This was bad news week U/D my soulmate Artie's gone

Sorry, haven't really been around much, pretty much working round the clock, or so it feels.. then I return with a glum face.

Monday, nearly 2 weeks ago Binky was suddenly in pain and I rushed him to the vets where the verdict was the pain was in his spine. (I had thought it was bellyache as that's what I'm used to seeing).

Over the course of the next 3 days he was made more comfortable and sent home because he was eating again ... useless me couldn't get the meds into him and less than 24 hours later he needed to go back as he was blatantly in pain again. This was 9 days ago. He was reassessed, and stayed in to be stabilised. FHB was away at the time but on her return did more investigations and I have been told that his spine is misformed, he’s supposed to have 7 thoracic vertebra but only has 6 but one of them is about 1.5 times the size of the others and a funny shape (basically two badly merged into one). At this point in his spine he has had a vertebral collapse and the bones are pushing against the nerves. Also viewed from above you can see the spine has a sideways curve to it and his pelvis is tilted. The vets are shocked when I tell them he earned the name "Binky" and wasn’t just given it at random! His bones also look pale on the x-ray so he’s probably got osteoporosis too, could be from poor diet as a youngster. As if that isn’t enough you may know Binky’s litter mate (Shadow) was unwell because of a deformity of his liver - Binky’s liver is small and doesn’t look normal on the x-ray!! It’s unlikely to be as bad as Shadow’s as S couldn’t keep weight on and B definitely doesn’t have such problems. It’s only a "could" be a problem though, there’s no certainty.

The spine is inoperable, I just have to give him Metacam, at the moment he’s in a fairly small pen indoors to restrict him, in the warm and take it from there.

Then, as if that isn’t enough to deal with, Artie was on a vet trip for his routine bladder express and FHB couldn’t feel his bladder. She discussed the possibility that he might not be having trouble with bladder sludge any more as his kidney is no longer excreting calcium via urine as it should and it’s now going elsewhere (to his bones or kidney) and that we could either just accept this is highly likely or do an x-ray to confirm. I opted for the x-ray as I wanted to know the detail, worrying about "what if" is always harder than cold hard facts for me. The x-ray confirmed that this is indeed happening - he’s in kidney failure. However, his remaining kidney does not have kidneys stones, he is extremely happy in himself and presents as very well. This process could take as long as a year before he feels ill… could be a lot sooner of course. He’s eight and a half so being told that he’s likely not to be around in a years time is kind of what I had prepared myself for anyway, devastating though it is. It’s 18 months since he had the other kidney removed so he’s done far better than I could have hoped for. The advice was to take him home and enjoy him. I shall be treasuring him for as long as we’ve got.

oh my you and the buns have been through the mill sending love hugs and vibes
I hope the kidney keeps going for a long time and he is comfortable throughout xx
they are such a worry but are with a loving huparent xx

I'm so sorry hun, it always seems to come at once with buns

I hope Binky benefits from the Metacam and being indoors and perks up enough to give you plenty more time with him.

I'm sorry to hear about Artie's kidney failure, but glad that he still seems to have excellent quality of life and that he'll be with you for a while yet.

Never forget, we are here when you need us

Oh dear you are having a time of it I am so sorry

Our Helen has a twisted spine and there is nothing that can be done for her and we have her on metacam sometimes when she is washing she will fall over and we have to rush and get her up as she struggles with her twisted spine but she can get up but sometimes she is in pain with it.

They certainly are a worry.

Sending lots and lots of Vibes for Binky and Artie xxxxxxxxx

and some of these for you

I'm so sorry to hear this, it's so hard with one poorly bun let alone two, the worry is so hard.

They have the best team behind them and I think is amazing how much time love can buys

Please keep us updated, sending nose rubs and hugs xxxxxx

Oh gosh, such awful news to come all at once like this

I am sending vibes to both of your babies and tonnes and tonnes of hugs to you, too

We are always here if you need us xxxxxx

Oh me! Uz have had a cruddy time of it

Sending but I wish there was more I could offer!

This is difficult to hear. I hope that you have much more enjoyable time together and there be no pain.

I am so sorry to hear this hu, I am sending lots of loving vcbes and cuddles. I just wish I could really do something to help you.

Hugs

JO xx

I am so so sorry to hear this Sending all the vibes I can muster to Binky and Artie and massive hugs to you

How are you now love?

Hugs

JO xx

Thank you so much everybody for your kind words they are very much appreciated.

jolovesbunnies wrote:How are you now love?

Thanks for asking

I've got my head round it now. My bond with Artie is such that I will never really come to terms with the idea of him not being here, he's just far too precious. I had a terrible anxious time when he had his kidney stones op and then a month later his kidney removed, for weeks and weeks after that I clung to him and watched his every move and just found it like a miracle that he was still with me. He had a stasis episode probably about a month after he had his kidney removed and whilst I sat in the waiting room waiting for x-rays results etc I was so convinced I was going to have to say goodbye to him, I was just thinking, "I can't do it, I can't lose him". I knew if his remaining kidney had a problem I'd have no choice but the thought of losing him only one month after by some miracle he survived his ordeal was just too much for me. I just wasn't ready. I don't think I've ever been so relieved at news as when the vet told me that it was just intestinal pain. Now, I'm not ready to lose him but I just have a sense of gratitude that fate gave me another 18 months + with him. Anything we have now is a bonus, I don't think I can be psychologically prepared for losing him though even with all that history. I have however tuned myself into the idea that there is no point in stressing over something I can't change, I just have to do my best for him and make him as happy as possible, and endeavour to spot anything that he needs me to be aware of.

Binky, on the other hand - well, he's just denying all knowledge of his spine problems and behaving like a cheeky, lively 3 year old bunny. He's binkying too

Just a little update to thank everybody for their good wishes when Artie had his terminal diagnosis.

After three weeks of not being so great and then rallying, last Wednesday I thought it was PTS time and after a telephone consultation he was put back on Metacam for assumed bone pain and he brightened up instantly. Sadly yesterday he was not doing so well and I stayed with him in the night to ensure he didn't become distressed (OOH phone call if he did). At 6.00 am he had a seizure which took him from me. Devastated doesn't come close, the little bundle of licks and buzzes was my world.

Oh no!!!! I'm so sorry You did everything you could for him and I'm sure he was grateful. I'm also sure he loved you just as much as you loved him!

Sleep well, Artie. You'll be very much missed x

Oh no, I am so sorry for your loss

You did everything you could for this little man to give him as much time longer as he could have possibly have had. I'm sure he really appreciated being with you in his final moments

Binky free, Artie. You'll never be forgotten

Oh hun, I am so so so sorry, I know how much he was loved.

I'm thinking of you and sending you all my love x

Oh hunny, I am so sorry

I know what a special guy he was to you, and he knows how much he was loved. I bet you have really been through the mill these last few days, always worried and wondering if you did the right thing - it is so exhausting and my heart goes out to you

Let us know if we can do anything - we're only up the road (relatively) so if you need company or a shoulder, we're there

oh no!!
so sorry you did everything you could
binky free gorgeous xx

Iam so sorry for your loss

Binky free little one xxx

Very sorry to hear this. Binky free Artie

I am saddened to hear of the loss of your soulbunny. You went the extra mile time and time again for him and his companion. Remember all the love you shared through the years.

Binky free Artie!

Thank you all for your kind words, especially as I haven't been around so much recently.

Sparky wrote:Let us know if we can do anything - we're only up the road (relatively) so if you need company or a shoulder, we're there

Thanks especially for this very kind offer. I'll get by. Just cry a lot and get it out of my system.

I think the worst bit in this bereavement was in the last few weeks as it was torture watching him breathing fast and hour by hour deciding if it was "fair". I've no idea whether I got it right or not but the day before he died he was on quite an 'up' so I certainly hadn't left him in misery for days and days before he died. I had actually decided in the evening before as he wasn't really interested in any of the food in front of him that it was 'time' the following day. I felt that the bad was likely to outweigh the good at that point. I slept on the floor that night as I knew he wasn't well and wanted to make sure if he became distressed I could get 'help' for him. I did think I'd be taking him on his final journey the following day. I spent the hours of that night stressing about who I was going to take him to.

I am so sorry, I know how precious Artie was to you. Thinking of you xx

It is really tough when you know the end is near but you are trying to make a judgement on when it should come, and in the meantime dealing with meds and the worry. I do think buns often take the decision out of our hands and without undue distress to them, at the end.

Lots more hugs for you hun, thoughts are still with you and Artie



When you feel ready, however long that might take, please post his story and pics in Rainbow Bridge - I'd love to know his full story

Artie was a very lucky boy to have you hun. The care that all your buns get is second to none.

Im sending you some more hugs and Im thinking of you x x x