Sparky - I really need help (long post)

Comparative mammalian anatomy and physiology only go so far when comparing a human to rabbit. That said, applying to a young human what Sparky has suffered being so incredibly ill over such a long time, having respiratory problems such as Sparky. I wonder if Sparky hasn't had numerous periods where she wasn't getting oxygen to her brain. The effects of this are cumulative and cause behavioral problems..at least in humans. The lack of oxygen can cause irreparable damage to the part of the brain that affects behavior. It would also account for her possible seizure activity. Bless little Sparky.

Theo is such a sweetheart. If anybun can bond with her it will be him.

Sending mega vibes for everybun's favorite princess!

Yes, Humum spent the entire day Sunday rebuilding pens so we are side by side but with plenty of space. She was crafty and did our upstairs side-by-side too so I can't even go up there to get away from him

Theo has to have a roof on his side

I do spend most of my time sitting right next to the bars wherever Theo is, but Humum is pretty sure that if she puts us together again any time soon we'll just scuffle. We've not heard anything back from the vets yet but Dougal can ask when he goes in for his vaccine booster on Friday. And the behaviourist wants some video, so Hudad has to set up his little webcam on us and film us when there are no humans in the room.

Humum thinks I look a bit miserable but I don't seem snotty. Well, I am miserable - I am a free bun, not used to being in a pen! Plus I would like snuggles with Theo, but he has to accept that I am top bun first

Never mind Sparky love, it will all be fine soon. You know how much you are loved and adored.

Hugs

JOxx

I hope the behaviourist can come up with some answers. It will be interesting to see what the web cam shows.

How are things going with sparky and theo?

I was also wondering how Sparky and Theo are doing now?

Still living next door to each other. No real aggression but still no go. Theo has been norty today, he widdled on Sparky's front door mat

Oh dear Theo! That is never going to make her want you back!

Father Jack wrote:Still living next door to each other. No real aggression but still no go. Theo has been norty today, he widdled on Sparky's front door mat

Is that a euphemism?

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:

Father Jack wrote:Still living next door to each other. No real aggression but still no go. Theo has been norty today, he widdled on Sparky's front door mat

Is that a euphemism?

No, it's rather stinky

Smells like Brut?

Theo you need flowers and chocolates, you neep!

NickieM wrote:Smells like Brut?

Theo you need flowers and chocolates, you neep!

or at herbs and crunchies!

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:

NickieM wrote:Smells like Brut?

Theo you need flowers and chocolates, you neep!

or at herbs and crunchies!

unless you bring roses which are apparently very nommy.

Rory says: Organically grown rose petals are my favorite candy!

There's no change in Sparky, she seems quite content. We still get the squirm when she has been grooming to her right side, but not her left. She 'startles' awake more often than anybun else, and rarely flops onto her side.

The last couple of nights, shortly after lights-out, I've heard quite a commotion from her room. She's been upstairs in her pen when I have said goodnight, and when I come in to check on her she is downstairs. It's almost sounded like she has fallen down the levels in her pen, but it's been impossible to distinguish between that and a deliberate bunny-500 (just the same sort of scrambling noise). I'm going to give treaties at floor level tonight so she is downstairs when the lights go off.

One thing I am considering is giving her a small dose of Metacam (perhaps half the 'max' dose - she is around 2kg so a 5kg dose). She is not very lively and spends a lot of time dozing or chilling out (except at 4am when she has a mad 10 minutes ) and it's very difficult to tell whether she is in any discomfort. I could always tell when her pasteurella was bad because she looked utterly miserable, and she does not look like that at the moment but she sometimes looks a tiny bit uncomfortable. I'm thinking that Metacam would help reduce any physical discomfort, but also if there is swelling anywhere it might help alleviate that too.

What are your thoughts, good people of HH?


(Oh, and I am going to chase the vet up to see if we ever heard anything back from the RWAF chap too)

Hudad has noticed that she sometimes "falls" off the steps in her pen. He's heard the commotion and turned round from freeing occupied France and seen her on the ground floor when she was on the second floor only moments earlier. She seems to scare herself a little but is otherwise fine afterwards. It's a very strange situation indeed  

I think your humums views on metacam makes sense to me.

I would also suggest your vets cast further than just Richard Saunders - J.C. or FHB maybe.

Ok, so I just need to see if I can persuade her it is a treat to take from the syringe at treatie time (she is so headshy otherwise).

I've emailed our vets to see if they have heard anything. If not I'll ask them if they can give me whatever referral / permission I need to be able to talk to him directly (something to do with the ethics means he can't do so without their go-ahead). I was very impressed with him at the RWAF conference so would like his opinion, it's just being able to get it  

Failing that, FHB is not terribly far from us, and there's another vet in Cheshire - Molly Varga - who I have heard good things about.

Progress will be made, it is just slow with our bestest vet being out on maternity leave and the others so busy

To me this sounds like a central nervous system problem that rabbit's can get with Pasteurella I hope it get's sorted as it must be really worrying for you   

I hope you get some answers back soon from the RWAF chap or else I would certainly think of visiting rabbit specialist Francis Harcourt- Brown in Harrogate.

I think the metacam makes a lot of sense. Its so hard as they cant tell us.

Good luck with the vet hun - I really hope that they can get some advice.

She is such a special bun x

Thinking of you Sparky!  

Also thinking of you sparky  

Sparky wrote:Ok, so I just need to see if I can persuade her it is a treat to take from the syringe at treatie time (she is so headshy otherwise).

I've emailed our vets to see if they have heard anything. If not I'll ask them if they can give me whatever referral / permission I need to be able to talk to him directly (something to do with the ethics means he can't do so without their go-ahead). I was very impressed with him at the RWAF conference so would like his opinion, it's just being able to get it  

Failing that, FHB is not terribly far from us, and there's another vet in Cheshire - Molly Varga - who I have heard good things about.

Progress will be made, it is just slow with our bestest vet being out on maternity leave and the others so busy

 
I hope you manage to get some answers. Harrogate's definitely not far at all for wanting answers to something so complex. It would be an easy journey for a rabbit to travel from getting onto the motorway too as it's on 'our' side of Harrogate so not a very stressful journey.  
 
(They also do good noms, Sparky, in the event of having to stay there.. it's like a short break at a health spa )

Ive been thinking about Sparky all day and wondering what it can be and I wonder could she have a touch of epilepsy as I know rabbit's can suffer from it and when I think back to years ago to a girl I worked with that had epileptic fits she would have one and it would last for what seemed like a few seconds and her eyes would go and she would shudder and then she would come round as if nothing had happened and it made me think of Sparky. Just a thought .