ahri22
Well-Known Member
Hi, my name is Fiona and I'm new here. I actually just wrote a long post and then lost it, so I'll start again...I found this forum while looking for somewhere with people who could share my pain at my bunny's death...so many people don't understand.
Yesterday my beloved bunny, Little Hoppy Hoppy died. Technically he wasn't "my" bunny as we got him for my son on his 6th birthday last year (my son named him!). But regardless of ownership, I loved him more than I could have imagined!! Sadly we'd only had him 6 months when he died, and he was about a year old when we got him, so he was far, far too young to die.
He died of gastrointestinal stasis. I only noticed a problem on Friday night when I went to get him to put in his cage for the night. Normally he'd lead us on a merry chase, but this time I could just pick him up (he knew when bed time was and resisted it!!). At first, I was relieved I hadn't had to chase him. But then I went into the laundry where the kitty litter and food is. I noticed that he'd done no droppings that I could see, and he didn't seem to have eaten much food. When I thought about it, I realized he'd been quite placid all day since we'd brought him inside, and I hadn't seen him trying to escape from the living area to the bedrooms (which he'd always try to do, the instant he noticed the open door).
I looked up his symptoms online and realized he probably had GI stasis. Knowing how serious it could be, I hardly slept for worrying about him, and was up early to check that he was alright. I managed to tempt him with a bit of fresh grass, but that was it. I got him into the vet as soon as I could (about 10.00) and sure enough, the vet confirmed that he had GI Stasis. He was given a few injections (one to get his intestines moving again, one for pain and a vitamin) and I was given some medication to give him three times a day, and told to give him some hay. I think, in retrospect, that I should have asked the vet to do an X ray to see if there was a blockage, but I just didn't think about it. The vet didn't seem too concerned that he'd pull through, so I was reassured that he'd recover.
He hid next to the freezer all day (one of his favourite places to hide), and I managed to get him to nibble a couple of pieces of hay. After giving him his medicine, I also gave him an extra couple of syringes of water, which I repeated later. The vet hadn't mentioned water, but I figured it was really important to keep him hydrated. Anyway, I put him back down after his last water, then I gave my kids their bath and came back to check him.
When I didn't find him next to the freezer I thought he might have been feeling better. Sadly, that wasn't the case. I found him lying behind a bag on the floor. At first, I thought it was okay as it was a position he often lay in, but his eyes had a glazed look, and when I picked him up he was floppy. He'd obviously died only minutes before! I was so sad I hadn't been there to hold him when he passed
Here are a couple of pictures of my gorgeous guy.
Yesterday my beloved bunny, Little Hoppy Hoppy died. Technically he wasn't "my" bunny as we got him for my son on his 6th birthday last year (my son named him!). But regardless of ownership, I loved him more than I could have imagined!! Sadly we'd only had him 6 months when he died, and he was about a year old when we got him, so he was far, far too young to die.
He died of gastrointestinal stasis. I only noticed a problem on Friday night when I went to get him to put in his cage for the night. Normally he'd lead us on a merry chase, but this time I could just pick him up (he knew when bed time was and resisted it!!). At first, I was relieved I hadn't had to chase him. But then I went into the laundry where the kitty litter and food is. I noticed that he'd done no droppings that I could see, and he didn't seem to have eaten much food. When I thought about it, I realized he'd been quite placid all day since we'd brought him inside, and I hadn't seen him trying to escape from the living area to the bedrooms (which he'd always try to do, the instant he noticed the open door).
I looked up his symptoms online and realized he probably had GI stasis. Knowing how serious it could be, I hardly slept for worrying about him, and was up early to check that he was alright. I managed to tempt him with a bit of fresh grass, but that was it. I got him into the vet as soon as I could (about 10.00) and sure enough, the vet confirmed that he had GI Stasis. He was given a few injections (one to get his intestines moving again, one for pain and a vitamin) and I was given some medication to give him three times a day, and told to give him some hay. I think, in retrospect, that I should have asked the vet to do an X ray to see if there was a blockage, but I just didn't think about it. The vet didn't seem too concerned that he'd pull through, so I was reassured that he'd recover.
He hid next to the freezer all day (one of his favourite places to hide), and I managed to get him to nibble a couple of pieces of hay. After giving him his medicine, I also gave him an extra couple of syringes of water, which I repeated later. The vet hadn't mentioned water, but I figured it was really important to keep him hydrated. Anyway, I put him back down after his last water, then I gave my kids their bath and came back to check him.
When I didn't find him next to the freezer I thought he might have been feeling better. Sadly, that wasn't the case. I found him lying behind a bag on the floor. At first, I thought it was okay as it was a position he often lay in, but his eyes had a glazed look, and when I picked him up he was floppy. He'd obviously died only minutes before! I was so sad I hadn't been there to hold him when he passed
Here are a couple of pictures of my gorgeous guy.
