What do we do about Jack?

I really am at a loose end.

Charlotte came back from the vets who said the metaphyline (sp?) would be no good as it essentially stretches the lungs and Jack's lungs are so full of scar tissue that they would not stretch. She said she thought she was suffering and recommended she be pts.

Having got her home (Jack hates vets and gets frightened easily) I have rung Charlotte and Jack ate some SS while we were talking. We are all (Mr B included) very reluctant to give up on her when she so clearly wants to keep fighting but it is so tricky.

Charlotte has asked another vets to come on a home visit for a second opinion. I don't know if I'm just clutching at straws and discounting professional advice that doesn't agree with what I want and we should elt her go; or if we should keep giving her a chance as long as she'll take it.

As Mr B said, we don't want to look back and wonder if we cut her life short when she might have made it. I want to know we did everything we could.

What is your take on this, Hoppers, I am just so unsure of myself...

This is such a hard situation for you all to be in and nobody can make the decision but you.
I feel sometimes it is best to let the animal go if it is in pain as if they are only being kept alive by meds and not living then that is not fair.
You and Charlotte have to make that choice for her as she can't tell you how she feels.
Sending lots of vibes to Jack x x x

That's the problem - I wish she could. At least if she got better or worse the decision would be made for us.

The thing is, although I am reluctant to let her go while she is still eating and fighting it, I can't ever see her surviving it (obviously I don't know as I can't be with her. Charlotte please correct me if I'm wrong) so are we just delaying the inevitable.

I have never had a pet die on me before...

Well personally if a Chest Xray had confirmed significant lung damage (which in an advanced stage would render Bronchodilators ineffective) and the Bun was mouth breathing I would probably have to let Bun go

But it is completely impossible to advise anyone else what to do as I cant see Jack and I dont know what diagnostics/treatment she has already had.
As a comparisson my Sarah Wabbit developed severe Respiratory Tract problems in March of this year. At one stage she was gasping for breath and you could hear her raspy breathing from another room

She was stabalised in ITU and put on a treatment regime of Steroid Injections, Penicillin Injections, Diuretic Injections and Nebuliser sessions.
Sarah has done well on this treatment, although we know her condition is 'terminal'. Had she not responded to the ITU and follow-on treatment I would have let her go. She was still eating like a pig despite being blue from hypoxia and gasping for breath between each mouthful
There is no way I would have allowed that to go on for more than a few hours.

But Jack's condition may be completely different to Sarah's so any comparisson would be pointless. I wish I could advise you what to do but I cant

I asked if she is in pain and she isn't.

There is no fluid in the lungs so any duiretic (sp) will not be effective. I am so stressed I don't know what to do. She is so feisty though and seems so happy in herself.

I can't offer any help but I'm thinking about you all and Jack, and you'll make the right decision. Hugs x

In the space of an hour, what sort of things is she doing?
Does the vet think she is going to get any better and if she does that it is likely to be a recurring condition?

Like Jane said it is so hard to offer advice when we can't see Jack for ourselves and even more so when we dont 'know' her and what she is like normally.

Any chance of a video?

Yeah will do a video now

god how awful. thinking of you 3 (Jack, Charlotte, Helen) at such a nightmarish and difficult time. I had a similar situation with Wobbles and his fits and the dilemma of should I let him go or keep fighting. Is never an easy one and still troubles me now.

see i dont know about it cos she's not turning blue and doesn't seem in much distress... I just can't bring myself to end her life when she's still fighting for it

This whole thing has ****ed with my head so much I just HATE being away from her

I just think she is fighting too much to let her go.

I cant watch it at work, I'll check back in later but I am sure you will do what is right for her. x

thanks Sooz.

I am just worried that I am being one of those people that only asks for advice to hear what they want to hear.

The vet has recommended we pts but to me that vid just doesn't look like a bunny who has given up.

I know I am being stubborn (and PLEASE guys don't be afraid to disagree with me, I am desperate for opinions on what you would do!) but she has been through so much worse and managed it. I was saying to Charl, out of all my bunnies Bri has had a scratched eyelid and Charlie had very mild snuffles when he was a baby. That's it.

Jack has had multiple dentals, incisor removal, massive tooth-cavity infection, recurring nasal passage infections, VHD limp and a broken wrist bone in her 2 short years. She has been to the vet more than those two put together and it just makes me so angry that she is having to go through this now.

I am so distraught I just can't bare to come back to the UK and not have her there to meet me with the boys!

If i were you i would get a 2nd opinion (from a bunny savvy vet) and then take another view.

AFAIK Charlotte has arranged a home visit from another vet.

if it was me if she is fighting this and is not in pain i personally wouldnt put her down as to me is like putting down a person who is suffering with cancer if they are gonna fight it. i say give her the chance to fight it unless she is in pain or discomfort from the video she looked like this is a fight she wants to beat, i would let her go for it until i knew she was in pain or discomfort and no matter how much she battled she was going to lose, she might lose the war against her illness but looks like ya got a bunny who refuses to lose this battle. xx hope this helps its not stubborn to not want to give up on ya animals

Oh Wayne thankyou xxxxxxxxx

Just waiting for vet now... JAck has been for a hop round.

good luck jack. sending you vibes.

I'm wary of posting advice on threads like this, but having seen the video and your descriptions, it doesn't seem as if Jack is suffering too much. Obviously she's having moments when she is distressed, but you said that the vet says she's not in pain? I have been in this situation before, mostly with cats, and my general theory is that if the animal is not in pain and suffering, then pts is not the best option. I had a vet who over-ruled me on that once before and I swore I'd never let it happen again.

Jack certainly looks as though she's prepared to fight, in which case she's made the decision for you.

Helen I can't imagine what you're going through right now, it must be so hard for you to be away from them anyway let alone when they're poorly. We're all thinking of you here xxx

I am sorry to have to say this but if she were mine I could not keep her going like that
Here respiratory effort is enormous and I dont mean to upset everyone but from that video my personal opinion is that she is suffering . She may not be 'in pain' but she is effectively suffocating
If no different medication can be given personally I would have to let her go

I really am sorry and this post is not made to hurt anyone. But Jack is suffering

Vet has been. He has given her 40'% chance of survival. Thinks it is more than worth trying. Keeping her on same meds. Coming back on Friday. I have to nip out and help Dixielubun with some hutches now but will update later.

if a human can be given less than 50% chance of survival and given time limits to live to and surpass them i personally think lil jack can aswell. 40% is a lot to not take a chance on if she wants to fight i really would give her the chance, yeh she probably will eventually have to be put to sleep when it becomes to much for her to handle but if 40% can give her a year maybe even 2 years that is a lot of time for a bunny, if she aint given the chance thats alot of time to miss out on life in a bunnies eyes while even in a humans eyes she still has so much life in her i think it best that she be given a chance they are good statistics not the best but still good that is not far off half. there is still lots of binkys for her to do and lots more trouble for her to create its all worth the chance. GOOD LUCK XXX