Cancer in my Rabbit

Question
My rabbit is going to be 7 in March. She was diagnosed with cancer last November. She has a growth on her tummy that is intertwined with her lungs, heart,stomach and more. We have been advised that surgery is not that safest option for her given that when she was diagnosed she underwent surgery then. In a year she has lost 1.5 pounds. She is doing fine except the tumor has begun to create chunks of dead skin to fall off of it. She no longer eats rabbit food. She will only eat herbs, vegetables from the garden, and the one she loves the most m&m's. She has come to love and jump for chocolate (she only gets maybe 2 a day). The vet also approved small amounts of chocolate because she is sick and will not make it. We were given antibiotics last week by the vet to maybe get rid of an infection inside of her and possible make her more comfortable. I know that ultimately within a few days or weeks I will have to put her down. How do I make her feel a little bit better. She is not in any pain and still sleeps in bed with me, but she no longer has ANY interest in rabbit food which before she would only eats the treats in it. Help me. I want her to be comfortable. She is a litter box trained run of the house, no cage, sleeps and cuddles in bed with me and my dog Bunny. Help me.

Answer
Dear Courtney,

I am so sorry.  I can feel from your note how full of grief you are, and how heartbreaking this is.  I can relate, as I nursed my own rabbit soulmate, Nuli, through terminal renal failure, and it's so very hard.

Although she is not showing obvious signs of pain, the subtle signs of not wanting to eat normally do suggest that she could benefit from analgesics.  We have found that a combination of metacam and tramadol (a synthetic opioid) are *fantastic* for keeping a bunny comfortable, and I would not be surprised if you tried it and saw her appetite improve.

Try to keep the sore covered with something soft so that it doesn't become a source of irritation and ulceration.  

And mostly, keep up the love, the treats, the cuddles.  Spoil her rotten, give her every bit of your attention, and when the time finally does come that she tells you she's ready to leave, then you will have no regrets.

I am sending lots of healing thoughts.

Dana