Disabled Bunny advice please

I think you are dong so well hunny in a very difficult situation.  If you feel she is enjoying her life at the moment and eating is always a good sign.  I am glad you got to talk to a savvy vet too, all too often they know nothing about bunnies when you take them in about they won't admit it and things just get worse. What did the vet say about her quality of life at the moment, they can be very non committal at times?  I think you are very wise to insist on seeing the same vet, it sounds as if she knows what she is talking about.  Please give Tia a big hug from me love and thank you for keeping me posted.

Lots of love
JO xx

I'm glad you had a more positive visit at the vets. And that Tia is enjoying her summer days. Poorly buns can have the most amazing hold on us can't they?

Yes, it was lovely to finally find the right vet. I wasnt sure if she was still working or if she had delegated the work out to others as so many practice owners do, but she is so that is good. It is a small independent privately owned practice that has grown over the years, which started off as a hobby. I have taken cats there before, and have no idea why i hadnt gone back before with Tia, but glad i have now.

She didnt say a lot about quality of life, she hummed and hared, and as i asked how you define it she agreed it was a hard one, but then said that as i was looking after her and keeping her clean and she was managing etc then to come back in 3 weeks.

Just been out to see them and give them treats and tuck them in for the night and found Tor had pushed one of Tia's support rolls out of the way to snuggle up to her - Bunny  

It is nice when you find a vet you can rely on and have faith in, I think it makes all the difference.  I think you are doing a great job love and Tia is obviously enjoying her life at the moment and Tor certainly loves her.  You cannot beat bunny love.  Top up loves and vibes are on their way.

Hugs
JO xx

Today doesn't seem to have been such a good day today. , hopefully it was just a bad day, maybe tired after a busy couple of days with visitors, but i gave Tia a bath at lunchtime and found a large lump on her front foot i had not seen before. It was 'squidgy' so i squeezed it and lots of thick puss came out she was very good, but it was obviously uncomfortable for her. As it was raining and i had to go out i put her back in her hutch with food, greenery her support rolls and a thin towel over the top of her so she didnt get cold after her bath.

I came back this evening and she hadn't moved a bit, (very unusual) still as i left her and felt a bit chilly to touch. Tor was being his usual self and climbing all over her, but she wasn't batting an eyelid.

I have given her a full dose (0.6ml) of Metacam tonight and will visit her again to tuck them in the for the night with treats and hope she feels better in the morning. xx

Was that an abscess on her paw? Poor little girl. Do you have an heat pad you could put in with her?
I hope she perks up over night.

It does appear to be an abscess on her foot, no idea why or where it came from. I looked at it again this morning, and give it another little squeeze. It wasn't so big and not as much came out.

I dont have a heat pad, no. I will see  how things go, i can pad her bed out a bit more for the cooler weather and she does have Tor who insists on sitting on/next to her a lot of the time too. She seemed a little brighter this morning, but still a little subdued, but then again it has been very damp wet weather and none of us like the damp weather anyway.

I put her out in the run this afternoon under shelter, and she got straight down to munching grass, then decided to lick her sore foot. I had to hold it out for her to get to but she gave it a good clean and appeared to be nibbling into it - i guess her version of squeezing and cleaning.

This is a video i managed to get of some Bunny Love a few days ago. Tor is very coy about being videoed, maybe just too nosey, but as soon as i try to record him he stops doing what i wanted to video

Oh the poor little love, how much more has this darling little bunny have t put up with?  They d tend to lick their own wounds don't they but they need help from we humans sometimes to get things started.  I will continue to send lots of love and healing vibes sweetie, thank you for keep us posted.  Thank you too for sharing this video with us, they are gorgeous little buns.

Hugs
Jo xx

It is sad poor little girl. She is doing very well in her circumstances bless her. she seemed back to her normal self again this evening, munching away at her food and greens.
Had a bit of a moment out in the run today where between them she and Tor managed to wiggle her supports out of the way so she rolled over onto her back. She was pleased to see me to upright her again and munched away at the grass for a while until bedtime.
Tomorrow i will look at making something they cant move away as supports for her. Rolled T shirts and old towels get moved too easily. I think pipe lagging over a metal rod or wooden support then joined together under her tummy might work.

xx

I am glad she is still enjoying her food hunny and I see what you mean abut the supports.  Please let us know what you decide to put in their place. Please give her a big cuddle from her Auntie Jo Jo.

Hugs
JO xx

I didnt get as far as making more permanent supports today, but tried a couple of ideas. Outside i wrapped a towel over a couple of T shirts, so she was sitting on it stopping it falling or being pushed away, which worked reasonably well. Then tonight in the hutch i have put them under the sheet she sits on which when i went back out this evening to tuck them up seemed to be working as she was still in place.

She's not been too bad today, quite determined in what she wanted and refused all offers until she got what she did want - food. Not greenery, not grass, treats, but food.
She had a little walk around the run, but finds it quite tiring. I am trying to give her a chance to walk every day to keep her as active as she can be.

Her front legs have got a bit 'pigeon toed' and when she sits she isnt comfortable unless her front feet are straight as well.

She had a bath today, but was so not into it she wanted to get out straight away, so it was a quick one. The abscess on her foot is going down, but still there and quite painful. I have packed the bed up with extra shavings and hay tonight as its a bit chilly.

Tor has had a bit of a wet/runny eye for the last couple of days, which hasn't got better yet, so i will need to bathe that tomorrow. He is still very much in love with Tia and finds everything very exciting every time she is moved or i tend to her, or the bed he bounces around and squirts at me!

xx

Oh the poor little love and poor you too hunny, this must be so difficult for you.  I think it is great how you are doing all  you can to make her comfortable.  What exactly has she eaten today? I have always fund a little bit f banana works well with poorly buns, not to much but just enough to get them interested.  I am sorry she didn't enjoy her bath but in my experience buns never do.  If only they know that we were doing it all in their best interests.

More hugs and cuddy vibes are on their way hun.

Love
Jo xx

Hi Jo,
Today has been a very active day for Tia, i have been all over the run on my knees several times today
She has discovered a ramp we made for her to get into her hutch (which is about 8 inches off ground level) when she was still walking but never got round to using as back then she was too stubborn. Today i put it out for her, and (with me being back legs) she trotted up, and then down, then back up, back down...!

Today she has eaten grass, dock leaf, cherry leaf, apple, and cabbage as well as her dried food. Today has been a good day, i love days like today.

Never tried Rabbits on banana - is that just banana or dried banana chips?

I know baths are not really rabbit things, but Tia has become past master at baths the last few months and does usually quite enjoy them.

Tomorrow is going to be difficult for her, as i am at a craft fair from 9-4, so wont be about to walk her around. I think she will be best off in her hutch for the day - she will hate me when i get home and most likely refuse to speak to me!

xx

I am so glad she has had a better day sweetie and of course, so have you.  She obviously still has her appetite too which is great and she has you to help her get around and exercise a little bit.  She may have started to enjoy the baths; does she tend to get a little sticky bottom? No would would like to sit around with one of those and  she probably finds it soothing.  I mean actual banana love, it is only something I give as an occasional treat but everyone here, including my pet roachies, seem to love it.

Yes, she will probably have a sulk on but you have a nice time, I love craft fairs.

Hugs
Jo xx

All was not lost today for Tia as two girls who met her last weekend at the party came over to 'babysit'  her for the afternoon, so she got her walks and grass time and lots of attention. My partner checked on her a couple of times during the morning before they got here too, so she was ok.
She was also very pleased to see me home, as soon as she heard me she looked round with a look of 'thank goodness you're back, they wont stop fussing' One of them also has an adorable 3 y/o boy who loves rabbits, which i think she finds quite exhausting.

She robbed my chocolate hobnob earlier, she smelt it as i was eating it next to her and the look on her face told me to share... she had a couple of nibbles, then decided she had had enough so Tor had a bit. I decided after that i wasn't that bothered after all so left it on the ground in the run I will have to try them on banana, as i say not something i had ever associated with rabbits.

Yes, Tia does get very sticky. She cannot get round to clean herself and obviously as her back legs dont work she cant even lift her bottom to wee, and also drips a little too. As such regular baths are a must.
Tor wanted lots of love today, says its a bit unfair when Tia gets all the attention, as he is gorgeous too  so he had lots of kisses and snuggles too.

Not sure what happened with her ear over her eye i this picture, but this is Tia in her bath, looking a bit like something out of a horror movie bless her



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She missed her mum that is what is was love, she was pleased to see you were home.  Yes children can be tiring for animals because they mean well and if allowed to, often fuss them a bit to much.  It is up to whomever is there to tell them.  Oh love her, she wets her little panties, it is good that you are on hand to keep her clean all the time otherwise her ittle botty would be sore.  Oh bless her not looking her best in this picture me thinks, does she know you have posted it LOL?  She is adorable though.

Hugs
Jo xx

Needless to say Tia was quite tiered today after her visitors yesterday. The little boy is adorable and very well behaved and calm for a 3 y/o, but he is still 3.

We did a bit of walking around the run today, me on my knees and her on her front legs. She has worked out how to use her front legs separately, to walk with them, but hasn't yet grasped that she cant jump or step over things yet. In her mind she is on her feet and can do everything she would normally do.
This evening she was a bit 'meh', partly i think as i was busy this afternoon so she didn't get as much attention as she would have liked, and partly tired after yesterday. Much perkier just now when i went out to tuck them in, despite Tor sitting on her  

She was quite funny this evening. When she was able bodied i used to go out to the run and say 'bed' firmly and she would go to her hutch to bed, something she subsequently taught Tor. So i thought this evening, if i held her legs to walk and told her to go to bed, i would see if she did. did she ever.. nooo... she went a few paces in the opposite direction, so i turned her round saying 'bed' again, then she sat down with a 'i don't want to, you cant make me, i'm not going' look!

No, not a very flattering picture of her. Sshh! no, i haven't told her i posted it This is slightly better taken about a week ago. Her coat looks quite good, but she does look so very thin poor girl.

Medicine has never been a great point for us, she wasn't that keen on shredded wheat, not enough to guarantee getting the medicine, so i have been sitting her on my lap to put it directly into her mouth, which was always a bit of a struggle. The last couple of nights we have established that she will sit in her hutch and let me put it in her mouth, much happier than sitting on me for it.

we are working it out between us, she is teaching me how to read her mind, and i am learning.

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I think you are doing such a great job hunny and thank you for another lovely picture.  Yes this one of her in the sunshine is much better.  I am glad it is now easier to give her her meds, we always feel so dreadful when they struggle and show signs of distress and yet we know we have to do it.  Holly will go to bed when I say "bed bed bed" but only when we she has chased around the room a few times.  Please give Tia a big hug from her auntie Jo Jo and there is one for you too hunny.

Hugs
JO xx

Haha! yes, Tia was never one to go to bed quickly, a lot of procrastination took place first. Tor is fairly good now, he puts himself to bed under the hutch, but when he hears me talking to Tia comes out and goes in and usually sits on top of Tia and has to be moved!

Not been a great day for her today, maybe because the weather has been dull and wet and damp. She had to have a bath today and was not pleased, but is much cleaner. I put her back in her hutch on her sheets and covered her in hay and a thin towel resting on top to help her stay warm while she dried (same idea as the sweat sheet string vests for horses) I also gave her a bit extra meds too when she came out of the bath.
I just thought if she has been having 0.6 of a ml a day, and now down to 0.3 then a little 0.2 wouldn't hurt. She was much more cheerful when i went out this evening to tuck them in and couldn't wait for her treat of apple and lettuce tonight and this time had her meds on the lettuce

She had a bit of a wander today, but wasnt happy . I am starting to see a pattern of her not being so good in the damp weather now she is on less meds.

Thank you for the hugs,from me and Tia
xx

It is right hunny, I have never had a bun go straight to bed, they always have to play you up first LOL!  I am sorry today wasn't so good for her and she had to have a bath.  It must be a comfort for her though because I wouldn't like that to happen to me if I couldn't get a good wash.  I am glad she is taking her meds via her treat, at least that part is easy.

I am sending more hugs darling, I just wish I could do more.

Hugs
Jo xx

Hi Jo,
I guess she will just have good days and bad days, i just dislike the bad days as much as she does. They worry me, i worry that her time may be up when she has a bad day, but she makes up for it with good days.
Yesterday and today have been very 'active' days, i have been all over the run on my knees! we have it off to a fine art now, me on my knees, right hand under Tia, left hand supporting myself . She has started really getting a crack on on her front feet now, it is quite amusing. She has now worked out exactly where in the run she wants to be, and if i put her where she doesn't want to be, she will wiggle to move until an obliging hand lifts her back legs up and she trots off to where she wants to be - i have a job to keep up with her sometimes She decided herself this evening it was bed time so ran me back to the hutch!
we had another look at the wheel chair prototype, which we did think would need to be changed, but now she hasnt got any use of her back legs and her needs have changed it may well be ok. So tomorrow i will it on her and she how it works. Will save my knees once she can be a little more self sufficient! Would also be nice to have it working before she sees the vet next too.
Tor is being very attentive, and loving and accepts she isnt her old self, but gets very excited when she is on the move. I went out tonight to tuck them up and he was snuggled up next to her giving her kisses
She will need a bath again tomorrow, so i am sure she will have the hump with me afterwards!

The hugs and love being sent over are obviously working . Its nice to be able to share the little moments with someone who understands. Thank you

I understand what you are saying love, I just hope the good days outweigh the bad.  It sounds as if she knows what she wants and has developed a way of telling you what that is, which is great.  I cannot get down on my hands and knees anymore so I would be useless .  It does sound as if she is adapting quite well and I hope her little wheel chair works out all right for her.  I know many doggies who have lost their back legs have these and manage perfectly well, let's keep everything crossed.  I am glad Tor is being attentive, he sounds a lovely bun who really cares for her.  Please give him a kiss from his Auntie Jo Jo too.

You are welcome to the hugs and warm vibes love, it is the least I can do, I wish I could do more.  I am always here if you want to chat, I Just hope that every day when I read your lovely messages that she is getting better.

You take care too.
Love
Jo xx

I did have a thought today, why was i crawling around on my knees, why didn't i put something under her and walk along side her...!   So i tried a t shirt, which with a bit of practice worked quite well.

I tried her prototype wheels today, but they were too heavy for her so she was skidding on the spot bless her! So they have now gone back to the 'workshop' (my partners shed) to be re modelled and made lighter.

She had bath today, which made her quite exhausted and cross as she really has no time for baths these days she says, but after she had recovered she had another walk and sat in the garden for a while - until it started raining and i went out to rescue her and got the look of 'oh thank goodness you're here. She gets quite out of breath walking around, but i guess she is out of practice. Hopefully if she can get going with her wheels she will build up a bit again.
for the moment we seem to have settled on 0.4 ml of metacam, as 0.3 as recommended by the vet doesn't seem to quite cut it for her.
Tor loves his kisses, and in his way i think he feels quite helpless. When Tia is in her hutch he will visit from time to time but spends most of his time under it. As soon as he hears me about he comes out and gets so excited if Tia is out and about too bless him. While she was sitting in the garden this afternoon i was watching him out of  the window doing a little love dance around her while she just sat there lapping up the attention

This is Tia 'chilling out' after her bath today. Not sure how to make it the right way up so you will have to tilt your head to see it

xx

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I am sorry her little wheel chair was too heavy love, hopefully your hubby will rectify that and she will be on her way.  No I know no bunnies like baths and I have only ever bathed mine when they have been mucky.  Luckily I have not had this problem at all with Holly and I am very grateful. I am sorry the medication isn't hitting the spot, does it mean a dose increase?

Poor Tor, he probably doesn't understand what is going on, sometimes I think other animals understand these things and other times I am not so sure.  He sounds adorable anyway, I would give him lots of kisses.

That is a beautiful photo of a beautiful bunny, I adore that little white nose.

Hugs
JO xx

Hi Jo,
Apologies for the delay replying. Tia has not been great the last few days. The original prescription for metacam was 0.6ml a day, when we saw the vet recently she suggested dropping it to a 'maintenance dose' of 0.3ml. She didnt seem great so i put it up a little, still not good so upped it a little more. the last few days have been absolute torture for her bless her, she has been so very stiff, almost rigid she was so stiff and last night she was in a foul mood (usually pain when she is like that) so i have now put it back to 0.6 again as of last night. She seemed a little more cheerful this morning, had a little wander round and nibbled at grass like there was no tomorrow, but then asked to go back in again so i gave her a large handful of cut grass to munch on in bed.

Tor knows something is wrong, he knows she isnt her usual self, but hasn't got a clue what or why. He so wants her to be back to normal and her old self, he is quite childlike in his excitement when she is out in the run being 'normal' with me working the back legs and her doing the front. They have never been a cuddle up all day couple, but a distant, independent type of love, but he will often visit her now and check on her to see how she is. Shame he cant do more for her, he could sit her up and help her walk

Alice