CookieHoneybun
New Member
Hello. This is my first post here. I've been struggling so I thought talking to others may help ease my mind. I have two bunnies named Cookie and Honeybun. Yesterday I lost Honeybun. It was quite sudden and has left me in shock. This entire week has been a nightmare, and even now I cry as I write this. She was a little over 4 years old, and I thought we'd have many more years together. I keep beating myself up over what happened. If I had done something differently would she be here now? My bunnies are my friends and family. They've helped me through anxiety and depression. They raise my spirits, and are very important to me. I love them SO much. And I can't believe Honeybun is gone. It doesn't feel real.
I was gone most of the day Saturday because I went to a concert about 2-3 hours away. They were cared for, and when I returned I made sure to feed them and give them lots of love before going to bed. The next morning I awoke and noticed Honeybun was hunched over under my bed. She didn't come out for food or treats. I thought it was gas because she experienced some in the last couple days. I didn't think anything of it because I know it can happen from time to time, and after a while she recovered and acted like her usual self. I would give her belly rubs to help her get through it. I even went out and bought simethicone drops. However, this time she didn't get better.
The next day I took her to the vet as soon as possible. She was lethargic but still a bit feisty. She hadn't eaten or gone to the bathroom for 24 hours, and I was VERY worried. The vet said it was good she was still alert, and gave me 5 medications along with Critical Care. I noticed that afternoon, once we got home, she sniffed at some hay so I thought that was a good sign. I continued to give her the medications, hoping she would eat that evening, but her condition worsened. She become even more lethargic. Still wouldn't eat. The vet said to come back in the next 48 hours if the medicine didn't help, but I didn't want to risk it.
I brought her in the next day, and she wasn't herself. Little energy. You could see she didn't feel well in her eyes and the way she sat there, sad and uncomfortable. This time they took a radiograph, and they showed she had a buildup of gas. The vet told me it was pressing on her liver, making her feel sick, and that her stomach was beginning to twist. They also said her cecum was bigger than normal thanany other bunny they've seen; I don't know if this was a result of the gas or an underlying condition. Because of the gas she stopped eating and went into GI Stasis. I often heard of GI Stasis being a quick and silent killer. I never thought I'd have to experience it. The vet suggested putting her to sleep because of how serious he condition was; this is a trusted vet, and I knew her chances of survival were slim. I sat there for a little over an hour to make my decision: put her to sleep or continue to treat her with the hope she would pull through. I chose to take her home and treat her, and was told if this didn't work nothing would.
I was monitoring her all night, keeping her temperature up and giving her medicine. That morning, around 7 am, her breathing became labored, and she had a glazed look in her eyes. I knew it was time. I planned to take her into the vet and have them put her to sleep so she didn't have to suffer any longer, however, after putting her in the carrier she passed away, and I still have the image of her passing in my mind. I stayed with her and petted her, but it was difficult to watch. I wish I held her, but it happened so fast. I was ready to walk out the door to take her to the vet, and I'm angry with myself that I didn't have her put to sleep the day before so she didn't have to suffer more than she did. At least, I hope she didn't suffer. They gave me strong pain medication to help her through it, but I'm still mad at myself. I thought even if it was a slim chance if there was a chance she could survive I wanted to take it. I feel selfish.
Afterward, I took her to the vet to be cremated and am going to get a paw print. I'm having the ashes returned to me so she'll always be close. From Sunday to Wednesday I lost 6 pounds from the stress, and the depression is strong. I can't stop crying or feeling guilty over what happened. She seemed fine and then was sick and died SO quickly. I'm devastated.
Also, a couple months back I had to take Cookie to vet for an abscess. I was afraid I'd lose her, but had more time to prepare. Luckily, she pulled through it really well and is full of energy. I never thought I'd lose Honeybun shortly after that.
Cookie is also a little over 4 years old. I don't think she was bonded to Honeybun in the way some bunnies are. They were friends, but Honeybun seemed fonder of Cookie than Cookie was of her. They had separate cages (I only put them up when I'm gone) and still territorial at times, but played with and groomed each other. Honeybun seemed to think she was boss! So far Cookie seems to be her normal self. I did show Cookie Honeybun's body, and she didn't seem to care. I read later I should have let Cookie spend hours with Honeybun's body, and I hope that won't cause any issues. The days Honeybun was very sick Cookie ignored her for the most part as if Honeybun wasn't even there. One day Cookie got on top of Honeybun and began pulling at her fur, which was not normal for her, but after that Cookie stayed away from her. Now I'm very worried I'll lose Cookie. I'm keeping an eye on her, but she's still eating, drinking, and playing. Actually, she seems even more playful, and I wonder if she prefers being on her own.
Sorry for the length of my post. I kept telling Honeybun she was a good bunny and sorry I couldn't save her. Do other bunny moms/dads feel this way when they lose their loved ones? Is it normal? And does losing a bunny to GI Stasis happen this quickly? 4 years isn't long. I hope she felt happy and loved while here. I miss Honeybun greatly, and I'm grateful for the time we had together.
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I was gone most of the day Saturday because I went to a concert about 2-3 hours away. They were cared for, and when I returned I made sure to feed them and give them lots of love before going to bed. The next morning I awoke and noticed Honeybun was hunched over under my bed. She didn't come out for food or treats. I thought it was gas because she experienced some in the last couple days. I didn't think anything of it because I know it can happen from time to time, and after a while she recovered and acted like her usual self. I would give her belly rubs to help her get through it. I even went out and bought simethicone drops. However, this time she didn't get better.
The next day I took her to the vet as soon as possible. She was lethargic but still a bit feisty. She hadn't eaten or gone to the bathroom for 24 hours, and I was VERY worried. The vet said it was good she was still alert, and gave me 5 medications along with Critical Care. I noticed that afternoon, once we got home, she sniffed at some hay so I thought that was a good sign. I continued to give her the medications, hoping she would eat that evening, but her condition worsened. She become even more lethargic. Still wouldn't eat. The vet said to come back in the next 48 hours if the medicine didn't help, but I didn't want to risk it.
I brought her in the next day, and she wasn't herself. Little energy. You could see she didn't feel well in her eyes and the way she sat there, sad and uncomfortable. This time they took a radiograph, and they showed she had a buildup of gas. The vet told me it was pressing on her liver, making her feel sick, and that her stomach was beginning to twist. They also said her cecum was bigger than normal thanany other bunny they've seen; I don't know if this was a result of the gas or an underlying condition. Because of the gas she stopped eating and went into GI Stasis. I often heard of GI Stasis being a quick and silent killer. I never thought I'd have to experience it. The vet suggested putting her to sleep because of how serious he condition was; this is a trusted vet, and I knew her chances of survival were slim. I sat there for a little over an hour to make my decision: put her to sleep or continue to treat her with the hope she would pull through. I chose to take her home and treat her, and was told if this didn't work nothing would.
I was monitoring her all night, keeping her temperature up and giving her medicine. That morning, around 7 am, her breathing became labored, and she had a glazed look in her eyes. I knew it was time. I planned to take her into the vet and have them put her to sleep so she didn't have to suffer any longer, however, after putting her in the carrier she passed away, and I still have the image of her passing in my mind. I stayed with her and petted her, but it was difficult to watch. I wish I held her, but it happened so fast. I was ready to walk out the door to take her to the vet, and I'm angry with myself that I didn't have her put to sleep the day before so she didn't have to suffer more than she did. At least, I hope she didn't suffer. They gave me strong pain medication to help her through it, but I'm still mad at myself. I thought even if it was a slim chance if there was a chance she could survive I wanted to take it. I feel selfish.
Afterward, I took her to the vet to be cremated and am going to get a paw print. I'm having the ashes returned to me so she'll always be close. From Sunday to Wednesday I lost 6 pounds from the stress, and the depression is strong. I can't stop crying or feeling guilty over what happened. She seemed fine and then was sick and died SO quickly. I'm devastated.
Also, a couple months back I had to take Cookie to vet for an abscess. I was afraid I'd lose her, but had more time to prepare. Luckily, she pulled through it really well and is full of energy. I never thought I'd lose Honeybun shortly after that.
Cookie is also a little over 4 years old. I don't think she was bonded to Honeybun in the way some bunnies are. They were friends, but Honeybun seemed fonder of Cookie than Cookie was of her. They had separate cages (I only put them up when I'm gone) and still territorial at times, but played with and groomed each other. Honeybun seemed to think she was boss! So far Cookie seems to be her normal self. I did show Cookie Honeybun's body, and she didn't seem to care. I read later I should have let Cookie spend hours with Honeybun's body, and I hope that won't cause any issues. The days Honeybun was very sick Cookie ignored her for the most part as if Honeybun wasn't even there. One day Cookie got on top of Honeybun and began pulling at her fur, which was not normal for her, but after that Cookie stayed away from her. Now I'm very worried I'll lose Cookie. I'm keeping an eye on her, but she's still eating, drinking, and playing. Actually, she seems even more playful, and I wonder if she prefers being on her own.
Sorry for the length of my post. I kept telling Honeybun she was a good bunny and sorry I couldn't save her. Do other bunny moms/dads feel this way when they lose their loved ones? Is it normal? And does losing a bunny to GI Stasis happen this quickly? 4 years isn't long. I hope she felt happy and loved while here. I miss Honeybun greatly, and I'm grateful for the time we had together.
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