When to help them go.

[grundoapril]

I have two rabbits, girl and a boy who have been in love with each other for over five years now. Recently, Grundo (the boy) was found to have a jaw abcess. It was lanced, and looked like it was getting better. We are on the second antibiotic now and nothing is working. It is in fact getting much worse. He can really only eat soft foods now, and his front teeth look like they have begun to decay.

nothing is working. my mom, my vet, and I have come to the conclusion that there is no more we can do for him. I dont want to believe it, and I always told myself it would never happen, but eventually, he will either suffer from this too much and die, or we will have to help him go.

As of right now, he is active and always begging for foods, but all he can really eat is his pellets mashed up, bananas, and yogurt. Please dont tell me those are bad things because I am not planning on restricting his diet at all.

I need advice, as I have been crying for days now. 

When is the best time to let him go? He is active now, but I know that rabbits dont always show pain or weakness quicky because they are prey animals. 

PLEASE HELP!

[Elrohwen]

I’m sorry you’re going through this – the toughest part of owning a pet is making the decision to let them go.

In my experience, you will know when it’s time. As long as he’s still enjoying life and being active, it sounds like his quality of life is ok. You’ll know when his quality of life starts to deteriorate and when it’s time. For now, just give him tons of love and whatever yummy foods he’s able to eat.

*hugs*

[Sarita]

Hugs to you. This is a tough decision that I’ve had some experience in.

I know that while he is acting fine and seems fine, it is still possible that his quality of life is diminished…my rabbit Maxine had severe arthritis and while she still was alert, she could not walk and she had severe urine scald and the vet seemed to think she was getting more frustrated with her inability and was probably in pain as well…with my vet’s total support we felt that she wasn’t going to get better and her quality of life was suffering and it was best to let her go before it got too bad. That was just one of a few that I had to make a difficult decision on. I felt in order to be a good steward to her, I had to make a decision that was difficult but the right thing to do.

Just in my opinion, and knowing my rabbit was not going to ever get better and neither was their quality of life, I wanted to let them go before I knew it would get worse. In these situations, it had always been on-going situations where vets to the vet were constant and the vet was in complete agreement with me on the decision to euthanize. I just always felt it was the humane thing to do rather to treat and treat and have them not get better.

I really don’t think you always know just by their actions, that is why you have to make these difficult decisions and come to the realization it was the right thing to do, because you can make these decision for your rabbit – they cannot. That is where you have to listen to your vet who is being totally objective because your vet is the “head” in these situations and you are the heart.

But whatever you do, never regret if and when you do make this decision think later it wasn’t the right thing to do – it is always the right decision when you are alleviating pain.

[grundoapril]

I am also very worried about his best friend and “wife”. she has hip problems so he snuggles with her and grooms her all the time and you can tell they really care for each other. how do i let her know without just leaving with him and never coming back.
i always told myself i would never put an animal to sleep, but just looking at him and the abcess growing again, and the teeth rotting, it just doesnt seem fair. I dont know when to let him go.

[jerseygirl]

(((Vibes))) for you and your rabbits. I’m sorry to hear what you are facing.

I can really only echo the advice already given. Do keep communicating openly with your vet. And take things day by day. Have faith that you will know in your heart when it’s time. I’m sorry if I’m sounding too simplistic. : (

Rabbits can be surprisingly resilient. So with his bonded mate, she’ll grieve but they can come out of that. It will be very important to spend as much time with her as possible. If you think her grief is prolonged or effecting her health, perhaps consider adopting again so she has a new companion? I know it might be a bit much to think about that now though. Again, seeing how she does will be a day by day thing.

I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m so very sorry to hear about the situation your bunny is in. We are all here for you during this difficult time.

I have never had to make this difficult decision for a bunny but I did, earlier this year, for my cat who had cancer. We decided to let her go when it was clear she was not going to get better and, although she still seemed happy enough, we wanted her to pass before she got worse and started suffering. We wanted her last days with us to be happy and not in pain.

I hope this helps. Hugs

[Rex]

I’m so sorry you are going through this. I am terrified of when it will be my turn, since as a child, my parents dealt with those decisions. My bunny isn’t bonded, but I read an article last month that suggested allowing the companion rabbit some time with the body when the time comes, so they can understand what happened, and not that the best friend just disappeared. Something to consider for his wife.

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-1/loss-support.html

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

*HUGS* {{Vibes}}
I’m so so sorry, it’s a blessing and a curse that we can make this decision.

It’s absolutely up to you and a very personal decision to make. That said, imo I think the best to do is to make sure they don’t suffer in pain. It’s best in my opinion to let them go a little early, and comfortably and not scared, then to wait to long and they are in pain. For me, I think it’s best to go out comfortable and not scared, if even a little early. It’s quality over quantity for me.

But you can’t predict the future and you never know what’s around the corner-I think thats what makes it so hard!

Case in point, my parents dog, who is notoriously crazy with vet stuff, had a tooth abscess and inner ear infection last Christmas. She was in an incredible amount of pain-dogs, animals but especially huskies hide pain. She was howling. It was TERRIBLE. Add that to arthritis and cancer and allergies and it seemed the most humane thing to do was put her down. However with vet advice and pain management, we did a TECA BO surgery and an abscess surgery/tooth abstraction and she’s recovered fully-is running, building muscle, very happy. She’s still trying to kill my dog (just exaggerating for comic effect, don’t worry!) She gets acupuncture three times a week, is on glucosamine etc and doing very well for an unheard of 14 year old husky with cancer for five years!

It was easy to say during that crises, put her down, but for us that was too late, we’d be putting her down while she’s upset and in pain. Now she’s good and we need to watch for issues that are not treatable so we say goodbye before she has to suffer.

However Chuck, my bridge bunny, had tilt. He recovered with good treatment and then was ill again., Knowing he was blind and deaf, and not responding to meds, we said goodbye. He was comfortable and well, but I just couldn’t imagine tilty, blind and deaf and it was time to let him go. I had to make that decision myself and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done-making decisions for someones wellbeing is something we pet owner do all the time, but the final goodbye is especially hard.

It’s a fine line, a personal decision and a hard one at that. The best ‘advice’ I can give is to let his hunny be there with him. It helps them both.

Much love, vibes and hugs to you both. You’ll know in your gut, you’ll do the right thing. I’m so sorry you have to go through this but what a blessing we can give them a painless calm controlled good bye. *hugs*

[BinkyBunny]

I am so sorry. I have to say, that each person’s experience is valid even if different. I personally lean more along the lines of what KK said as going peacefully instead of in pain is much easier all around. I hadn’t thought of it like that before, but, for me, erring on the side of early rather than too late is much better. I personally had such a difficult time knowing “for sure” when the right time was. I was too emotionally involved I think to really know for sure. I was too tortured with what ifs. 

When I made the decision to have the vet help Jack cross over, I was still tortured about it, but he went so incredibly peacefully, We were petting him and loving him and he was purring.  We knew he was not “grinding” in pain, because he would only purr when we pet him and kissed him (and he would always purr at that anyway). I know what his purrs were like.  And so he passed away WHILE he was purring, as we gently pet him, kissed him and talked to him about how wonderful he was and how much we loved him.  It still kills me to think of him leaving at all,(And I still miss him so much),  but at least he wasn’t in distress when he went. He just seemed blissful as he drifted to the other side.  I haven’t been so fortunate with other animals.  Jack taught me how loving it is to stop “near future” suffering.

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