Hello everyone

Hey there, thought I'd introduce myself.

My name is Rachel, I'm 23, I live in Ipswich, Suffolk. I have three rabbits - Dough and her two daughters Bella & Stella.

Yesterday was a very very sad day - Dough's son Atreyu was put to sleep after 4 days of pain. The vets think he had somehow got some kind of chemical in his mouth which had ulcerated the whole of his mouth. Of course then he stopped eating and had GI stasis. He spent Sunday morning til Tuesday afternoon at the vet and came out with a £500 bill Of course the money doesn't matter as he meant so much to me but that was a lot of money! After he came home he suddenly went downhill very quickly - he was drooling everywhere, doing strange things with his jaw - opening it as wide as possible and sticking his tongue out looking like he wanted to vomit but of course rabbits can't, his belly was making all kinds of noises and was feeling all bloated, he had diarrhea, he was eating nothing, his mouth was bleeding, he smelt horrible, he cried when I had to try to feed him that critical care stuff etc He just couldn't go on like that any longer, it wasn't fair to keep him alive So yesterday afternoon we made another appointment for him at the vets, took him there at 6.20pm and the vet agreed the best thing was for him to be put to sleep.

Spent all evening yesterday crying and cried when I woke up today. Now got tears in my eyes again from writing this I wish I didn't get so attached.

He's buried in my garden now along with all the other rabbits I've had over the years.

This was Atreyu:



This is Dough:



This is Stella:



This is Bella:



As adolescents:



As babies:



























Dough seems to be grieving in her own way - she is obsessing over Bella, paying her loads of attention and won't leave her alone for one second. She is also tolerating Stella and ignoring her which is certainly different as they don't usually get along.

This was their dad:



I was supposed to have him as well but he died two days before we were supposed to collect him and Dough from the rescue centre last April. The babies were born a week after I got Dough the mum, so Atreyu wasn't even a year old

Anyway, hi everyone, good to be here

Hello Rachel, welcome to Happy Hoppers.
Oh my goodness, your photos are wonderful, such cute babies.
I am so sorry you had to have Atreyu pts. I had to make the same decision on Tuesday
with my little Dexy. it is very hard.
Sleep tight Atreyu, have fun at the bridge.

What a traumatic story, and such a sad loss, I'm sorry.

Welcome to our forum, your buns are lovely, I like the harlequin markings

Hey hun, poor Atreyu

HI Rachel,

Im really sorry for your sad loss.....

glad you found us... its time like these only other bun parents understand your loss.

Im just down the road from you in Felixstowe.

Dawn

Hi Rachel, welcome to HH

I'm so sorry to hear about your losing your bun. What a traumatic time it must have been for you. I think you couldn't have done anything else as it sounds like he was suffering. But that doesn't make it any easier for you. Having lost a very beloved bun last year I know how keenly the pain is.

Your photos are just magical. How lovely to have known your buns from the point when they were a bundle of fluff.

Hi Rachel,

Welcome to HH.

So very sorry to hear about Atreyu. What an awful thing to have happened. Sending hugs.

Your pictures are beautiful, what lovely buns, look forward to hearing all about them.

Atreyu was stunning.

A very warm welcome to the forum love amd Iam sdo sdorr5y to hear about your little one passing on. We are all here for you, it is what this lovely forum is all about.

Jo xx

jomart wrote:I had to make the same decision on Tuesday
with my little Dexy. it is very hard.

Extremely Crying again thinking about it

Dawnbunny wrote:Im just down the road from you in Felixstowe.

Hey, I was in Felixstowe last night wasting money and abusing those 2p machines

How are you feeling today hun?

Sending hugs and hope you are okay. x

Katieb wrote:How are you feeling today hun?

Better than I was 2 days ago but still very sad Been reading all those stories in the rescue section of the forum, probably not the best thing to do whilst feeling sad - just makes me feel worse reading all those horrible stories. Getting drunk tonight, I need it

Katieb wrote:Sending hugs and hope you are okay. x

Thank you, so nice to find people who understand.

Just made this for you.



And another

When I hear about cruelty I could make them suffer in the same way.. Not the thing to say on the site I know, but it is the one time I feel so angry, so violent, along with cruelty to children.

I am glad you are feeling a little better today love. We're all here for you.

Jo xx

Thanks for the images Lorna

jolovesbunnies wrote:I am glad you are feeling a little better today love. We're all here for you.

Thank you