Rubbish Day - Sad News

We're back home from the vet - I'm £135 lighter again (like I was six weeks ago) and Mr Mo has had his 'very sharp edges' sorted on his teeth.

The reality of this is that I simply cannot afford this. I do not make enough money, and no one in my family has the money to help. I can't even borrow the money from my boyfriend because I'd feel outrageous asking for £135-150 every 6-8 weeks, and I'd never keep up with the 'installments' I'd be paying him back in. Chloe from Fat Fluffs never got back in touch with me after I let her know about his teeth (I can't say I blame her). We are well and truly out of options. I think we are going to have to say goodbye to Mr Mo next time this happens.

I feel sick. I don't know what else I can do - there are no other options.

As if this realisation isn't bad enough, Willow will not only be losing her friend but won't be gaining another. Taking on another bunny is not an option and even if it was, my mum simply won't let me allow another rabbit into her house. Her answer is no - and I can't say I blame her. She's spent the last 4 years watching the stress and financial strain that having buns has put me under.

I hope Willow will cope. I suppose the one positive thing is that she is extremely sociable and has always loved people and the house bun environment - that would be what she becomes. She will be 100% a house bun with a base and be free to roam. For the majority of the week she will get to spend time with us in the evenings and on weekends, but there are some evenings I will be out and not to mention holidays, Christmas etc. I potentially have a friend who could house and bun sit with her if I needed to go away for a few days.

I am addled with it all, and I am sick at the prospect of only having 6-8 weeks left with my precious boy. I have tried so hard but it is not humanly possible to sustain this anymore. All I can do now is give him the happiest few weeks he can. I've never felt more depressed or defeated than I do right now

Are you talking about putting him down?

You have a PM :-)

Yes I am Zo - I don't have another choice.

surely there's another rescue you could try?

Have you tried Jill from Honeybunnies? If she can help I'll gladly take care of the transport for you

When you say a rescue what are you meaning?

Mo is not exactly rehomable with all of his health issues and his temperament in general. And call me selfish, but I could never part with Willow. Chloe was going to take him as a permanent resident.

Thank you so much for your kind offer though

I'm definitely not talking about rehoming Willow, but it's worth trying to rehome Mo, I've seen buns with way more health problems be rehomed.

He's so nervous though. He would have to go to a very understanding home

I am going to try Chloe again. Maybe it was coincidence she didn't get back to me...

Zelda was SUPER nervous when I first got her, she'd bolt at the slightest noise or movement, most people would understand his needs. honeybunnies link send Jill a message, let her know you have someone who can get him to her (or a foster) just see what she says? There's no harm in asking and I know you'd rather exhaust all of the options first.

Where is Jill based?

Leicestershire i believe, as i said I'll gladly pick him up from you and take him to her, i can't remember if you drive!

Oh no.  What did the vets have to say about his condition?

Have you thought about getting a second opinion on Mr Mo. If you can travel I'd be happy to pass on the details of my vet who got Bobby sorted. She's based in Ilkeston in Derbyshire. I could for a one off come and pick you up.

The vets have said he's likely to need dentals this frequently - they've also said they wouldn't want to go for tooth extraction due to it being numerous molars and the possibility of infection and abscesses being so high. They're happy to carry on with the dentals - it's just my lack of funds that is causing the problem.

What would a second opinion entail? I think he's a pretty basic 'dental bun' but if anyone could offer any other suggestions other than what we've got to work with at the moment that would be great.

Zo wrote:Leicestershire i believe, as i said I'll gladly pick him up from you and take him to her, i can't remember if you drive!

Currently in the process of learning!

That's a really kind offer. I have dropped another email to Chloe at Fat Fluffs as that is ideally the perfect situation for him. If we have no luck I may well get in touch with Jill. Is he really going to be a candidate for re-homing though with his teeth needing doing so frequently? Added to that if you don't pick it up within a day or so he gets massive stasis episodes.

Thank you so much for your generosity

FluffSlave wrote:

Zo wrote:Leicestershire i believe, as i said I'll gladly pick him up from you and take him to her, i can't remember if you drive!

Currently in the process of learning!

That's a really kind offer. I have dropped another email to Chloe at Fat Fluffs as that is ideally the perfect situation for him. If we have no luck I may well get in touch with Jill. Is he really going to be a candidate for re-homing though with his teeth needing doing so frequently? Added to that if you don't pick it up within a day or so he gets massive stasis episodes.

Thank you so much for your generosity

Well whoever took him on would be aware of it, plus it's really fortunate that they happen like clockwork, they can do what you were hoping and set up regular dentals

Just because one vet has said that they think extractions are not an option it doesn't necessarily mean that all vets would say the same.

Getting a second opinion would be just that, taking him to another vet to let them see him and see what they say. You could always try another vets local to you if that was easier.

In your previous post you didn't sound too convinced at the service and treatment options at your current vet, so maybe getting another opinion from a rabbit vet would help you with your decision.

I'd hate for you to give up Mr Mo if you didn't have to

I was unconvinced but to be fair, I rang them up yesterday morning - said 'he NEEDS a dental' and they booked him in without argument and had him sorted by lunchtime today.

I am limited in other options as I rely on my mum for getting them anywhere and she's not too forth coming. I could always ring another vet locally and just see?

Chloe has replied to my email so hopefully she hadn't forgotten us.

I realise its not always easy, but for a one off appointment would you be able to get a pet taxi to another local vet?
Having lost Bobby only 6 weeks ago I know the heartbreak at having to say goodbye and I'm living with the loneliness of the remaining bun.
I think that if it will give you peace of mind, then taking him to be assessed else where would be good.
It may also be worth seeing if the rescue can help you, by maybe getting Mr Mo assessed by their vet before you surrender him...?

Oh sweetie this is awful but thankfully our friends on here are rallying and trying to help.  I would do what I could if I lived near to you but I am in Cornwall.  Please keep us posted love, I too would hate for you to lose him.

Hugs
JO xx

FluffSlave wrote:I was unconvinced but to be fair, I rang them up yesterday morning - said 'he NEEDS a dental' and they booked him in without argument and had him sorted by lunchtime today.

I am limited in other options as I rely on my mum for getting them anywhere and she's not too forth coming. I could always ring another vet locally and just see?

Chloe has replied to my email so hopefully she hadn't forgotten us.

I agree ith the second opinion and ideally from an exotic vet. On this side of the uk you would have the option of great western exotics. Dan or Fiona are the two you would ask for. And I will be the taxi. I will pick you both up, go to Swindon and get you back.   Just let me know a few days before. I will pm you contact details.

Thank you everyone for all of your kind offers - you really are so generous

I'm not really sure what a second opinion would achieve. I trust that my bunny vet is 100% savvy and if it was a case of an underlying health issue etc then maybe, but I don't really see what another vet is going to say differently? The fact is that his molars grow sharp every 6-8 weeks and need dealing with. This is totally achievable at the vet I am currently at, who I do trust and value very much. This can't be changed by another vet or another opinion. The vets are not the problem - it's the money.

I'm sorry if this comes across snappy - I really don't mean it to be - but I don't want to waste anyone's time driving to another vet for them to say the same thing.

I am waiting to hear back from Chloe. If not I may well stick with my first decision. It might sound harsh to you guys but I don't really see Mo as a rehomable case - he has a multitude of issues - and I wouldn't really trust him being rehomed through a rescue, as even if someone did want him (highly unlikely with the cost implications involved), I would have no way of knowing if he was still ok in the future etc etc. I would be much more at peace - however painful it might be - knowing that for his short time with us he lived a fantastic life and was happy. With all of his issues - even if rehomed through a reputable rescue - I have no way of knowing he'd get the treatment and life he deserved for the rest of his time. However selfish this might sound, it would play on my mind and torture me constantly, just wondering if he were ok... at least if he was at the bridge I could rest assured he wasn't suffering.

This is my decision. I just ask that everyone respects it.

I just don't get that at all, I'd rather give him a chance - rescues are pretty good at rehoming (honeybunnies do home checks and Jill asked me A LOT of questions) I feel like you should at least give it a try.

They might do thorough home checks Zo, but what if five years down the line - those people can't keep him. They might rehome him themselves. He might end up somewhere totally unsuitable and suffering. This would be MY FAULT for giving him away in the first place. There is absolutely no way with the volume of rabbits that rescues rehome they can keep up to date on them and how they are being looked after. I rehomed Mo years ago and not once have they been in touch. Anything could have happened to him - just because they did a home check and asked me lots of questions too, doesn't ensure his safety for the rest of his life.

He already suffered so much in those seven months before I had him. No one could love him, care for him or know him and all his quirks as well as I do.

He is my baby - I love him so much. Do you not think this is hard for me? I don't appreciate comments like that. You might not understand it but I am doing what I feel is best for him. I would never forgive myself if something bad happened because I gave him away. At least if Chloe took him on I would be able to ensure his safety.