When Do You Say Enough Is Enough?

I am at my wits end with Chance. He won't eat. Now he won't drink. I am shoving syringes in his mouth left right and centre. It has got to the stage now that when he sees me coming, he just cowers and it is heart breaking. I tell him I am trying to save his life but ofcourse he doesn't understand. The vets can't find a problem. He looks like a poorly, fed up old man today. When do I decide that he has had enough? I feel like there is only so much more I can do, the rest is up to him too? I just am at a loss.

I'm sorry you're going through such a hard time at the moment. I don't have any wise words to say I'm afraid. It sounds to me like you are doing your very best for him and you should be proud of yourself for that. I wish I could help more but stay strong. You are doing a fantastic job.

Thanks Magoo, I just don't know what to do anymore.

Does he seem to be in pain? Maybe there is somebody else you can ask. A second opinion maybe?

Unfortunately my vetinary practice dominate 3 of the 5 practices in Lincoln. I can't guage whether he is in pain or not you know. Its a tough one.

It must be so tough. I wish I could think of something Maybe it could be a psychological problem rather than a physical problem?

I'm not an expert in rabbits, I leave important decisions to the wife (very wise move and the secret for a happy relationship!). There does come a time when you have to question how far you go - and are your best efforts in the animal's best interests? There may be nothing obvious wrong, but for a rabbit to refuse to eat, to need to be artificially fed, and for the rabbit to come to associate those actions as something it does not want - it may be time to consider that "bunny knows best."

I've worked in healthcare for 25 years - I have lost count of people (young and old) who have basically given up, there's no physical reason - and nothing that you do helps - and sometimes you have to accept that it is time for them to let go. It's always difficult when it is a much loved family pet, but looking at it from the rabbit's perspective it is obviously distressed when you are trying to feed it, something I'm sure you don't want to do to him. Maybe give the vet one last chance to fully examine the rabbit - a proper dental exam as well as maybe imaging of the gut to ensure there is no malignancy in his bowel or stomach.

Assuming that there is no obvious physical cause then is there any point in further distressing him?

Good luck

James

oh dear charlotte. i am sorry to hear this. it is such a heartbreaking situation. thiking of you and Chance.

Charlotte I am so sorry about all the distress you are having with Chance. I wish there was something I could do to help you. All I can say is to maybe ask the vet for his opinion on what to do. Hugs to you xx

I'm so sorry to hear this - it's the worst feeling in the world being totally helpless, isn't it? If there really is nothing else left to try though, I'd be inclined to let him go.

I'm sorry Charlotte, I can't give you any help on this one, but I'm thinking of you and sending huge healing vibes for beautiful Chance xx

The odd thing is that from what you said yesterday, apart from him not eating, he isn't unhappy, is still acting normally and is showing an interest in his surroundings.

To me that isn't a rabbit that has given up, at least, not in my experience.

Charlotte I am so sorry you and Chance are going through this

I do think there will come a point where you have to let him go, as horrible as that is. If that point is now I cant say.

You are right that he is partly in charge of his life as well. I know we love our animals and look after them and we are in charge of caring for them properly but still they have to want to get better too. He is your lovely little baby but also he is an animal with a wild streak in him, as all rabbits have, and we may not fully understand that language.

I just want you to know you have my support no matter what. But please dont torture yourself. You are a fantastic animal mummy and you can only do what you can do.

xxxx

Well he is booked in for a dental tomorrow. This is last chance saloon as the vet said. If its not his teeth we are stumped. Fingers crossed that my little man, comes through the aneasthetic tomorrow x

Ask abou the Ranitidine tomorrow too Charlotte, it also helps to speed up gastric emptying and thus works as a appetite stimulant as well as an anti-ulcer mediction.

They said they have to order it in He has just had a lovely, big, bio lapis drink. First time he has had a drink, unaided since yesterday morning.

Charlotte I am sure you have tried this but I read somewhere that fresh chives increase a bunnies appetite. Could you try that too?

senatorvass wrote:Charlotte I am sure you have tried this but I read somewhere that fresh chives increase a bunnies appetite. Could you try that too?

Tried it babe, and basil and parsley. I am also syringing him pineapple juice. I am just at the point of quitting now. Last year I lost Chance's wife and my heart bun Princess, to stasis. I went through loads of things with her and have tried them all with Chance. To no avail.

Catswhiskas wrote:

senatorvass wrote:Charlotte I am sure you have tried this but I read somewhere that fresh chives increase a bunnies appetite. Could you try that too?

Tried it babe, and basil and parsley. I am also syringing him pineapple juice. I am just at the point of quitting now. Last year I lost Chance's wife and my heart bun Princess, to stasis. I went through loads of things with her and have tried them all with Chance. To no avail.

I figured you had tried it. Maybe he is pining for her.

oh charlotte. i am so sorry.

With me, the only thing that is keeping me going is seeing peanut run about and eat and drink, to me, if hes doing that he still wants to be here. i dont know what i would do if he stopped being 'peanut'' and just become so sad.

peanut cowers when i go to see him and it is heartbreaking. because youre doing what you can.

i hope you can do something. how old is chance now?

big hugs to you and nose rubs to chance.

xxxx

Hope everything goes well at he vets today. Thinking of you both xxxx

Thanks Sooz, Chance has been back to the vets this morning. We discussed a conscious dental, but it was decided it was not possible with the parts of the mouth we needed to reach and examine. I bit the bullet and put him through a GA. Spikes and Spurs have been found and removed. He is awake and ready for collection at 5. Thanks for all your support guys, and to Snowy for her very generous offer. Lets hope this solves his problems now.

Fingers crossed the spiky teeth were the problem. x

Fingers crossed that Chance is soon back to normal.

Little Nia was eating as soon as she came home after her dental in November.

Loads of hugs xxx

Thanks guys... you are ace! Blanket has been missing him loads.... just pleased to be getting home soon.