SnowyShiloh
Well-Known Member
My little Skyler passed away this afternoon at 2:20 pm. He was diagnosed with e. Cuniculi back in September, but had been doing fantastically well since the diagnosis. His only symptoms were the thing in his eye getting slowly worse and he couldn't eat anything high in sugar (like fruit or carrots) because it upset his stomach. Other than that, he was happy, exuberant, binkied, and generally looked like the picture of health. I always kept a close eye on him for any signs of anything sinister because I knew he would most likely be facing some bad stuff like paralysis and weight loss soon and was more susceptible to other illnesses.
Yesterday I noticed that he tripped while hopping into his litter box. The sides of his litter box are a good 6 inches and he's clumsy, but I made a mental note to watch him even closer than normal. He was acting the the same other than that. When I went downstairs at 12:30 (slept in late, long story), I went to feed them and instantly knew something was wrong because he didn't get excited when I picked up the bag of food and didn't even move when I filled his bowl.
He was sitting loaf style in his litter box with his chin on the edge, which is how he often likes to relax, but he startled when I touched him and lurched around and fell over. I took him out of his cage and he couldn't support his head and his eyes were glazed. He was almost completely unresponsive and limp. There was some brown around his nostrils and when I looked in his mouth, more brown. I ended up using a Q tip to wipe some cecals out of his mouth that he was apparently eating when he forgot what he was doing (or something) and cleaned up his nose. I could tell he was in serious trouble, and naturally his vet is out of the state right now. I could just tell he wasn't going to make it and didn't think taking him to the vet was going to accomplish anything (plus he hates car rides and going to the vet). I gave him some subcutaneous fluids, just in case it would help... it ended up not doing anything for him, but I'm glad I did it anyway.
After the fluids, I made him a little nest with a blanket so he would be supported in an upright position and lay down with him. I put a little piece of banana in front of him to see if he'd respond to it (he loves bananas) and he actually tried to take a couple of bites, but he didn't swallow. I petted him and talked to him for the next half hour, but he was completely unresponsive unless I shook him gently. He would try to take a bite of banana then. At 2:05, he started having convulsions. I held him for the next 15 minutes as he convulsed. His little heart was beating so fast at first, then it started to slow down and he began to look like he was gasping for air... I held him and rocked him gently and petted him, and sang to him the whole time, telling him he was a good boy and so brave. That it was time for him to go to heaven and he could let go. Right before his heart stopped, I told him to say "hi" to Mae Mae and Cinny (my bunnies who died before him) for me. I held him and cried for a long time after he died.
I feel fortunate that his death was pretty peaceful and he didn't have a long, drawn out death full of suffering. Just yesterday he was bouncing around like usual. He even got banana as he died, even though he couldn't swallow it. He died in my loving arms instead of alone in his cage. I can't believe he's gone and think it's utterly unfair, but I'm relieved that his passing wasn't horrible for him.
Also, for those who weren't around on the forum at the time, Skyler came to me in a very interesting way. Another forum member (JAK Rabbitry, aka Jesse) who is also a breeder bred his mother and ended up with Skyler. She fell in love with him and wanted someone on the forum to take him. I convinced my fiance to take him, so just a little over two years ago, we had him flown from Pennsylvania to Anchorage, Alaska. Then we made the 7 hour drive down to Anchorage to pick him up. He traveled over 5,000 miles to get here and did great on the trip!
RIP, sweet little Skyler. You were a wonderful bunny- always full of life and joy, and so sweet and loving and funny. Not to mention adorable beyond all reason. You're lying here next to me on your blanket but I miss you already anyway. It was a great 2 years and almost 1 month. I know you're frolicking in heaven with Cinnabun and Tallulah (both of them died in the month of May, too) and are happy and healthy and can see perfectly now.
A few of my favorite pictures of Skyler:
As a little baby- this picture made me fall in love with you:
With mama and brother at Jesse's house:
With Teddy:
When we got home from the airport:
The first day we had you:
Holding on for dear life on the drive home from Anchorage:
In the temporary cage I built in the kitchen the day we got home:
With your 2nd birthday cake a few months ago:
What will always be my favorite picture of you- we had such a wonderful day that day... I so regret that you never had the chance to play in the yard yet this year, the snow has melted by now but new grass hasn't grown in yet.
Always eager to say hello:
Always demonstrating the newest fashion trends:
You LOVE bananas!
The picture that I had made into a Christmas tree ornament right before I found out you were sick:
I can still see you! Black and white fur doesn't make for good camouflage.
Big, beautiful eyes:
Chillaxin':
Yesterday I noticed that he tripped while hopping into his litter box. The sides of his litter box are a good 6 inches and he's clumsy, but I made a mental note to watch him even closer than normal. He was acting the the same other than that. When I went downstairs at 12:30 (slept in late, long story), I went to feed them and instantly knew something was wrong because he didn't get excited when I picked up the bag of food and didn't even move when I filled his bowl.
He was sitting loaf style in his litter box with his chin on the edge, which is how he often likes to relax, but he startled when I touched him and lurched around and fell over. I took him out of his cage and he couldn't support his head and his eyes were glazed. He was almost completely unresponsive and limp. There was some brown around his nostrils and when I looked in his mouth, more brown. I ended up using a Q tip to wipe some cecals out of his mouth that he was apparently eating when he forgot what he was doing (or something) and cleaned up his nose. I could tell he was in serious trouble, and naturally his vet is out of the state right now. I could just tell he wasn't going to make it and didn't think taking him to the vet was going to accomplish anything (plus he hates car rides and going to the vet). I gave him some subcutaneous fluids, just in case it would help... it ended up not doing anything for him, but I'm glad I did it anyway.
After the fluids, I made him a little nest with a blanket so he would be supported in an upright position and lay down with him. I put a little piece of banana in front of him to see if he'd respond to it (he loves bananas) and he actually tried to take a couple of bites, but he didn't swallow. I petted him and talked to him for the next half hour, but he was completely unresponsive unless I shook him gently. He would try to take a bite of banana then. At 2:05, he started having convulsions. I held him for the next 15 minutes as he convulsed. His little heart was beating so fast at first, then it started to slow down and he began to look like he was gasping for air... I held him and rocked him gently and petted him, and sang to him the whole time, telling him he was a good boy and so brave. That it was time for him to go to heaven and he could let go. Right before his heart stopped, I told him to say "hi" to Mae Mae and Cinny (my bunnies who died before him) for me. I held him and cried for a long time after he died.
I feel fortunate that his death was pretty peaceful and he didn't have a long, drawn out death full of suffering. Just yesterday he was bouncing around like usual. He even got banana as he died, even though he couldn't swallow it. He died in my loving arms instead of alone in his cage. I can't believe he's gone and think it's utterly unfair, but I'm relieved that his passing wasn't horrible for him.
Also, for those who weren't around on the forum at the time, Skyler came to me in a very interesting way. Another forum member (JAK Rabbitry, aka Jesse) who is also a breeder bred his mother and ended up with Skyler. She fell in love with him and wanted someone on the forum to take him. I convinced my fiance to take him, so just a little over two years ago, we had him flown from Pennsylvania to Anchorage, Alaska. Then we made the 7 hour drive down to Anchorage to pick him up. He traveled over 5,000 miles to get here and did great on the trip!
RIP, sweet little Skyler. You were a wonderful bunny- always full of life and joy, and so sweet and loving and funny. Not to mention adorable beyond all reason. You're lying here next to me on your blanket but I miss you already anyway. It was a great 2 years and almost 1 month. I know you're frolicking in heaven with Cinnabun and Tallulah (both of them died in the month of May, too) and are happy and healthy and can see perfectly now.
A few of my favorite pictures of Skyler:
As a little baby- this picture made me fall in love with you:
With mama and brother at Jesse's house:
With Teddy:
When we got home from the airport:
The first day we had you:
Holding on for dear life on the drive home from Anchorage:
In the temporary cage I built in the kitchen the day we got home:
With your 2nd birthday cake a few months ago:
What will always be my favorite picture of you- we had such a wonderful day that day... I so regret that you never had the chance to play in the yard yet this year, the snow has melted by now but new grass hasn't grown in yet.
Always eager to say hello:
Always demonstrating the newest fashion trends:
You LOVE bananas!
The picture that I had made into a Christmas tree ornament right before I found out you were sick:
I can still see you! Black and white fur doesn't make for good camouflage.
Big, beautiful eyes:
Chillaxin':
.....binky free, Skyler 
