Harely started having decreased "poop"output this past Wednesday ... he was still eating his pellets,lettuce, carrots and drinking water .... just very few "poops." My first concern was a hair mat developing again or perhaps gas. I started forcing fresh pineapple juice along with pumpkin once or twice a day. I decided to take him to see his vet on Friday morning, who said that she didn't think that his hair was the underlying problem, since all rabbits eat hair because of their grooming habits and that there had to be something else going on with him. She did a blood panel and radiographs. I haven't picked up the blood work, but the x-rays di show some gas pockets. She then took a look at his teeth ... surprise, first time in five years that she used a scope down in his mouth. She told me that see saw some "points" that were growing into his cheeks. She also told me that she felt that he hadn't been eating well for quite sometime. I was a liitle confused. like I said before he was still eating,just not pooping as much as normal. She advised me to contact another vet over in Walnut Creek or U.C. Davis ... Walnut Creek was closer ...Harley hates car trips. I called and make an appointment that same day for a consultation regarding his teeth. Poor baby, two car trips in one day!
Matt went with me to help out and for moral support. The doctor conducted an exam of him .... it was kind of weird, some of her questions, I mean .... like, "Does he feel sick?" I told her if she meant is acting differently, yes! he's not pooping like he normally does ... but he seems fine other than that. She also looked at his teeth and told us that there was a definite need to trim some of his teeth ... then she told us that he should have them done right away(that afternoon). So Matt and I left him there and went to find a snack some where until after his surgery.
There was any good news when we came back ... she told us that he hadsome infected bone sites around his lower teeth and that he might needto have three lower teeth removed and that we could schedule that surgery for Monday or Tuesday.
I'm not cheap when it comes to Harley, but I had already forked over $356 dollars earlier in the day to his regular vet and now I was looking at around $500 to $600 more dollars for the current work that had been done and another $800 or so next week. I took a deep breath and told her how much he meant to me, but that we just couldn't afford any more right now. I told her that if the VIP Insurance would help with some of the cost that maybe I could go forward with another surgery. She also explained that his teeth would probably be a chronic condition for the rest of his life. I asked her if there was a possiblity that we can do manage care at home for awhile. She said that was an option.
She sent us home with the following: Ringers (which I have had to get used to using on him). I don't like getting poked with needles and I don't like poking him with them; Buprenex; Cisapride Compounded;Chloramphenicol Compounded (which we exchanged for Baytril (safer, the other stuff is toxic to humans, causing anemia or worse) and Critical Care. I have a chart set up on the fridge, so that I know when and what I've given him. Dr. Lori gave us Metacam for pain, but Dr. Adams told us that it was hard on their kidneys, so I use it sparingly. I also remember something about using an Acidophilus product, so I am giving Harley some tablets, but today he wasn't interested in taking it ... I might have to force feed some yogurt down him.
I sometimes cry when I'm inserting that needle into skin fold (mainly because I feel like I'm hurting him, although he is very patient and stays calm during the whole ordeal) and after I've fed him countless doses of drugs if I'm really helping him. He is pooping more regularly and he seems perky and happy. He is eating his lettuce and Matt cuts up his carrots into smaller pieces, but I wonder if this is the life he wants ... you've been where I'm at right now (sort of) ... what do I do?
Matt went with me to help out and for moral support. The doctor conducted an exam of him .... it was kind of weird, some of her questions, I mean .... like, "Does he feel sick?" I told her if she meant is acting differently, yes! he's not pooping like he normally does ... but he seems fine other than that. She also looked at his teeth and told us that there was a definite need to trim some of his teeth ... then she told us that he should have them done right away(that afternoon). So Matt and I left him there and went to find a snack some where until after his surgery.
There was any good news when we came back ... she told us that he hadsome infected bone sites around his lower teeth and that he might needto have three lower teeth removed and that we could schedule that surgery for Monday or Tuesday.
I'm not cheap when it comes to Harley, but I had already forked over $356 dollars earlier in the day to his regular vet and now I was looking at around $500 to $600 more dollars for the current work that had been done and another $800 or so next week. I took a deep breath and told her how much he meant to me, but that we just couldn't afford any more right now. I told her that if the VIP Insurance would help with some of the cost that maybe I could go forward with another surgery. She also explained that his teeth would probably be a chronic condition for the rest of his life. I asked her if there was a possiblity that we can do manage care at home for awhile. She said that was an option.
She sent us home with the following: Ringers (which I have had to get used to using on him). I don't like getting poked with needles and I don't like poking him with them; Buprenex; Cisapride Compounded;Chloramphenicol Compounded (which we exchanged for Baytril (safer, the other stuff is toxic to humans, causing anemia or worse) and Critical Care. I have a chart set up on the fridge, so that I know when and what I've given him. Dr. Lori gave us Metacam for pain, but Dr. Adams told us that it was hard on their kidneys, so I use it sparingly. I also remember something about using an Acidophilus product, so I am giving Harley some tablets, but today he wasn't interested in taking it ... I might have to force feed some yogurt down him.
I sometimes cry when I'm inserting that needle into skin fold (mainly because I feel like I'm hurting him, although he is very patient and stays calm during the whole ordeal) and after I've fed him countless doses of drugs if I'm really helping him. He is pooping more regularly and he seems perky and happy. He is eating his lettuce and Matt cuts up his carrots into smaller pieces, but I wonder if this is the life he wants ... you've been where I'm at right now (sort of) ... what do I do?
