Harold is Having Trouble Again

[edwinf8936]

EEEM wrote:

Thankyou for all your advice and support, but I'm afraidHarold is going to cross over the rainbow bridge today.Yesterday I saw him have another seizure and soon after he was onlyable to turn in circles. He couldn't walk straight or sit upstraight. And this morning he won't even lift hishead. He had been eating and drinking a little when I sat andcoaxed and showed him the food and water bowls, so I wasencouraged. But the neurological damage is just too muchnow. He and Judy are at work with me today so we can allspend a little time together this morning. We're due at thevet around noon and that's when Harold will be leaving us.Thankyou for your thoughts and prayers.

Kind of sounds like his seizure affected his sense of taste, that isprobably why he would smell the food and not eat. It soundlike he may have started getting some paralysis from the seizure or itis affecting his balance from his inner ear.

Too bad we won't know exactly what the problem was, that may have helped someone else with their pet.

There just wasn't anything else you could do.

ed

 

[EEEM]

His death is actually helping us learn moreabout rabbits with his condition. I was able to donate his bodyto the veterinary school at the University of Minnesota. The vetagreed to hold his body until they can pick it up and do anautopsy. They may be able to determine more accurately what wascausing the problem and better diagnose in the future. Everylittle bit helps.

 

[LuvaBun]

EEEM, I think that was a brave and lovely thingto do, especially as how you are hurting at the minute. At leastHarold's passing may help another bun, Bless him.

Jan

 

[pamnock]

Eeem,

I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

Pam

 

[bunnywabbitlover34]

Eem, i am so sorry that you had to put harolddown yesterday he will be in my thoughts andprayers.:rose::rose::rose::rose::bunnyangelAUL ZUCHNIAKWITH LOVE

 

[Carolyn]

What a thoughtful and beautiful thing to do withHarold's body. That's certainly one great way to keep him alive, EEEM.Giving him over to others so that they can determine the cause andlearn from it - and then sharing their knowledge with us. What a braveand courageous person you are.

Between their findings and your being the loving and attentive motherthat you were to him, you'll save another rabbit or at least be able tohelp assist/alert another rabbit and his/her parents as to what's goingon.

Buck wanted his body to be donated to Science. Unfortunately, theycouldn't take it, but it's such a great thing to do for futuregenerations and doctors. If there's ever a way for us to understandwhat happens, this would certainly be one of them.

Bless your heart. I'm praying for your peace. Harold is with Buck nowand I just know he's getting all the love he had from you in Buck'sarms.

You've done a beautiful thing for all of us. Thank you.

urplepansy:

-Carolyn

 

[Zee]

I don't think any of us can beat words like this.

Carolyn wrote:

What a thoughtful andbeautiful thing to do with Harold's body. That's certainly one greatway to keep him alive, EEEM. Giving him over to others so that they candetermine the cause and learn from it - and then sharing theirknowledge with us. What a brave and courageous person you are.

Between their findings and your being the loving and attentive motherthat you were to him, you'll save another rabbit or at least be able tohelp assist/alert another rabbit and his/her parents as to what's goingon.

Buck wanted his body to be donated to Science. Unfortunately, theycouldn't take it, but it's such a great thing to do for futuregenerations and doctors. If there's ever a way for us to understandwhat happens, this would certainly be one of them.

Bless your heart. I'm praying for your peace. Harold is with Buck nowand I just know he's getting all the love he had from you in Buck'sarms.

You've done a beautiful thing for all of us. Thank you.

urplepansy:

-Carolyn

 

[EEEM]

Thanks again for all of your support. You all never cease to amaze me.

Judy and I are doing fine. She seeks me out for attention more than shehas in the past but she doesn't seem to confused or disoriented. Shedoesn't seem to be looking for Harold. I very thoroughly sanatized thecage, bowls, towels, toys and vacuumed the whole room and febreezed thecarpet while Judy got some time out on the porch (the weather has beengorgeous here). I tried to get Harold's smell out of everything so Judywouldn't think he was still around. She seems fairly spry and spunkytoday. I think she knew something was up when he was sick and distancedherself, so now the transition hasn't been too hard for her. I got hera little stuffed bear to cuddle with for the time being. There is a bigadoptiong event in two weeks... We'll see if we're both ready to meetsome potential bunny dates. I think Judy really needs a companion. Sheloved having Harold groom her and cuddle... I can cuddle, but I'll letanother bunny do the fur licking.

I've been in contact with the vet/professor who will be heading upHarold's autopsy. They picked up his body from the vet this morning andplan to do a full exam this afternoon. They will then preserve hisbrain and most likely his eyes for further study. He explained aprocedure that I didn't quite understand, but it had to do with takingvery thin slices of the preserved brain and staining them to seedamaged areas. He said he will most likely be able to determine whetherthe seizures were a genetic problem or caused by a brain tumor orblockage of some kind. And he hopes to compare Harold's genes to genesof other rabbits that have been used in laboratory study. They haven'treally had a pet rabbit in before that had these problems, only labanimals that were specifically bred to exhibit certain symptoms, likeseizures. So he's interested to see if the genes are similar. It isfairly sad to think about, but I do hope it helps in some way. Thankyou all for supporting me in the decision i made to donate his body.

Harold was an amazing companion and I hope that his death can helpsomeone else with their bun... Even if it's just knowing somone elsehas experienced the same issues and can support them as you have allsupported me. Thankyou.

 

[Pet_Bunny]

I so sorry to hear that Harold isgone. It is so nice of you to think ofothers in your mourning. Every bit ofresearch will help those in the future.

Hope a new bunny comes into yours and Judy's life soon.

Rainbows!