Rebirth of the Phoenix from Ashes

[holtzchick]

I have decided to start a new blog because my old blog is too heavy for me to deal with now, especially with Peter being in there and all the old conflicts and complications that had arisen.

However, this is about Phoenix. Many of you likely know that the Phoenix is a bird described in Greek mythology.
Quoted straight from Wikipedia, " It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self. In very few stories they are able to change into people.""

I was going through a very tough time and I was doing some cleaning. Unusually, I decided to go into my garage to get some cleaning products and garbage bags when my family (who all loves to smoke in the garage) pointed out and made a joke that there was a "house bunny" on the front lawn. Now, they like to make fun of me because they know I love rabbits, I assumed it was a wild bunny like most that I see here. Then I saw "it". It was indeed the cutest house rabbit I had ever seen. The fur looked long and yet soft like velvet and this poor bunny, despite the fact that I live on the corner of a major intersection in the city, looked VERY comfortable laying in the grass and grazing away. I had never seen a rabbit be so unaffected by its surroundings!

At first I was afraid to go near this bunny, what if it decides it wants to attack me, what if the bunny is sick? Then the next thoughts that entered my head were, when was this bunny released? when was the last time this bunny ate a proper meal? It looked very thin and scraggly so I figured if it was really hungry and if it were really tame, it would come to me if it wanted to. I bent down 5 metres away from the bunny and lo and behold, it hopped over to me willingly and even hopped into my arms! I thought this must be a sign that it was meant for me! I was so excited because I had wanted to adopt a bunny to bond with Peter and had contacted the shelters but this bunny had come to me.

Immediately I was taken back by its trusting and loving qualities, it flipped on its back and licked my arm and was just so grateful! I brought it inside (which I had at the time sexed it as a male since I thought the urine scald was testicles :/) and blocked it off in the washroom with pellets, water, hay and toys. Did he ever eat! I bet I refilled the bowl (completely) 3 times before he was satisfied! I had never seen a bunny so hungry! The poor bunny was also very dirty and muddy.

I didn't want to stress him out the first night so I let him be and adjust to this new environment but the next day, I set out to give him a bath. Normally I wouldn't bathe a bunny because its not good, but it was truly necessary the bunny was all matted and muddy and it had a matted bum which looked like it was very uncomfortable for him to go to the washroom and was red. I could not wait to get him to a vet!

Poor little guy had put up with the bath, allowing me to cut out the mats and blow dry him clean and at the end again licked my arms to death out of gratefulness! I couldn't believe that someone had let this bunny go!

This was bunny after I had given it a bath...

It's poops were irregular because it wasn't getting its proper nutrients outdoors. I vowed that this bunny was so sweet I would take care of it and bring it back to health! I went out, bought it alfalfa hay, pellets and vitamins and I was going to bring it back to health and a normal weight!

 

[holtzchick]

I had made a vet appointment and taken bunny in to the vet. I wanted to make sure he was as healthy as could be before I fully get attached and bring him into my world!

The vet was so happy that I had given this bunny a home and proceeded to look at it's teeth, it's eyes, it's ears, it's bones and then OOPS.... bunny was a female.

I couldn't believe that a female had wandered into my home and was so friendly because I had the idea that females were more aggressive and less laid back than males. The girls at the vet had helped me shave out some of the mats that I could not get and shaved her tummy to look for a spay scar, which we could not find. Even though she was afraid of the big scary machine, she just kept licking me! She had already looked for me for comfort, I had truly saved her.

The vet said that she was severely underweight and had I not found her, she likely would not have survived much longer outside. She was barely at 3 lbs, which for the size of her frame, was not very much. He also felt the need to mention that her fur was in VERY poor condition but over all did not find anything wrong with her. He prescribed some TLC, a dewormer and an antibiotic to make sure that she did not have worms and to just refresh her system. He told me to continue with the alfalfa and free feed her as much as she wants so that she will gain weight and when she is in better health he would spay her!

Over the next few weeks, I took his advice and fed her as much as she would eat, I gave her vitamins daily and I brushed her daily as well. She was coming along very nicely and I thought she would be around to spay in no time. Then I would introduce her to Peter Cartier Rabbit!

This was her just a few weeks after our vet visit!

She had put on weight, her eyes were looking better, her whiskers had grown in fuller and her patches of fur were growing back thicker and softer than before.
I brought her in for a recheck at the vet, this time, she was just shy of 4 lbs and was much healthier the vet also asked me (jokingly) if this was the same rabbit because there was such an improvement in her health. He said that I should continue doing what I am doing and he will spay her in 1 month because her health should be excellent by then!

 

[holtzchick]

Between then, the unexpected had happened. Peter Cartier Rabbit had passed on to the rainbow bridge and I could not bear it. In a way, it kind of made me think that Peter was in my life to hold it together because he had brought me so much comfort when things had gone wrong and then, when he had passed, he was the reason my ex boyfriend and I started seeing each other again because I looked to him for comfort. He was the only other person that ever understood the way Peter was because he was the only other person that ever took the time to. I would like to think that Peter brought my life together again even from beyond the bridge. He meant so much to me. You've seen these pictures before, but I post them again. My ode to Peter Cartier Rabbit, whom I still miss dearly.

Peter meant so much to me, and I always joked that he would be my condo bunny and he never made it to that move. So now that I am moving to a loft in November, I am making him his own section by the window so that he will finally be my real condo bunny (or should I say loft bunny) and may his soul be free.

 

[holtzchick]

With Peter's passing, I began to have a pessimistic outlook on things until my emotions settled down. Phoenix continued to get better in health but I still had a troubled feeling something was going to be wrong. Then I started to get paranoid and think that she was loosing weight since I put her onto Timothy pellets and Orchard grass hay. I spent lots of time with her, and the more time I spent with her, the more that I could just not believe that she was truly healthy because she was so sweet I thought, there is no way I deserve to have her in my life! All she knows is how to give love. She snuggles and kisses and grooms my hair! I want to give her all the love in the world only to make sure her life is never the way that it was when I originally found her!

I think that maybe she had a bad experience with dogs since whenever she sees one, she freaks out and runs in the other direction even if she sees one through the window and it is not paying attention to her! Anyways my paranoia had been getting the best of me in the weeks leading up to her spay. There was nothing I could do but just hope for the best!

This was her a week before her spay was to take place.

After taking her into the vet for her spay. Not only did she gain weight, she was a 4.6 lbs!! I could not believe that she had changed so much!

 

[holtzchick]

I was so worried when the vet had called me to tell me that she was 3 1/2 - 4 years of age (I still need to ask him how he came to that conclusion) since I know that bunnies have a greater risk of not doing well with the surgery after a certain age. I was also worried that she had already had uterine cancer since she was intact because like I said I could not believe that I had this sweet little bunny in my life and that she was doing just fine!

The vet had told me she had cysts on her ovaries but did not know the cause, he said it was likely to be age. I had them sent out to the lab to be tested and am awaiting the results.

As for the surgery it went very well and Phoenix was already eating up a storm at the vets and just kept eating when she arrived home. She was very comfortable from the get go and had absolutely no complications with pulling at the incision and did fine with the meds. She is still in her enclosure I had built for her for the next few days until I can get the incision checked.

I have taken a picture of it because the scabbing concerns me, then again my boyfriend said it was normal for things to scab when they heal (makes sense) so maybe it will just take longer.

She has another vet appointment scheduled for this Sunday to get results from the lab and see how she is healing. I am hoping for the best and again am SO grateful to have this loving girl in my life. Words cannot express how much her love means to me!

 

[holtzchick]

Just gave Phoenix her last dose of Baytril for the week. Poor girl has SO much energy! She really wants out! I'm just afraid if I let her out, she is going to mess up her stitches.

Hopefully the vet has some insight for me on Sunday.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Ours didn't like to be penned up for a whole week either, but they managed. She looks just like our Commander Bun-Bun. I'm always amazed at how loving most of our "abandoned" bunnies are. Finn, our little black and white boy is just the sweetest bunny and was rescued from owners that were going to toss him out into the desert.

 

[holtzchick]

Honest to god I was in shock because I had never seen such a friendly loving bun in person. I think the bunnies are just very greatful that they are recieving proper care and attention

I wonder how it is that people can just be so careless as to throw a living creature away like that. :/

 

[holtzchick]

Great news from the vet visit today! Turns out Phoenix's incision has healed wonderfully AND she is 100% cancer free! The results came back negative.

I was so ecstatic! My veterinarian also said I should be careful with her for 2-3 weeks for it to heal properly since the skin is so sensitive. I feel bad because I can only let her out under supervised time and she cannot hop on anything. She was so happy to be out, she did bunny 500's but I had to put her back just in case.

The vet invited me to the open house at the clinic so that I can bring Phoenix in and introduce her to people and educate them on bunnies a little bit. Of course I agreed, I would be glad to. I thought that Phoenix would be an excellent therapy bunny. He said out of all his bunny clients that he has seen, she has the nicest disposition

Today was a great day over all!

 

[qtipthebun]

I love reading about her! She's so pretty!! And she sounds like such a doll! Keep putting up pictures...she's unbearably cute.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

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

 

[holtzchick]

Thank You, I am glad some enjoy reading this blog! It actually really helps my mood out as well.

Yesterday, Phoenix ran out of hay and so I went out and decided I would start switching up the hay and giving her some variety so I picked up some Oxbow Botanical Hay.

It definitely is more crunchy and it smells delicious like Chamomile, makes me want to eat it! LOL.

I let her out yesterday for an hour to run around. Lots of binkies and bunny 500's as well as clothing nips because she was so excited to be out. She was mad to go back into the cage but what can I say ... So nervous for the move on the 1st and super nervous as to how I will litter train her. She seems pretty darn stubborn, it's going to be a challenge.

I'm sorry I will post pictures eventually, I just have all my stuff all over the place. After I move, there will be a collage of pictures

 

[cwolfec]

I just read through your blog, and I am very happy for you that you have this little (well 4.6 pounds isn't SO little!) lady bun to bring joy to your life! It never ceases to amaze me how loving rabbits can be! Hope your girl heals up quick so she can run around like crazy again soon

 

[Mariah]

I tried to read your post about Peter rabbit but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Your writing brings tears to my eyes because of my beloved Citrus that I lost back in April. I too have his urn and it was just too close to home trying to read what your wrote about Peter.

I am so glad you have a new bun to share your love with

 

[agnesthelion]

Phoenix just is so fun to read about she sounds like a joy to have in your life.

 

[holtzchick]

Thank you all for the compliments! It is a pleasure that you read this blog! There will be many a story in the new apt, since she will be free roam (also means many pictures!).

You all have more eventful blogs due to more buns, they're just a hoot!

BTW, I don't think I have ever formally introduced myself.

My name is Michelle, I'm 20 years old and work at a pet supplies shop (that thankfully does not sell pets) and am a complete animal advocate doesn't matter the size of the animal. Sometimes I think I would love to be a vet tech (my vet thinks I would make a great one) but I hate seeing animals in pain and am way too sensitive for that. Anyways, now you know a little about me also.

Thanks again all

 

[holtzchick]

ALSO, completely forgot. When I went in on my recheck, I ended up asking the vet as to why the aged her at 3 1/2-4 years and he said that the specialist aged her by her teeth (made me confused :S) and her skin/organ condition. It is not for certain, my vet still thinks she is possibly younger as do I, her health is simply far too good for her to be at that age. She honestly had NO difficulties after the spay, it felt more like a neuter to me :/

Sorry I'm rambling!

 

[holtzchick]

Well , we are officially moved in but not yet settled in. As you've been hearing there was a hurricane in New York and surrounding ares and we seemed to get the remnants of it down here! (perfect moving weather!)

Despite the weather conditions we still managed to get all of phoenixs stuff and bought her a dog crate so that I could let her run around while we handled all the big items. This morning I had some time before work to run into walmart and was planning on buying those big colourful foam puzzle pieces that you would see in a childrens playroom to use as flooring in the playpen. I ended up finding those but the womens breast cancer charity edition ones that were pink and white and since Phoenix is a female I found it only appropriate

Now it's time to crack down on litter training ... I think she will do fairly well. I feel bad I really want to let her run around but I am hesitant since the floors are all dusty and there are boxes all over the place. I will clean up and make her a playhouse out of the boxes

Her incision has healed wonderfully into a scar and she is just being a doll about the move. As soon as I had her playpen set up, all I had to do was set some food in there and she was once again content. Fat little bunny!

Picture updates will be posted soon

 

[Imbrium]

I'm glad she's settling in well! it's best to keep her space limited anyway, since a) you're trying to litter train her and b) if you give access to a large new area all at once, they can go a bit nuts with the territory marking

 

[holtzchick]

We are settling in very nicely and COMPLETELY unpacked . This means that Phoenix is out when we are home and able to watch her. At first, her favorite places were upstairs (probably because of the carpet) and her cage. Now, her favorite place is on the rug where she just sits, stretches and grooms herself it's quite cute I snapped some photos!

and here is a shot of the playpen I have her in, box and all...

I'm surprised, she will not chew on the cardboard yet she will lightly toss it. I can't wait until she gets more familiar with the space and more comfortable.