Zeus's neuter is tomorrow.  I'm trying my very best to keep calm. .

I think I have everything I need, material wise.  He's going to the vet with..

- his carrier (duh)

- Carefresh for his litterbox (vet will supply litterbox)

- hay

- pineapple and apple chips, his favorite treats

- kale, romaine, apple and carrot.

- his mat he likes to doze on

I still need to call the vet tonight after work, I want to confirm the neuter tomorrow, ask what time exactly he'll be getting neutered, and tell them I don't want him wearing the cone unless absolutely neccessary.

I decided to not go to work tomorrow, I'm going to be way too distracted and I'm actually fighting off some sort of stomach bug right now anyways (prob shouldn't even be at work today.. ).  I'm going to ask them to call me right after he's out of surgery, and I'll probably call once after that to check and see if he's eating.  Then he'll be coming some hopefully sometime tomorrow afternoon.

I'm just going to keep all my neuter-related thoughts in this thread.  I know it's silly that I'm making such a big deal of it, but he's my baby and I worry.

Posted By Stickerbunny on 01/12/2012 01:33 PM
Don't be surprised if he doesn't eat at the vets office, my boy didn't nibble til he was home and flopped on an air vent and his slave personally handed him the greens. Sounds like you have all you need though. Remember to scrub his litter boxes and area at home while he's out, so he has a nice clean spot to lay around!

I didn't think of that, will do!  It'll give me something to keep my mind busy too. .

They are giving him Reglan, a gut motility drug, so I'm hoping that'll get his tummy moving and ready for food.

 

Posted By Monkeybun on 01/12/2012 03:15 PM
Don't forget about pain meds too Even boy buns benefit from them after a neuter.

Yeah he's coming home with Metacam, I did ask about that. .
 

Called the vet office, confirmed my appt tomorrow, and asked the vet tech about the cone.. her reply "well most rodents we have to use the cone because they go right to chewing the incision".  Ugh, he's a lagomorph, not a rodent.  I really wish vets would educate their vet techs about ALL the animals they treat, even the ones that aren't in the office every day like dogs and cats.  

She at least said she'd put a note in his file to use the cone as a last resort.  I'm going to reiterate that when I drop him off tomorrow.   The actual vet that's doing the neuter told me a lot of buns won't tolerate the cone so at least she knows what's going on.  If I get a chance to see the vet face to face tomorrow, possibly when I pick him up, I may mention the fact that some of her vet techs think rabbits are rodents.. 

Posted By Stickerbunny on 01/12/2012 04:10 PM
Tech training courses charge extra to teach about exotics, so most techs don't take that extra training, but as long as the VET knows what they are doing and the techs aren't left alone to treat your rabbit, I wouldn't worry about it much. And are you sure it's a tech and not a receptionist that answered the phone? Often the receptionist on the phones is just that, someone on the phones, the one at my vets office doesn't do anything at all with the animals.

Yeah I'm pretty sure it was a tech, whenever I go to the office the people sitting at the front desk answering phones are wearing scrubs so I'd assume that means they're techs?

The vet definitely is well-versed in rabbit, so that's good.

 

Posted By Stickerbunny on 01/12/2012 04:21 PM
Doesn't mean they are techs - the receptionist at a vets office has to wear the uniform, which for the office is scrubs. My vets receptionist wears them, but the only interaction she has with pets is to say how cute they are when she enters you into the paperwork for your appointment.

Oh really?  Maybe they are receptionists then.  I didn't know that! 
 

Dropping Zeus off in about an hour, everyone wish him luck and send lots of good thoughts his way please.  

PuffyTail, you can be sure I'll be showering him with treats when he gets home. 

 Dropped Zeus off, his neuter is scheduled for 9am CST.  He's supposed to be done around 10, so I'll call and check on him then.  He should be ready to come home between 3-6pm, just depending on how he's doing.

Spending some quality time with West right now to keep my mind off of things.  She's starting to actually come out into the living room a bit, although she runs back to her cage every few minutes, just to be sure her 'safe zone' is still there. 

Posted By Monkeybun on 01/13/2012 06:49 AM
Si;;y girl. I'm glad she is exploring more

Me too!  She did binkies the other night for the first time, and I just about cried.  .  She was just fear incarnate at the shelter, so seeing her relax and actually express her happiness was so touching.  I really think she's going to blossom being here; my apartment is quiet, I live alone with just her, Zeus and my gerbil and hamster.  I'm a homebody who loves my routine, so her routine and environment is the exact same, every day.  I think that's really what she needed.

Sarita; Thanks for the vibes.  He should be going in for his neuter as we speak.

 

ZEUS IS OUT OF SURGERY!  AND EVERYTHING WENT 100% FINE.  .

He's just waking up now, should be ready to go home around 2ish.  Vet said she will avoid the cone at all costs. .

I feel so much better now!  Can't wait to see my boy.

Posted By Sarita on 01/13/2012 08:24 AM
That's great :~)

Definitely!  This vet is totally a keeper.  She said she's going to let him snuggle in her lap until he's a little more awake, then put him back in his cage. 

 

Monkey; Oh trust me, by the end of the weekend Zeus is going to be sick of my attention and full of treats.  

Posted By Sarita on 01/13/2012 08:36 AM
Try not to be too fussy with him when he gets home though. I would just let him relax tonight through tomorrow because he'll most likely still be groggy.

Will do. .

Went to Petco to get him a new willow toy as a 'welcome home/get better' present.. ugh, I always forget how horrible the local Petco is.  Associates are rude and even worse, know NOTHING about animals.

Got him a willow ball though!  He loves willow toys.

 

Zeus is home. .

He's definitely groggy, but doing ok.  He was looking for kale within 2 minutes of being home, ate a full sized meal of it.  Doesn't want any other snacks, just kale.  But I'm glad he has an appetite.  His stomach actually gurgled audibly, I've never heard that before.  Is that from the Reglan?

He also seems a bit uncomfortable, like when he lays down in loaf position he shifts a bit like he's trying to get comfy.  They gave him an injectible painkiller today, but tomorrow morning he gets oral Metacam.  They told me to give him Metacam once daily for 5 days.

No cone!  They sent him home with one, but said he shouldn't need it, he didn't bother the area at all while he was there.  I guess he drank while he was there but didn't eat.  

His eyes and nose are a little dry, is that from the isofluorene mask or? 

Posted By Sarita on 01/13/2012 01:19 PM
The grumbling is probably a combo of all the medications.

Not sure if the eyes and nose are dry from the iso but it's possible.

Good that he ate some kale. Just give him what he wants.

Yeah I'll kind of just keep a "buffet" in front of him and let him pick and choose what he wants.
 

Is the discomfort, the shifting his weight around before he loafs, normal?

Posted By Monkeybun on 01/13/2012 01:44 PM
Yeah, he'll be a bit uncomfy for a couple days. Totally normal

Gotcha, thanks.
 

I don't know what I'd do without you guys and this board.  It's such an amazing resource.  So grateful for all the help!