very scared, and added additional foods to her diet to help her maintain her weight. I called many vets, trying to get her in as soon as possible. I was able to get her an appointment at my preferred exotic vet, but not until Tuesday. Knowing that she needed to be seen sooner, I found a vet (recommended by another local vet) who had Saturday hours, and specialized in exotics. I brought her in yesterday, and much to my horror, this vet manhandled my rabbit, gave her a cursory examination and told me she was severely dehydrated (which was strange because I had seen her drink/urinate previously), and likely dying of kidney failure or cancer.
She was whisked away into another room, blood was drawn, and she was given IV fluids and Baytril. When she was handed back to me, she was shaking and crying. I was aghast and speechless. They asked that I leave them with her overnight. Having no reassurance that she would receive round-the-clock care, I insisted on bringing her home, understanding my friend would bring me to an emergency vet about an hour away, if needed. I did not want my baby overnight in a facility that would not have anyone with her the entire time. In addition, I knew I could bring her home, and feed her Rescue Remedy and water via a syringe, if needed (at this juncture she was still eating and pooping).
I stayed by her side overnight, keeping her in her cage (for safety), with the door open, lying next to her. I drifted in and out of sleep, I couldn't help it. She didn't move much, and slept, too. Her condition had degraded by 7 in the morning. She wouldn't use her hind legs. She kept them close to her, only moving them if necessary. The spot on her left hip, where they had given her the injection, was swollen and warm, with a large, dime-sized hematoma at the injection site. The rest of her body was cool, and she was not interested in food or water. At 8 am, I placed her in my lap and was petting her gently. As I stroked her left side, trying to soothe her, a huge chunk of fur, and some bloody flesh came off in my hand, and a bunch of pink fluid leaked out. She cried, and shifted in pain. I almost fainted.
I called the vet at 9 am, and the answering service told me they would contact him. I called the emergency vet, and their exotics specialist would not be in until this evening. I placed soft paper towels at the site, and held her on my lap. She squirmed in pain. An hour passed and I had not heard from the vet. I called again, and another hour passed. The veterinary technician called me back, chastising me for not leaving her there overnight. She had no answer for me whatsoever regarding the injuries my baby had experienced. She told me to go to the emergency service. I decided to wait until their exotics vet came in this evening, but I knew she wouldn't make it. She looked like she was in so much pain, and she looked so afraid. All I could do is hold her.
By 11 am, she was clearly struggling and dying. Her breath was becoming laborious, her eyes were glazed and she looked even more afraid, she was becoming floppy. By 1, her lips were turning blue and her breath was slowing. By 2, she was trying to make herself comfortable, and I had placed her in her bed. By 2:30, I was on the phone with the emergency vet again, and I watched her struggle and die in my arms. I heard her cry out. I felt her last heartbeat. Then she was gone. I held her and cried.
Her trip to the emergency vet was to be cremated. I will be getting her blood work from the other vet by Tuesday. By Thursday, I will be able to pick up her ashes. My baby is gone.
Now, my male rabbit is sneezing and acting fussy. Will the same thing happen to him? He, and my remaining female rabbit, will be seeing the vet by the end of this week for an examination.
I apologize for the length of this post, please, feel free to trim it as needed. I am just devastated and afraid. Please, any advice is welcome.
