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AIBU?

To have my rabbit put to sleep

33 replies

newbie789 · 08/03/2017 11:18

I'm so upset, posting here for traffic
I've got vets in an hour
My rabbit is 6, she's had dental problems all her life, regular general anaesthetics and burring, she's always bounced back
3 weeks ago she had a dental, the vet said she had lost 1/4 of her weight, she seemed to be doing ok, trying to fatten her up
But she just looks so sad, chewing with nothing in her mouth, shutting her eyes, and she has snuffle she keeps sneezing she just looks so uncomfortable
I don't know what to do, should I keep trying, but I hate seeing her in pain
She's not eating today, I don't want to say goodbye to her but I don't want to prolong her suffering

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TeethDrama · 08/03/2017 11:26

It's sad when a much loved pet is suffering. Do you trust your vet to know when it's time to say goodbye? Personally for me (and I am a huge animal lover) when their everyday life is affected for most of the time by health issues that are ongoing then I would lean towards pts. At 6, she would be coming to the end of her natural life even without all the health issues.

Maybe you could give one more try for a period of 2 weeks with treatment if the vet felt there was something they could do for her medically, to see if she improves properly, not just existing slightly less uncomfortably, and if not, of she deteriorates in the meantime, then take her back.

It is heartbreaking though 😞 But it sounds like you've looked after her amazingly so you have done all you can.

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newbie789 · 08/03/2017 11:30

Thanks for your reply, I'll see what the vet says but I think it's the end of the road for her, I rescued her when she was 1, I've given her a life of luxury! I know it's just a rabbit but I'm so upset about her :(

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Elendon · 08/03/2017 11:33

I put the family pet rabbit to sleep as he was ancient in rabbit years and having trouble with his teeth. Poor wee mite was miserable after years of living the high life. His sleep was tearful but lovely. There is no pain. You can get to keep the ashes (at an extra cost).

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HecateAntaia · 08/03/2017 11:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlefrog3 · 08/03/2017 11:33

Bless her cotton socks.Sad She does seem fed up.

Ask what the vet thinks, but don't be too blue if you have to have her PTS. 6 is a decent age for a pet bunny; sort of around 65 for a human. Not its full life but still good. And it sounds like she has been happy with you.

As I said, see what the vet thinks.

And give bunny a cuddle from me. Smile

(fwiw, problems with teeth in rabbits is not rare, so don't feel anything is your fault, coz it isn't...)

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TeethDrama · 08/03/2017 11:48

She's not "just" a rabbit, she's your rabbit and much loved and cared for at that. It will be sad, but so many rabbits and pets am don't even get a fraction of the love and care you've given that bunny. Try to remember the happy times. Having her pts if she's suffering is an act of love.

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newbie789 · 08/03/2017 11:57

I just feel awful taking her to her death :(

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PetitTorteois · 08/03/2017 11:57

Flowers This is so sad. Poor Bunny. I also have a rabbit and I think if she was suffering and in pain and the vet could not help then ...
Best of luck

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YouCanDoThis · 08/03/2017 12:03

If she's not in pain and suffering you could try syringing critical care food. They often happily take this and it helps to support their nutritional needs. I think we often know when the time is right and we are helping them. It doesn't sound as though you are feeling sure of that yet.

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YouCanDoThis · 08/03/2017 12:05

Just to add, it does sound as though you have give. Her a lovely life. Bunnies are such special animals. x

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newbie789 · 08/03/2017 12:10

Thanks for all your kind words, I'm going to put her in the pet carrier now, i will do an update later

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pinkhousesarebest · 08/03/2017 12:17

Oh bless you. We lost ours a month ago now and we miss him so much, even my pragmatic dh cried. Hoping for good news.

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BastardBloodAndSand · 08/03/2017 12:41

Are you pureeing her food ?? That's what we did with our bunny who had iffy teeth.

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Elendon · 08/03/2017 13:00

You are releasing her into bunny heaven. Flowers

Pureeing food is not a good idea as then they develop digestion problems (and problems with their poo). If the vet thinks this is the way to go (usually with tablets) then try it. But inevitably she may well want to go to bunny heaven.

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newbie789 · 08/03/2017 13:08

The vet said they could do another dental but she was at risk with her snuffles of not being able to breath properly, also she had lost more weight despite us feeding her constantly, the vet was concerned that no matter how much we throw at her we will be in exactly the same position in 1 or 2 or 4 weeks time, I couldn't put her through that
I made the decision to have her put to sleep, I cried my eyes out it was the most difficult decision I've ever had to make
I feel sad but relieved for her, she was so unhappy
I wasn't with her when she went but I gave her the biggest cuddle and kiss
She was a spoilt rotten bunny who had a great life, rip teeny tiny girl x

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Whiterabbitears · 08/03/2017 13:19

We put our much loved bunny to sleep two months ago. He was also 6 and had lost so much weight he was like a bag of bones. He had started fitting and his bottom was covered in wet faeces where he couldn't move any more to clean himself. Like yours he had sad miserable eyes and wouldn't move when you touched him, he hated being held or touched as a young bun. We took him to the vet and she said if he was her bunny she would put him to sleep. That last cuddle was so hard and I can still see his little expression now. We cried for a week and I still miss and think about him daily and his little rabbity ways.
But he had no quality of life, he wasn't hopping and he couldnt keep himself clean which he loved to groom himself as a young proud bunny. I know he's not in pain and has gone to rainbow bridge where he's hopping free again.
Flowers for you and your bun, you probably know the right thing to do, hope you will be OK.

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Elendon · 08/03/2017 13:25

You didn't ignore her suffering, you understood it. You helped her not suffer any longer. You are sad now, but you have happy memories of her. Best not to let her suffer.

You did the right thing. x

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HecateAntaia · 08/03/2017 13:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsTwix · 08/03/2017 17:14

It's a hard decision but you did the right thing, better than letting her live in suffering. Take care x

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mummyofmoomoos · 08/03/2017 17:24

So sorry Flowers, you did what was right for her though- shes was a very lucky hoppit to have a mummy who cared for her for so long despite problems xx you did what you could for as long as you could xx from a fellow hoppit parent xx

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mummymeister · 08/03/2017 17:27

newbie - this is the thing that our pets rely on us to for them - to not let them suffer. and that's what you did. you gave your bun a lovely happy life and when the time was right you also took the difficult decision to stop her suffering.

always a tough thing to do but you did right by her and you should be comforted by that.

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SpackenDeDoich · 08/03/2017 17:28
Flowers
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pinkhousesarebest · 08/03/2017 21:45

Oh I am so sorry to hear this. You will look back in a few weeks and be proud of yourself. And be so pleased you gave her such a great life.

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glueandstick · 08/03/2017 22:01

We said goodbye to ours last year. They were nearly 10 but one was going blind and had kidney problems. The other wouldn't have survived without their lifelong mate.

I still think about them everyday and would give anything to have one more cuddle.

You did a very brave and kind thing. It hurts like crazy having a bunny shaped hole in your life, but take some comfort that your bunny isn't in pain and reduced quality of life.

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nothruroad · 08/03/2017 22:11

I am so sorry you have lost your bunny friend. I had the same situation with my rabbit. My vet said better a week too soon than a day too late. It sounds like your rabbit had a great life with you and you did the right thing. Flowers

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