Uterine Cancers

Hiya,

I am slightly new to these forums *hi everyone*
I've had bunnies for the past ten years of my life (three of which have all been Dutch bunnies) ... presently I am bunny - less and it's quite upsetting, it's just nice to have that connection with such a quirky and intelligent being. I love their binkies, sometimes the hand licks and the jumping out of nowhere onto your lap.
I work at a local rescue and have befriended a four year old stray female called "B" but after being speyed they found she had a darkened uterus, a lump under armpit with an ear infection also to boot. She is soooo friendly and loves her nose rubs.
From the books I've read I know cancers of this nature are likely to spread to other parts of the body such as the liver and pancreas ... but a part of me just wants to offer her a good home, for however long we've got left. I know insurance will be highly unlikely and I'm not sure if said rescue will do "assisted adoption" for a smaller animal (I know they do with cats and dogs).
Any experiences with cancers and rabbits would be helpful please! I have Rabbitlopaedia out from the library and I've been reading up on irregular cell growths etc. This I guess is an example of no neutering until she was four I'm going to try to speak to my previous vet too about potential life expectancy etc

Many thanks
Z x

WElcokme to our happy family love and you will get some billiant advice on here. I have had no experience with bunny cancer but you will get all the help you need o here.

I bring would home all the bunnies and guiea pigs if I could, so I know exactly how you feel about "B"

Please let us know how you get on.

Hugs

Jo xx

Hi there Z, and welcome to HH
Poor B, it's so gutting when it's a preventable thing

I'm no expert on cancers, but do know that there have been, and are, a few buns on here that have lead longer lives than may have been expected. Do you know for sure if the armpit lump was cancerous?

At four, she's still young enough to possibly recover, if it hasn't spread.

Re: adopting. I think you need to weigh up a couple of things like her personality - is she likely to be megga stressed by re-homing at this piont? and whether or not you can meet her care needs in respect of the time, company and finances? Has she been in rescue long - ie, has she bonded with the rescue owners?

I don't like the thought of a terminal bun in rescue, and would idealistically think she would be better with 1-1 care, indoors, where she'll be safe and have company whenver she chooses to have it.

Sorry I can't be more help, but I'm sure someone else will be along to answer the medical questions, although, there is no template for this, they make it or they don't, as far as I know.

Let us know how she gets on

B is a lovely rabbit, she does go out in her run; feeds and exercises well She doesn't appear stressed and I have spent some time with her as a volunteer also. Sadly the staff do get rotated quite a lot, so I'm not sure if she has a bond with any of her carers.
She's been at the rescue since Mid September, so not as long as some the bunnies, which is fortunate and she has a lovely personality ... I guess that's partly why I feel the need to look after her; but most of my background is feline, though I can do basic bunny first aid and auxiliary nursing I know she's not litter trained; but I can work around that.
Thinking about it she would probably be suitable as an indoor rabbit, so that someone could look after her indoors. I've asked for some veterinary advice both from my existing vet and the vets on site at the rescue.
Thank you and hello everyone

I'd say she can still live a happy life with you if you are willing to take her on.

I think that comapssion, willingness to learn, responsibility and nurturing in an owner are vital to B's happiness, and I think you have it in spades, from what ou've said so far

She can still have access to outside space if she's a housebun.

I hope you can work this out for her

Hi There,

Welcome to HH.

Im so sorry to hear that little B is poorly.


I think from what you have said you could offer her a lovely home, where she can live out her days happy and loved - however long or short they may be.

I dont know anything about cancer in buns but we do have members who do, and we are here for support and advice if you need it.

Katie x

Oh bless her

I'm not much help on the diagnosis side but i'm sure she would appreciate a good, loving home which sounds like you can give her

to you whatever choice you make, its not an easy one

Hi and welcome to HH

I run a sanctuary and rescue and take in terminally ill bunnies, I have had quite a few bunnies with uterine cancer and other cancers as well as mammory tumours, when we get a bunny in with cancer the first thing we do is assess the bunny and then discuss all the details with our vet, we then make our plan of action with regards to the treatment upon the vets best advice, we have been able to offer bunnies with cancer a loving home with specialist care and they stay with us for the rest of their lives, we never rehome a bunny with cancer

We have also had the situation where we didn't know that the bunny had cancer until they went in to be neutered and it was discovered then and they get the same intensive care

Looking after bunnies with cancer is very rewarding, they are remarkably resilient and respond well to good care and love, we always treat them with a very positive attitude which we find helps them immensley, many of our cancer bunnies have gone on to live very long and fulfilled lives, yes it's very sad and upsetting when they go to the bridge but again we focus on the positive side and remember how we changed that bunnies life

Please do consider taking the bunny in, I am sure you can offer a wonderful home, yes there will be tears but there will also be laughter and a great deal of pleasure and happiness for the bunny and for you

Good luck

This is excellent advice ^^^^^^^. x

and welcome to HH!

Totally agree with everything Snowy said

My girl was found to have a mammory tumor in May I cried on and off for about 4 days. It was such a shock. But I've soon come to realise that she doesn't let it get her down

She is still a cheeky little monkey and her personality is as strong as ever.

And all this from an old lady bun, I have had her for 10 years but I can't be sure how old she really is.

I won't lie to you, she has good days and bad days, but I (and the vet) put this down to her old age rather than the tumor.

I'm so happy that she is with me, that I can ensure she gets the care that she needs and can live out the rest of her days in a happy, loving, safe environment.

If you know that you can provide her with everything she needs, then I would follow your heart