Need help on a tough decision

[Amanda2015]

Hi all, I’m new to the site but have read the forum over the years for help with my bunny questions. We’re facing a tough decision right now, and was wondering if anyone could weigh in.

We’ve got a 6.5 year old mini lop who was diagnosed with a thymoma in September of 2015, after first suspecting it in June of 2015. After researching all of the options available, we decided to give her supportive/palliative care for as long as she was happy. We give her daily Metacam, and she has been her happy wonderful self for the last three months.

Unfortunately, just before Christmas, things started to go downhill. She became noticeably uncomfortable when I’d hold her, and seems to have trouble finding a comfortable position to sleep in. She no longer stretches out to sleep. She also developed sebaceous adenitis, and has lost fur on her belly, her ears, and her neck. Her eyelids have the same issue, and she can’t really open her eyes fully. She grooms very frequently now, probably due to her skin issues. She’s stopped using her litter box, as I think she can’t get in it anymore. 

With all that said, she still enjoys her treats (and she’s been getting tons), and seems to enjoy it when we pet her. When I go to get her treats, she sometimes even still runs over to me in excitement. She is slower moving though, and doesn’t really care much for her pellets, which she used to really enjoy. 

We know that we’re probably not far from putting her to sleep, but I just can’t decide if it’s time yet. I had made an appointment for today, but cancelled it after she had a good night last night. I definitely fear waiting too long, but also can’t feel right about doing it when she seems to still enjoy herself. 

Can anyone weigh in? Thank you!

[Dee]

I’m so sorry, that is terribly sad and difficult. I personally would rather put a pet to sleep while they are still able to enjoy their last meal- before they are suffering. I put my bunny to sleep last June when chest masses were discovered in a CT scan. I decided to let him go while he was comfortable on IV pain meds at the animal hospital. I brought him a little bag of his favorite greens and he gobbled them up. I still cry about it but I’m glad I let him go as soon as it became clear that he was not going to recover.

In general, most people I’ve talked to say that they’ve never regretted putting a pet to sleep too early, but have regretted not doing it sooner. I asked myself, would I be keeping him alive for me, or for him? The answer became very clear then, when I pictured what his life would be like if I let it go on.

Whatever you decide, it will come from love and a desire to help your bunny. Again, so sorry you’re facing this.

[Eepster]

I sounds like you know it’s time, you made the appointment. Listen to yourself and trust yourself.

(((Hugs)))

[Amanda2015]

Thanks so much for your reply. It really helps to get other opinions, especially from those who are familiar with bunnies. I know she isn’t going to get better, and that if she isn’t suffering now, she soon will be. We’ve been lucky to have had 3 months to spend time with her and spoil her. We knew this time would be coming, but it doesn’t make it easier. We’ve had her since she was a baby, and she’s been my best little buddy. I just really want to make sure we do right by her.

I’ll see what tomorrow brings and if I feel up to making the decision.

[Amanda2015]

We made the decision today. It was a really hard morning knowing that we’d have to say goodbye, but she got lots of pets and all the treats she could handle. The process itself was really peaceful, and it was nice to know she wasn’t hurting anymore. We’ll miss you, bun.

[tobyluv]

I’m very sorry about the loss of your sweet bunny. That’s always a horrible decision to have to make, but it shows how much you loved her and that you wanted to spare her pain.

[Dee]

I’m sorry for your loss- these bunnies really do make their way into our hearts and it’s such a difficult decision to make. You did the kindest and most unselfish thing for her by letting her go before her life became one of pain and misery. You have her a wonderful home full of love and good food- the most important factors in any rabbits mind, I’m sure ☺. I hope that you can take comfort that she will not suffer a terrible end now, and treasure the good memories you have. Its only just recently that I can look at photos of my rainbow bridge bunny, and I still tear up over him over 6 months later. I’m not saying that to depress you further, but to let you know that grief is natural and nobody can put a time limit on how long the pain and sadness takes to fade. Again, I am so sorry.

[vanessa]

I’m sorry for your loss. I had to make the same decision. My little boy Merlin had E.Cuniculi, complicated with fly warbles. He had lost the use of his rear legs and all bowel and bladder control. I bathed him 4 times a day, but his urine just leaked out and got on his skin. He was in constatn pain and had difficulty crawling. It was no life for a bunny. So I let him go. That was July. I still tear up too, reading similar stories. I have a stuffed bunny that looks like him, sitting on his urn in the lounge. I adopted a bunny to bond with his pal . She felt his loss. Sometimes we have to make difficult choices. I wondered for a while if I had made the right choice, if there was something different I could have done, that that is just reliving the pain over and over. So I don’t let myself ask those questions anymore. I just try to do the best for the bunnies that I still have. May your little one binky free.

[Amanda2015]

Thanks so much for the kind messages. It’s been a hard couple of days getting used to her not being here, and we miss her so much. From the time we knew she was sick, I told myself that I’d try to give her a peaceful ending before things got too bad, because I knew that given her illness, once things started to deteriorate, she would only get worse from there. It was a lot harder to follow through on that though when we were actually faced with the situation. I am still questioning sometimes if we did the right thing, if there was more we could have done for her, but I’m trying to focus on the fact that she won’t be suffering.

Thanks again for the responses.

[Bam]

I’m sorry for your loss. I think you did the right thing, you protected her from pain and suffering. But I know the feeling of wondering if you could’ve done more, it was like that with my bridge dog Nala, she too had incurable cancer. I know now, years later, that I made the only possible right thing, but back then it was much more difficult to see that. I think it’s about missing a loved one, not really wanting to let go.
Binky free sweet little bunny girl.

[Author]

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