I'm new to RO. I'm a foster mommy for a bonded trio from a rescue center. Waully (male), Bear (Male) and Anya (Female). They are two brothers and a sister, aproximately 10 years old and have been perfectly healthy the 3 years I've had them.
About 4 months ago Waully got his first eye infection. I took him to a great vet who gave him antibiotic drops and that was that.
Waully broke a tooth 3 months ago. It was slightly infected and he had lost about 2 pounds in 2 years, but he had been overweight and I assumed the weight loss was due to the broken tooth.
3 weeks after the tooth broke, Waully started to drool quite a bit. He lost the majority of the fur under his chin, but the skin was not irritated and he was still eating and active as usual. I took him to the vet, who gave him oral antibiotic drops after making sure they would be safe for him, being such an old bunny. The drops cleared up the infection, Waully continued to eat and act as normal. The vet wanted to check his molars for overgrowth but needed to sedate him so he was scheduled to go in tomorrow morning for the procedure.
2 days ago I noticed Waully's legs were splayed outward. I assumed because he is inside now, maybe there wasn't enough traction and he developed athritis, or strained a muscle. I read up a bit and found that he could have severed his spine, or developed paralysis for several reasons. There is nothing for him to have jump from or hurt himself on. He has a HUGE play pin, about 15 sqft that he shares with Bear and Anya. He was still using the litter box, eating and drinking as normal.
Last night Waully wasn't moving as much. He would still move to get to his food, and he would still move to get to the litter box.
This morning, Waully would not move, except for to get to his food which he ate very little of. He was not using the litter box, instead he would urinate and sit in it. His legs were splayed out even worse so I called the vet and they said with his appointment tomorrow morning, they will examine him then.
I called again when I got home because his droppings were half the size they normally are, he wasn't moving much at all, his had green spotting in it and he seamed very dehydrated and underweight. I Rushed him into the vet as fast as I could and the vet even stayed late to help me and Waully. I brought Bear and Anya along, fearing if the worst would happen, they needed to say goodbye. The moment the vet touched him he noticed Waully had total muscle waste. He was fur over bone and very dehydrated. Waully was moving slightly at that point, and eating his hay on the table. The vet gave me the news of Kidney Failure, and told me with his age, and severity of the situation the best thingt o do would be to put him down before it got to be painful. I broke down sobbing. By the time the vet got back with the euthinasia, Waully couldn't even lift his head and his eyes were rolling around. I don't think he even needed the shot but I was so scared that he was in pain I wanted him to go peacefully. Waully was laid to rest beside his two siblings who were snuggling him until he went cold. I sobbed for another hour.
This took 3 days. The previous infections were quite possibly secondary symptoms to his kidney failure and not even the vet knew. He was at the vet a week ago, healthy and hydrated. He showed splayed legs 2 nights ago and today my poor baby is 3 feet in the ground. It's killing me to think maybe there is something else I could have done or watched for. PLEASE watch carefully, if your little bun is developing infections, coincidentally close together, mention this to your vet and maybe he will do some bloodwork. My vet has been wonderful, very helpful and knowledgable and he didn't see this coming. I am now broken-hearted Heather and the 2 bears... :-(
About 4 months ago Waully got his first eye infection. I took him to a great vet who gave him antibiotic drops and that was that.
Waully broke a tooth 3 months ago. It was slightly infected and he had lost about 2 pounds in 2 years, but he had been overweight and I assumed the weight loss was due to the broken tooth.
3 weeks after the tooth broke, Waully started to drool quite a bit. He lost the majority of the fur under his chin, but the skin was not irritated and he was still eating and active as usual. I took him to the vet, who gave him oral antibiotic drops after making sure they would be safe for him, being such an old bunny. The drops cleared up the infection, Waully continued to eat and act as normal. The vet wanted to check his molars for overgrowth but needed to sedate him so he was scheduled to go in tomorrow morning for the procedure.
2 days ago I noticed Waully's legs were splayed outward. I assumed because he is inside now, maybe there wasn't enough traction and he developed athritis, or strained a muscle. I read up a bit and found that he could have severed his spine, or developed paralysis for several reasons. There is nothing for him to have jump from or hurt himself on. He has a HUGE play pin, about 15 sqft that he shares with Bear and Anya. He was still using the litter box, eating and drinking as normal.
Last night Waully wasn't moving as much. He would still move to get to his food, and he would still move to get to the litter box.
This morning, Waully would not move, except for to get to his food which he ate very little of. He was not using the litter box, instead he would urinate and sit in it. His legs were splayed out even worse so I called the vet and they said with his appointment tomorrow morning, they will examine him then.
I called again when I got home because his droppings were half the size they normally are, he wasn't moving much at all, his had green spotting in it and he seamed very dehydrated and underweight. I Rushed him into the vet as fast as I could and the vet even stayed late to help me and Waully. I brought Bear and Anya along, fearing if the worst would happen, they needed to say goodbye. The moment the vet touched him he noticed Waully had total muscle waste. He was fur over bone and very dehydrated. Waully was moving slightly at that point, and eating his hay on the table. The vet gave me the news of Kidney Failure, and told me with his age, and severity of the situation the best thingt o do would be to put him down before it got to be painful. I broke down sobbing. By the time the vet got back with the euthinasia, Waully couldn't even lift his head and his eyes were rolling around. I don't think he even needed the shot but I was so scared that he was in pain I wanted him to go peacefully. Waully was laid to rest beside his two siblings who were snuggling him until he went cold. I sobbed for another hour.
This took 3 days. The previous infections were quite possibly secondary symptoms to his kidney failure and not even the vet knew. He was at the vet a week ago, healthy and hydrated. He showed splayed legs 2 nights ago and today my poor baby is 3 feet in the ground. It's killing me to think maybe there is something else I could have done or watched for. PLEASE watch carefully, if your little bun is developing infections, coincidentally close together, mention this to your vet and maybe he will do some bloodwork. My vet has been wonderful, very helpful and knowledgable and he didn't see this coming. I am now broken-hearted Heather and the 2 bears... :-(
