Hello all. Long time no see; I haven't been 'active' (besides lurking) for a few years now, but, you know, LIFE, hehe. Been crazy.
So, I need your wise opinions.
Over the past two years, I have lost two of my bunnies. Both aged 14! They both had the same thing happen: they exhibited signs of stroke; losing ability to use a back or front leg, not being able to balance, then eventually not being able to stand at all. The vet told me they had head tilt when I took them in, but both were dead within a week of the diagnosis, even with medicine. (They died a year apart, so these were two different diagnoses). They were mates.
Now, I have their son, who is 13 (!) and he has slowly begun showing the same signs. He is eating and drinking fine (although his water intake is pretty high right now), but he falls every day. Some days he can get himself up, but more and more he cannot, and will lie on his side until someone finds him.
Luckily, my mom works at a school, so she is home almost every day and she has been taking great care of him. She checks on him almost every hour and will pick him up and right him. Sometimes he stays up, sometimes he falls again immediately. He stumbles when he walks.
I am realistic. I know his time is coming, and I will have to make 'that call' to the vet. He will not get better; I've seen this twice already, and I know. It's not head tilt.
So, my first question: How do you... phrase that call? With the dad bunny, last year, it was simple. He got very bad, very fast, and it was obvious. What do you say to the receptionist? I have a bunny who I think 'it's time' for? Ugh.
Secondly: With Toby... it's not so simple. Do I let him keep falling, and get worse? Or do I make the call now? He just... looks so much like himself (besides the fact that he's very thin and tired) that I feel like I'm jumping the gun. I just don't want him to suffer, is all. It's a hard decision to make.
So, I need your wise opinions.
Over the past two years, I have lost two of my bunnies. Both aged 14! They both had the same thing happen: they exhibited signs of stroke; losing ability to use a back or front leg, not being able to balance, then eventually not being able to stand at all. The vet told me they had head tilt when I took them in, but both were dead within a week of the diagnosis, even with medicine. (They died a year apart, so these were two different diagnoses). They were mates.
Now, I have their son, who is 13 (!) and he has slowly begun showing the same signs. He is eating and drinking fine (although his water intake is pretty high right now), but he falls every day. Some days he can get himself up, but more and more he cannot, and will lie on his side until someone finds him.
Luckily, my mom works at a school, so she is home almost every day and she has been taking great care of him. She checks on him almost every hour and will pick him up and right him. Sometimes he stays up, sometimes he falls again immediately. He stumbles when he walks.
I am realistic. I know his time is coming, and I will have to make 'that call' to the vet. He will not get better; I've seen this twice already, and I know. It's not head tilt.
So, my first question: How do you... phrase that call? With the dad bunny, last year, it was simple. He got very bad, very fast, and it was obvious. What do you say to the receptionist? I have a bunny who I think 'it's time' for? Ugh.
Secondly: With Toby... it's not so simple. Do I let him keep falling, and get worse? Or do I make the call now? He just... looks so much like himself (besides the fact that he's very thin and tired) that I feel like I'm jumping the gun. I just don't want him to suffer, is all. It's a hard decision to make.
