Crystal and Frosty

Some of you may remember that our Crystal developed Glaucoma and had to have one of her eyes removed as the pressure inside the eyeball was causing her a lot of pain. We then had her other eye regularly tested by an optometrist to monitor it. She was on medication to control the pressure but it gradually got worse, eventually her remaining eyeball started to peel and the cornea started to dissolve, so we had to make a decision

We discussed at length with our vet, the pros and cons. I wanted to have her remaining eye removed as it was causing her a lot of pain and she obviously couldn't see with it anyway, the vet was reluctant to remove it .... just because, in his mind, to him it seemed such a shame and the thought of her having no eyes was a bit ... well..... wrong. So we went through all the options available a) remove the eye b) increase painkillers c) put her to sleep and he agreed that removal was obviously the best choice. On speaking to the optometrist after the op, he said that he'd mentioned Crystal to vet friends of his (they play golf together ) and they all said they would have put her to sleep.

But, she sailed through the op with no complications at all and was exploring her indoor run just 3 hours after the op. Since that day she's been a lot happier and is so laid back. We had suspected that she was deaf for a long time because she never seemed to respond to noises. Turns out she has 'selective hearing', she has no problems hearing the pellets dropping into her bowl!

Anyway, here she is out playing yesterday with her husbun Frosty http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=92097cda0a5cf2f4d05dd0&skin_id=1602&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url , yes she bumps into the side of the run but she finds her way around without difficulty and this will get better as her confidence grows. She's been chinning everything and uses her whiskers and her ears to navigate.

She's such a brave girl

What amazing and heartwarming footage.

Crystal is an absolute star, so brave and so lovely to see with Frosty.

Give her a huge nose rub and cuddle from me. Well done for believing in her and for persuading the vet to give her a chance too

What a gorgeous lady she is.

Thank you Vanessa It was an easy choice for me to make but it was being able to persuade our vet that she would be ok with it all, and I can understand what he felt but he was ever so good and he kept phoning for regular updates in the following days. He's a great vet and at least now that he's done it for one bun (animal) he may be willing to do it for others who might cope just as well. He's so chuffed with her!

He's becoming more and more aware that animals cope much better with disabilities than us humans, what with our buns and the Ebony Eyes buns!

Good to see that even though she has no eyes, she still have a good quality of life. Much better than a life with eyes, but lots of pain. It was a no brainer!

Wow, amazing bunny!

She looks very content and is getting around well!

Bet you're glad you stuck by your guns with the vet!

Emma x

That is so wonderful, well done Lynda, it really amazes me just how much bunnies can cope with, wonderful

Glad shes getting around so well

Oh poo! Crystal got her stitches out yesterday and spent her first all-nighter with Frosty, he managed to open her wound so she's has to be re-stitched and separated from him for overnights again *sigh* She was healing so well too

That's so amazing, I wouldn't have believed it, bless Crystal and how wonderful of you to give her the chance, she's seems happy enough

She's a very happy girl and is coping really well, even after the second stitching

I was just thinking, imagine if I'd posted on another forum with a title of 'my rabbit has had both her eyes removed', they'd be down on me like a ton of bricks but I know everyone is much more understanding on HH

I knew Crystal would be fine, she's my big brave girl. She's out in the grass run with Frosty just now, and she's managed to work out that she can hide under the table when the rain showers come so she doesn't get wet, clever girly

Crystal is an amazing bun and has done so well Her love for Frosty is obvious as well as her love for Lynda and Jim It's truly humbling to see her coping so well She doesn't care a flying fig if she's got no eyes - they were no use to her anyways so Lynda has done the right thing in taking away the pain and discomfort

As for posting elsewhere, I can see what you mean

Lynda wrote:I was just thinking, imagine if I'd posted on another forum with a title of 'my rabbit has had both her eyes removed', they'd be down on me like a ton of bricks but I know everyone is much more understanding on HH

Sorry, but that made me laugh out loud, I know just what you mean!!

Bit like the old joke:

What do you call a deer with no eyes?

No idea!

NickieM wrote:Bit like the old joke:

What do you call a deer with no eyes?

No idea!

She sounds amazing I can't see it yet, but will check out when I get home x