Kind euthanasia

Question
QUESTION: Dear Dana,

I have written you several times over the years about my Dutch bunny named Cricket.  

He was 5 years old this Feb.  When he was 6 months old he injured his back and since then I have been expressing his bladder and more recently his colon 4 + times a day.  He varies from grape nut type poop, rare normal poop now, some normal cecatropes (sp?) to unformed cecatropes every day.  It is how it is. When his bottom is messy, (which is every day at some point) I clean him...

But recently he has developed one testicle larger than the other and growing.  It seems to be a lump in there besides the testicle itself the size of a kidney bean and hard.  I am guessing it is cancer but can't seem to find any info. on that problem in boy rabbits.

Since he is 5+, is having gradually worsening bathroom problems and now this--I may be looking at euthanasia in the future nearer than I want to.

I had a bunny before Cricket that I had put down, and our local vet who isn't really familiar with bunnies, tried to get a vein to inject him but could not.  He ended up sticking a needle directly into his heart.  It was quick I guess but dreadful for me and not fun for Buster at that moment.

My real question is what is the most humane way to do this?  Is the needle in the heart not as awful as I imagine?  Would it be better to use 'gas' like they use to knock them out for a procedure? Is there something else I could suggest?

Cricket is such a gentle sweet soul and I would like to ease him out of this world when the time comes as gently as he deserves...

Thank you for any help you can give.

Sincerely,
Debbie Ward

ANSWER: Dear Debbie,

I would not consider euthanasia yet, if he is still happy and you're willing to continue his special care.  A neutering operation will very likely completely remove any testicular malignancy.  I would have this done and hope for the best.  The testicular cancers we have seen have not readily metastasized, and castration permanently solved the problem.

If you're worried about his risk as a surgical candidate, all I can say is...there are worse ways to leave this world than under anesthesia (such as being stuck in the heart with a needle).

I would NEVER allow a vet to do a heart stick on a rabbit of mine.  Far more humane is to give the bunny an injection or oral administration of a large dose of a strong sedative (e.g., diazepam (Valium), and then administer a very large bolus of euthanasia solution subcutaneously.  The rabbit very slowly and gently goes to sleep.  It can take an hour, but  you know he is not suffering, and you can say goodbye and be with him for the entire gentle passing.

This is how we have had it done, when it's become a "no choice" situation.  I hope you can find a compassionate vet who will be willing to do this for you, should you ever have to make that very difficult decision.

I hope this helps.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: One more thing.  I know you can't see and evaluate Cricket, but in general do tumors in the scrotal sac or testicles usually ulcerate?  Or just metastasize to the rest of his body?  
As I stated above, with his bathroom issues gradually worsening, I don't want to add any misery with surgery and the stress of all that. His condition can be stressful enough at times. But I also don't want to wait until his tumor is open and nasty and try to get someone to do something asap.  If these tumors don't usually ulcerate, then I can give him more time and wait to see what other symptoms appear.  
Like I said he is a very content, happy, loving bunny and I would like him to enjoy as much time with us as he can without unnecessary suffering.  Thanks again for your help.

Answer
Dear Debbie,

Testicular tumors can metastasize *or* ulcerate, or both.  I would not wait for this.  Seriously, a neutering operation is minor surgery, and he will not be in much discomfort compared to what he will suffer if you wait long enough for the cancer to spread.

A good rabbit vet can do radiographs to see if there are already signs of metastasis, and then act accordingly (no surgery if it's already spread; but this doesn't tend to happen too early in rabbits--so you *still have time for the neuter* if you act now.)

Find a good vet who will do a pre-scrotal neuter, and your boy will likely hardly know anything has happened.  When humans get testicular or prostate cancer, they get castrated, too.  Your bunny can go through this procedure just as any other patient would.

True, no surgery is 100% percent risk free.  But you don't need to let him die from this.  A castration could buy him another five or even ten years of life!  PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP ON HIM SO EASILY!

I hope you'll get him to a good rabbit vet ASAP for pre-surgical evaluation and advice from a vet on the best, most humane course of action.  Neutering sounds like the kindest cut, at his early age.  

I hope this helps.

Dana