Temperance and MJ update

MJ has his next eye pressure check up on Monday, we had them both at the vet tonight for blood tests and mani/pedis.

This is more of a Temperance update. We're only back from holiday on sunday (4th) after having been away since the 18th. 2 days before we were due to leave I noticed Temperance was breathing noiseily, almost rattley. It didn't seem to be causing her any problems but called the vet first thing the next morning and got an app. By the next morning her breathing was ok but we took her anyway, the vet couldn't hear any noise from her breathing and couldn't see any issues with her mouth but did notice that the inside of her front legs the fur had been wet. She wasn't obviously drooling or runny nose but he gave us a course of baytril anyway. He weighed her and she had managed to put back on the weight she lost after her surgery and was back up to 2.2kg (she went down to 2kg before her surgery last year).

When we came back there wasn't much change in her, inside of her front legs still had been wet. What I did notice very quickly that she seemed to have lost a significant amount of weight - she feels skeletal. She still seems to be eating although not as enthusiastically as she has done, and her belly still feels nice and full. We already had an appointment for friday (today) and as we also have the vet school early next week I didn't want to cause more stress so just waited for todays appointment.

So went in for the blood tests today, I told the vet she felt very thin so he weighed her. She has lost 400g - 20% of her body weight - in 3 weeks. I was shocked. He also found a lump on her side, he isn't too worried about it as it doesn't seem to be attached to anything but its about the size of 2 peanuts and it definitely wasn't there 3 weeks ago. He's taken a sample of that to send to the lab, he got a good blood sample to he is going to request the lab test for other things like liver/kidney function. I also asked for painkillers so we have metacam to give her starting today.

In other news, I've noticed she's not quite so able to groom these days - she can struggle to reach her ears etc. So I asked about supplements, he recommended burgess excel mature, so I've got that. I'll ask at the vet school next week but if anyone else can recommend any supplements for buns joints / older buns that would be appreciated.

Oh darling, lots of healing and loving vibes are on their way and thank you for keeping us posted.  You will both be n my prayers.

Love
Jo xx

thoughts and prayers with you and your wee buns, hope they make speedy recoveries

I can't bibe I missed this!

Oxbow do some supplements for joints which I use for Annie. They are in the hay experts site. Hopefully the metacam can help her. Annie has arthritis and a crumbling spine (I guess she was kept in a hitch that was too small grrrrr). So she is on metacam and Tramadol daily and if really helps her.

I'm keeping everything crossed that the lump is just a fatty lump or something harmless hun. Poor little lady?

Do we know how old she was when you rescued her?

Sending vibes and love for her and MJ and hugs for you, you must be worried xxxx

Sorry to hear of Temperance's weight loss and health problems, how long have you had her?
how old is she? thinking of you at this time, hoping all goes well.

Thanks guys, we were told T was 'about 5' when we got her and we've had her 4years, so she'll probably be about 9-10.

I'll have a look at the oxbow supplements, thanks Katie. I don't know if the vet school appointment is just with the eye specialist or if one of the exotics vets will be there as well. Hopefully one of the exotics vets will be there, if not I'll just ask if one of them is about for a quick chat and see if they have any suggestions.

The lab that does the blood tests usually get the results back quite quickly, so hopefully it'll be the same for the lump results.

Fingers crossed hun.

I had no idea she was 4 when you got her..... blimey 4 years living in that awful hutch :-( :-(

KatieB wrote:Fingers crossed hun.

I had no idea she was 4 when you got her.....  blimey 4 years living in that awful hutch :-( :-(

She was owned by someone else before, I knew the sister of the previous owner (she's the one who told me she would be 'about 5'), and I got the impression she was fairly well looked after before they rehomed her to where I got her from... well she wasn't spayed but based on being told that 'she used to be friendly'. But she had been in that hutch for at least 2 yrs... I didn't ask how long she'd been there/when they'd rehomed her... it could have been much longer :/

Im soooo glad you got her.

Me too love, it doesn't bear thinking about.

Hugs
Joxx

Let's hope hutches will be a thing of the past VERY SOON!
I remember when I got Clawed she was three and the hutch she had spent her entire life in just allowed her to lie at full stretch, her hind quarters in the sleeping area and her front paws touching the other end wall. She had been put in there as a kitten and never removed. She went hop-happy when I put her in an eighteen foot by three foot by three foot hutch and gave her a twenty foot square run on the lawn.
Hutches are the pits.
I've got my fingers crossed for good news for T. Give her a long nose rub from Henners and me (especially from Henners!).

Amen to that.

Hugs
Jo xx

I can't believe I am writing this.

I took them to the vet school for our appointment at 5, MJ had his eye check up first and everything is ok although his eye pressures still possibly a bit high but they'll check with the London vet school and we'll continue with the azopt in the mean time. There were a lot of eye students there, its not often you see a rabbit with replacement lenses.

Then I asked her to check Temperance. Obviously her first comment was re the weight, I explained that had been only in the last few weeks. She gave her a thorough feel and listening to her lungs. She found a large mass in her abdomen and her lungs did not sound good. She was admitted for an immediate CT scan. It was a 40mins wait for the results so I just waited.

Her lungs are riddled with lesions, most likely secondary tumours. There is not much healthy lung tissue left. It no longer matters what the mass in her abdomen is. There is nothing more we can do. If we leave it any longer she will suffer. The vet gave her a strong painkiller for tonight and tomorrow morning we have to phone our vet.

My Temperance. I can't believe it.

Oh no I'm so, so sorry to see this update. I have been quietly following the thread.

This has made me really sad. Sending to you guys. You must be devastated.

Poor T

I'm so sorry to hear that, it's devastating
Our thoughts are with you at this sad time

Xxx

She's so tired today. MJ knows something is up, they're not sitting together. They are so devoted to each other.

We got up early and went and got her some treats, some fresh herbs and dandelions. She even got a tiny bit of chocolate, she always tries to steal chocolate.

The vet is going to come here, he will be round after 11.

She's still tired, but has been enjoying lots of little bits of carrot and a few tiny bits of chocolate. She has had some herbs and dandelions, she doesn't really want anything else.

You must be in bits

She's gone.

Absolutely gutted for you, and for MJ

Actual tears in my eyes right now

Temperance, you will be very much missed xxx

I'm so, so sorry for your loss. Bunnies hide things so well that it's such a shock to take in how poorly they are when you get results. I'm glad you got one last night of spoiling her, that will mean so much to you.

Oh my darling I am so very very sorry to hear this.  Lots of comforts on their way to you and MJ.

Hugs
JO xx

Thanks guys. I am still shocked. Obviously I knew there was a problem due to the weight loss when we got back from holiday but I never expected this.

We took her to the crematorium this afternoon, we will collect her tomorrow.

MJ hasn't really moved all afternoon.

Its very quiet in here.

You are welcome sweetie, I just wish there was more comfort we could give you.

Hugs
Jo xx