Need advice, please be kind.

[irishbunny]

part of solving the problem is looking at where you went wrong, just my 2 cents.

 

[homefree]

I wanted to give an update...

I took, "Bounce" to the vet today. I managed to find a very reasonably priced one, who referred me to a better one who took pity on our family and did not charge us an exorbitant amount to help him.

It turns out that Bounce is a Rex rabbit, which we had never known. The doctor told me that usually he sees rabbits when they are in very bad obvious neglect meaning that their teeth are overgrown and they are obese. Bounce was in good shape other than being dehydrated. We clipped his nails and his teeth were in great shape. He was an older, very kind vet whom I can tell truly loves animals. He felt his tummy and examined him well, and then told us he felt a large lump under his ribs. My first reaction was that he was lying, that Bounce only needed an IV and medication but I knew the truth was that is what I wanted to believe. He told me he was going to do an x-ray first to look at it before confirming anything. When he came back he pointed out that the lump he described was in the same spot as the x-ray shows the tumor. It seemed to be very large. Of course I wasnt too rational, I wanted to give him an IV and keep feeding him thinking he would be OK for a year or longer. But I also knew this was selfish of me.

You see, I am so much an animal lover that I wanted to blame my daughter for not giving him enough water. I wasnt believing her that he had it since he seemed so dehydrated. She said she had given him water a week ago, but my son also had once since then too. His water bottle was quite large. It was not something that ever needed to be refilled daily. I wish I could say that I am relieved to know this wasnt our fault, but I really dont. Now I feel horrible for blaming my daughter and making this entire experience into a giant guilt trip for her, when in the end we were all deeply in pain for his sickness and eventual death today when we decided it was most humane to euthenize him.

Thank you all for your advice. I am sorry for attacking those who initially had harsh words for me. I understand it, I love animals too and every time I hear of animal abuse/neglect in the news I also feel angry. He initially described it as there usually is only one explanation for an animal who seems to be having the life sucked out of him for no obvious explanation. It was a good one, Cancer absolutely sucks and it stole the life out of Bounce!

 

[Flashy]

Well done for getting Bounce to the vets. I'm so sorry that it was not a positive day for you though. It's the final act to love to be able to let them go when you know it's best for them, so he's lucky that he had someone looking out for him like you did.

Binky Free Bounce.

 

[luvthempigs]

I am so sorry for your loss. I know this must have been difficult for you and your family :hug:

 

[Lover_Of_Lopz]

so you had to put him down?

 

[luvthempigs]

Lover_Of_Lopz wrote:

so you had to put him down?

Yes, He was euthenized due to his illness.

 

[tonyshuman]

Thank you for taking Bounce in to the vet. That was the best thing you could do and it shows you really did care for him. I had thought there might be something very wrong because simple oral rehydration didn't seem to help him. I'm so sorry that he was so ill and there was nothing the vet or you could do.

I am sorry if I sounded harsh earlier. I just wanted to express the gravity of the situation and perhaps convey why many of us were very upset. I volunteer at the Humane Society and my supervisor (a humane officer) occasionally tells me stories of animals being treated terribly before they came to the shelter. My Muffin (brown lop) was left in a garage in the WI winter without adequate food and water and a litter to nurse before she was eventually surrendered. I spent the first 3 months of having her trying to get her weight and body condition back to healthy.

Now we know that an underlying illness was causing him distress, and you and the vet made the most humane decision for him. As prey animals, rabbits can frequently hide their illnesses to protect them from predators who pick off the sick and weak from a group. Things like cancer are often very difficult to find until it is too late to help. I'm so sorry there was nothing else you could do for him. Thank you for getting a vet involved.

Binky free, Bounce.

 

[Lover_Of_Lopz]

homefree wrote:

I wanted to give an update...

I took, "Bounce" to the vet today. I managed to find a very reasonably priced one, who referred me to a better one who took pity on our family and did not charge us an exorbitant amount to help him.

It turns out that Bounce is a Rex rabbit, which we had never known. The doctor told me that usually he sees rabbits when they are in very bad obvious neglect meaning that their teeth are overgrown and they are obese. Bounce was in good shape other than being dehydrated. We clipped his nails and his teeth were in great shape. He was an older, very kind vet whom I can tell truly loves animals. He felt his tummy and examined him well, and then told us he felt a large lump under his ribs. My first reaction was that he was lying, that Bounce only needed an IV and medication but I knew the truth was that is what I wanted to believe. He told me he was going to do an x-ray first to look at it before confirming anything. When he came back he pointed out that the lump he described was in the same spot as the x-ray shows the tumor. It seemed to be very large. Of course I wasnt too rational, I wanted to give him an IV and keep feeding him thinking he would be OK for a year or longer. But I also knew this was selfish of me.

You see, I am so much an animal lover that I wanted to blame my daughter for not giving him enough water. I wasnt believing her that he had it since he seemed so dehydrated. She said she had given him water a week ago, but my son also had once since then too. His water bottle was quite large. It was not something that ever needed to be refilled daily. I wish I could say that I am relieved to know this wasnt our fault, but I really dont. Now I feel horrible for blaming my daughter and making this entire experience into a giant guilt trip for her, when in the end we were all deeply in pain for his sickness and eventual death today when we decided it was most humane to euthenize him.

Thank you all for your advice. I am sorry for attacking those who initially had harsh words for me. I understand it, I love animals too and every time I hear of animal abuse/neglect in the news I also feel angry. He initially described it as there usually is only one explanation for an animal who seems to be having the life sucked out of him for no obvious explanation. It was a good one, Cancer absolutely sucks and it stole the life out of Bounce!

ink irisour bunn....:cry2 I am so sorry for you,binky free Bounce you sounded like a really cute bunn an I wish I could of known you.:hug:ink iris:I hope you feel better soonI know how hard it is to loose a bunn....:in tears:


~Nickyink iris:

 

[polly]

I am so sorry for your loss Binky free Bounce

 

[Maureen Las]

Some of the moderators talked about this incident long into last night.

I was furious about the whole situation initially (yesterday)but after rereading your initial post yesterday and talking to some other mods I realized that you really did care about the rabbit and were trying hard to help.

I also volunteer at a humane society and see a lot of the results of negative treatment of animals.

Now of us are perfect and although it turned out to be a tumor we should not have jumped on you so hard yesterday.

I realized this by talking to Tinysmom who also,I think, really was the most able to help you yesterday.

I am sorry that you lost the bunny , I'm glad that it was due to something else and I'm glad that you came back to post again today

I'm sorry I was nasty yesterday
Maureen

 

[mouse_chalk]

I am so sorry you lost Bounce

I know you were doing your best to help him yesterday, and I can't imagine it was easy for you to post in the first place given what you thought were the circumstances of his illness....


Binky free Bounce... ink iris:

 

[homefree]

tonyshuman wrote:

Thank you for taking Bounce in to the vet. That was the best thing you could do and it shows you really did care for him. I had thought there might be something very wrong because simple oral rehydration didn't seem to help him. I'm so sorry that he was so ill and there was nothing the vet or you could do.

I am sorry if I sounded harsh earlier. I just wanted to express the gravity of the situation and perhaps convey why many of us were very upset. I volunteer at the Humane Society and my supervisor (a humane officer) occasionally tells me stories of animals being treated terribly before they came to the shelter. My Muffin (brown lop) was left in a garage in the WI winter without adequate food and water and a litter to nurse before she was eventually surrendered. I spent the first 3 months of having her trying to get her weight and body condition back to healthy.

Now we know that an underlying illness was causing him distress, and you and the vet made the most humane decision for him. As prey animals, rabbits can frequently hide their illnesses to protect them from predators who pick off the sick and weak from a group. Things like cancer are often very difficult to find until it is too late to help. I'm so sorry there was nothing else you could do for him. Thank you for getting a vet involved.

Binky free, Bounce.

Thank you. If not for the advice here I would not have realized that something was more wrong other than food dehydration. I would have prolonged his pain thinking that we were helping him. Thank you again and I am so glad that there is a site like this to help people!

 

[homefree]

Oh and I was very lucky to be referred to this vet by another. There are not many in this area surprisingly that do care for rabbits. In fact the first i went to I perceived to be somewhat knowledgeable but quite rough with Bounce. I am sure he is a great vet with dogs & cats but I am glad he referred me on to another.

I want to give you this information if you are in the Stateline area of WI/IL. He is truly a caring man and I believe he he is a true animal lover. I have felt over the past few days that many are in it for the money. I understand it is a business like any other but how so many could not care when he was in such bad shape simply because we could afford the upfront of the $150.00 visit but not of tests of treatment turned us away. It turns out his fee was significantly cheaper and even had it not been I believe he would have worked with us on payment.

Helland, David R DVM - Alpine Veterinary Hospital
Address: 4502 Charles St, Rockford, IL 61108
Phone: (815) 399-4808

 

[paul2641]

Least Bounce had a good life with you and your family, I'm just sorry he had to be put to sleep.

 

[pamnock]

angieluv wrote:

http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/whycc.html

Just wanted to put out a warning about Carecredit.

We had it for a short time - they are a high-interest rate rip-off credit card. Although they promise low/no interest, the small print provides them with loop-holes to charge exorbitant interest rates, There are many complaints against this company. We used a low interest credit card to pay our CareCredit off or we would have been paying on it for the rest of our lives!

I advise seeking other financing methods for your bills and not advising people on the forum to apply for Carecredit.

Pam

 

[anneq]

So sorry to hear about your loss.
binky-free Bounce

 

[werecatrising]

pamnock wrote:

angieluv wrote:

http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/whycc.html

Just wanted to put out a warning about Carecredit.

We had it for a short time - they are a high-interest rate rip-off credit card. Although they promise low/no interest, the small print provides them with loop-holes to charge exorbitant interest rates, There are many complaints against this company. We used a low interest credit card to pay our CareCredit off or we would have been paying on it for the rest of our lives!

I advise seeking other financing methods for your bills and not advising people on the forum to apply for Carecredit.

Pam

Care credit can be good in certain situations. Yes, they have a very high interest rate. There are, however, several plans with no interst. You have to pay them off in the alloted amount of time. They don't give you long, but it gives you time to save up.