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Elderly rabbit

22 10:18:00

Question
Hi,

I had a rabbit "Salem" for ten years and 7 months, he was at least 6 months when I got him so he was at least 11 years old  maybe more. He was neutuered and always strong healthy and good looking. Sometimes he would get constipated and I would give him some pineapple juice, adjust his diet etc and he'd clear up. This spring he had an episode and it took him longer to recover, when he did he was thinner but had a voracious appetite and was alert, cuddly and happy. On the Labour day long weekend he ate lots and got a stomach ache, he somewhat recovered in a few days. Around this time his litter habits were not the best, he would go beside the box, not in it or sometimes he just got comfortable and warm in a corner and would go and sit in it. I took him to the vet on Sept 6 and was told to increase his greens - which I did but it gave him really bad gas, I could hear his stomach gurgling across the room! I made several adjustments to his diet, massaged his tummy, kept his fluids up etc. I changed his litter box so he didn't need to jump in - which helped but he just lost his appetite. He was eating a third of what he normally would and getting wobbly and skinnier. In the last week I also noticed he wasn't drinking much and I took to giving him water in a  syringe. I made a vet appt for Sept 20, but on Sept 19 it was clear he was dying. I held him on my chest every night that week for hours - he was nice and warm and dozy. A couple times I wasn't sure he was breathing, a few times he made some gasps. When I got him to the vet he got an exam - no dental problems (I had checked those myself repeatedly), no hair balls an empty stomach etc. He was old and his body was failing. He had ingested his muscle tissues and was possibly in liver failure (he was a bit jaundiced) and kidney failure. I could have elected to do more tests etc but the chances of recovery were minimal and I elected to have him euthanized in my arms and kissed his face and stroked his ears while he died. I'm heartbroken and wondering if I could have done more?  When you read these web sites they talk about all these great things you can do to 'save' your rabbit. I admit I didn't get annual blood work ups on my rabbit. If I had done so would he still be alive? Some of the advice on what you can do medically makes it sound like animals will never die of old age and if they do it was my fault? My bunny was healthy, happy and the love of my life for almost 11 years. It was only in the last week that he really appeared to be uncomfortable and I held him for hours on my chest in a blanket where he was warm and gently grinding his teeth in bunny bliss and occasionally licking my face. I chose to let him go in my arms instead of finding him dead and cold under the couch after work.

Did I fail my hunny bunny? is 11 years a respectable life? My vet told me rabbits are old at 6 and this was the oldest rabbit he's ever seen, but according to the web my bunny was only average.

I'm losing it with grief and guilt. Did I do right by him?

Answer
Dear Farrah,

I'm sorry for the delay.  I had a bit of computer down time, and am only now able to access AllExperts.  :(

I am very sorry for the loss of your friend. But please know that you did nothing wrong.  Bloodwork might have revealed whether he had liver problems or renal failure, but whether these might have been treatable can't be determined.  Renal failure is terminal, and if he was drinking excessively and urinating very clear, copious urine, then this is a possibility.

Liver failure can be caused by many things, and can be treated to some degree, though this is more difficult in an elderly bunny.

It does sound as if his little body was failing him, and there may not have been anything you could have done to extend his life.  He had a fantastic life with you, and you gave him the greatest gift of all by being there for him while he crossed over to the next phase.  He had a relatively short time when he wasn't feeling well, which is also a blessing.

So please don't torture yourself.  We are mortal, and so are our bunnies.  He will always live in your heart, as much as it hurts right now.  But when the pain eventually subsides, you will have memories of his love, and knowing you gave him the best life a bunny could have, and for a very long time.

Take care,

Dana