Thumperina
Well-Known Member
I really don't know what to do.
Before the hot weather arrived, the setup was the following.
After spending night in garage (where they have rugs, hiding boxes, litter boxes, and so on, its rather comfortable there, my bunnies love their garage) I was letting them out when the morning arrived, depending on the weather. Then, they were supposed to have some free range grass grazing time. After some time (about 9am), I was serving their morning veggies. They have a rug under the deck (it's comfy there too) where I would place their tray with veggies, water (they never drink), and so on. After this, they would usually nap till later time (under the deck or under the bush). In the evening, they always came out to have some play time and grass time in the yard, I like to hang out with them during this time, offering them some treats etc... then finally when the darkness falls (Around 9pm), it was time to go back into garage (they were going on their own, in and out, without need to be picked up I mean) where I was serving their evening veggies, pellets, and water. Oh, in garage we keep a lamp on all night long (like a night light). I know that they usually didn't sleep during the night or maybe they napped, and usually they would be finishing their veggies before morning hours. (are rabbits supposed to sleep at night? is it a bad idea to have a light on all night?)
This was our ideal, uncomplicated setup, and Thumperina was doing OK all colder months.
Now changes that we had to make with beginning of summer and beginning of hotter weather
The temps were bearable till about noon (veggies are still served under the deck in the morning), then I would either bring them in the house or into garage where I have portable AC unit (it cools down OK when it's not super hot outside) for the day
At about 7.30 - 8pm it was cool enough to let them out, and they loved it. Oh, to get them in and out of the house, i have to pick them up and carry them in (probably stressful).
When the darkness falls, its still too warm to send them into garage (none of us like the feel of AC unit). they keep hanging in the yard longer now. I stay there with them. I do serve their evening veggies in the yard but they barely eat them. Finally, I can bring them in, and it's between 10 and 11pm, same routine as before. AC for the night, or if it's under 70F we have another solution.
The last week its been super hot, with the heat index being way higher than the actual T. Humidity is building up in the air. Thunderstorms all around us but not where we are (haven't had any rain for some time). At 6am, it's good if it's 75F. May be higher with heat index. I let them out now very early, when it's not even fully light, to allow catch this "cooler" weather. Serving their favorite kale maybe at 8am. Thumperina now refuse morning kale (not sure what happened) - tried serving earlier, no luck. She is seen eating some grass, but I wouldn't say she eats sufficient amount. By 10, max 11am, I have to bring them inside, first into air-conditioned garage, then into the house. Still trying to push wet veggies into them. Sometimes have some luck , sometimes no luck. In the evening, even at 9pm when the sun sets, it's still "feels like" 90+. I still have been taking them out into the yard at 9m, thinking that they need to eat grass for water intake. But they just lying down and shaking. Finally bringing them into the house overnight (now garage AC unit can't cool it well enough). There is a dehumidifying pipe that drains water after AC unit takes it out of the air into the bucket. I am amazed how quickly it fills. During this super hot week they spend a day and then a night in the house. Veggies are served before night. sometimes they are good about eating them but not all the time.
So during this week Thumperina is giving my a very hard time. First of all, now she gets overheated much easier than she used to during previous summers (When she is seen panting). When I bring her in (if she is panting ) she keeps panting for some time (today I even misted cool water on their ears), then she's usually not exactly lethargic, but sort of passive, sitting very quiet, with breath barely detectable. I feed her critical care. I think she is somewhat dehydrated with all the heat and not eating much. I ordered sub Q fluids but it will take time to get it. When outside in the morning, I can see her eating some grass but obviously much less than she should. She is not good about eating veggies anymore - I don't know why. She is on metacam. I don't have an opportunity to feed critical care more than once a day. I already spend way too much time jiggling them around. Her poop is minimal. She is very picky about veggies choice. For example, yesterday I wasn't able to get good-looking Romaine. Got endive but nobody touched it (they ate endive in the past). I have made a decision not to let them out in the evening when it's about 90 or higher . You see, keeping them inside makes her depressed, taking them out when too hot makes her overheated.
Now answering this "An ultrasound would be a useful diagnostic tool at this point, but I wonder, if they don’t have the capability, and you don’t gave the funds, to perform surgery, is there really much point in diagnosis if there isn’t any way of treating? You seem t be managing symptoms okay with the system you are using now? Something to consider..."
I would like to know if she has cancer or not. If yes, how much it spread. Maybe she is ready to let herself go and I keep her here to suffer.
Before the hot weather arrived, the setup was the following.
After spending night in garage (where they have rugs, hiding boxes, litter boxes, and so on, its rather comfortable there, my bunnies love their garage) I was letting them out when the morning arrived, depending on the weather. Then, they were supposed to have some free range grass grazing time. After some time (about 9am), I was serving their morning veggies. They have a rug under the deck (it's comfy there too) where I would place their tray with veggies, water (they never drink), and so on. After this, they would usually nap till later time (under the deck or under the bush). In the evening, they always came out to have some play time and grass time in the yard, I like to hang out with them during this time, offering them some treats etc... then finally when the darkness falls (Around 9pm), it was time to go back into garage (they were going on their own, in and out, without need to be picked up I mean) where I was serving their evening veggies, pellets, and water. Oh, in garage we keep a lamp on all night long (like a night light). I know that they usually didn't sleep during the night or maybe they napped, and usually they would be finishing their veggies before morning hours. (are rabbits supposed to sleep at night? is it a bad idea to have a light on all night?)
This was our ideal, uncomplicated setup, and Thumperina was doing OK all colder months.
Now changes that we had to make with beginning of summer and beginning of hotter weather
The temps were bearable till about noon (veggies are still served under the deck in the morning), then I would either bring them in the house or into garage where I have portable AC unit (it cools down OK when it's not super hot outside) for the day
At about 7.30 - 8pm it was cool enough to let them out, and they loved it. Oh, to get them in and out of the house, i have to pick them up and carry them in (probably stressful).
When the darkness falls, its still too warm to send them into garage (none of us like the feel of AC unit). they keep hanging in the yard longer now. I stay there with them. I do serve their evening veggies in the yard but they barely eat them. Finally, I can bring them in, and it's between 10 and 11pm, same routine as before. AC for the night, or if it's under 70F we have another solution.
The last week its been super hot, with the heat index being way higher than the actual T. Humidity is building up in the air. Thunderstorms all around us but not where we are (haven't had any rain for some time). At 6am, it's good if it's 75F. May be higher with heat index. I let them out now very early, when it's not even fully light, to allow catch this "cooler" weather. Serving their favorite kale maybe at 8am. Thumperina now refuse morning kale (not sure what happened) - tried serving earlier, no luck. She is seen eating some grass, but I wouldn't say she eats sufficient amount. By 10, max 11am, I have to bring them inside, first into air-conditioned garage, then into the house. Still trying to push wet veggies into them. Sometimes have some luck , sometimes no luck. In the evening, even at 9pm when the sun sets, it's still "feels like" 90+. I still have been taking them out into the yard at 9m, thinking that they need to eat grass for water intake. But they just lying down and shaking. Finally bringing them into the house overnight (now garage AC unit can't cool it well enough). There is a dehumidifying pipe that drains water after AC unit takes it out of the air into the bucket. I am amazed how quickly it fills. During this super hot week they spend a day and then a night in the house. Veggies are served before night. sometimes they are good about eating them but not all the time.
So during this week Thumperina is giving my a very hard time. First of all, now she gets overheated much easier than she used to during previous summers (When she is seen panting). When I bring her in (if she is panting ) she keeps panting for some time (today I even misted cool water on their ears), then she's usually not exactly lethargic, but sort of passive, sitting very quiet, with breath barely detectable. I feed her critical care. I think she is somewhat dehydrated with all the heat and not eating much. I ordered sub Q fluids but it will take time to get it. When outside in the morning, I can see her eating some grass but obviously much less than she should. She is not good about eating veggies anymore - I don't know why. She is on metacam. I don't have an opportunity to feed critical care more than once a day. I already spend way too much time jiggling them around. Her poop is minimal. She is very picky about veggies choice. For example, yesterday I wasn't able to get good-looking Romaine. Got endive but nobody touched it (they ate endive in the past). I have made a decision not to let them out in the evening when it's about 90 or higher . You see, keeping them inside makes her depressed, taking them out when too hot makes her overheated.
Now answering this "An ultrasound would be a useful diagnostic tool at this point, but I wonder, if they don’t have the capability, and you don’t gave the funds, to perform surgery, is there really much point in diagnosis if there isn’t any way of treating? You seem t be managing symptoms okay with the system you are using now? Something to consider..."
I would like to know if she has cancer or not. If yes, how much it spread. Maybe she is ready to let herself go and I keep her here to suffer.
im so sorry for what you’re going through.
