Cancer in Geriatric rabbit

Question
Hi,
I have a nine year old bunny that unfortunately has developed cancer. My vet has her on prednisolone to try to help the pain,eating and to possibly shrink the lumps. She has a lump in her jaw not attached to bone and one in her skin on chest. This a.m. she started having a slight seizure, breathing heavily, drawing to her side and chattering her teeth. Slightly pale gums also. Could this be a symptom of over use of the prednisolone? We did have her on valium and metacam but suspended that when she went on pred.I do not want to keep her alive if she is in pain but she is a member of our family and I just can't give up yet.My son got her when he was nine and now I am fully responsible a she is off at college. She recovered this last summer from a huge bladder size bladder stone.(surgery)She also survived a horse getting loose in our carport and nearly scaring her to death! She lives indoors with us in her cage aand comes out twice a day to play with our cat Sophie. If you have any advice on handling cancer I would sure appreciate the help. Our vets have been great but have limited experience with such and old bunny girl and cancer. We love her dearly but will honor her decision to go if the pain becomes to much. Do you thinkI should put her back on valium? It does seem to promote appetite. Thanks so much for your time.
                              Blessings,
                                 Kathi

Answer
Dear Kathi,

If this were my bunny, I would *definitely* want her on tramadol, a synthetic opioid that is fantastic for pain, and will make her feel much better.

I can't say whether the tooth chattering and pale gums are due to the prednisone, but I would not keep her on it for *too* long, unless she really does badly without it.

How was the cancer diagnosed?  If not via biopsy, then I hope you'll consider the possibility that these lumps could be abscesses that might be quite treatable.  If your vets are not really familiar with rabbit medicine, you might be able to find another vet here for a second opinion:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If the lumps are abscesses, then she needs to be treated with antibiotics, and corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone) would be contraindicated, as they suppress the immune response.  I would fear that--if these were abscesses--the pred could make things much worse.  

I could be completely wrong here, because I don't know how the cancer was diagnosed.  If it was, indeed, via biopsy, then there's not much more to add except pain management.  

I hope this helps.  Please write back if you have any other questions, or if you have time to let me know how she's doing.

Dana