Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to consider having my rabbit put down for these reasons?

102 replies

MagicalCreatures · 26/05/2019 21:40

Hi
This may seem like a strange question but it's playing on my mind and these things really eat me up.
So, she's nearly 9 years old, I've had her since she was 4 months and I love her dearly. She's always been very tame and gentle and has the free run of my living room. Though when we converted to laminate flooring, she wouldn't go on it so we had to buy her a large rug measuring about 2 x 1.5 metres.
She has always been toilet trained but has recently started weeing and pooing all over her rug.
The problem I have is that I now have a nearly 5 month old son and I'm worried that when he starts crawling, he's going to crawl all over her rug and end up surrounded by her waste.
She does have abit of arthritis as 9 is a fab age for a rabbit. Even the vet has said she is a very old lady. She has a benign growth under her chin and I'm concerned the pooing and weeing is a sign of a health issue anyway.
But I just feel like I might be ending her life unnecessarily and I'm not sure I will ever forgive myself.
My son is my priority now but my husband can be very unreasonable and I know he will not agree with me putting her down. He will expect me to come up with some fabulous invention that stops our son from being able to access this large area or he would expect me to have my eyes on him 24/7 and stop him everytime he crawls over to her. He would make me feel worse about my decision.
So someone please tell me it's probably the kindest thing to do or that I'm completely evil for considering it x

OP posts:
Liverbird77 · 26/05/2019 21:45

I would rather re-home than end her life.

tessiegirl · 26/05/2019 21:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

IceCreamSoda99 · 26/05/2019 21:49

A local animal charity may be able to foster her and you can continue to pay for her care and upkeep. That would be the kindest thing to do.

m0therofdragons · 26/05/2019 21:51

Can't you set up a cage and let bunny out when ds is in bed?

Synecdoche · 26/05/2019 21:51

Can you restrict her to one section of the living room with puppy pen/X-pens etc and put down fleece blankets (easily washable) or puppy pads? Restricting her spaxe temporarily will triple check it is a medical rather than a behavioural issue as well. And only give her free runs when she is supervised and when your son is not on the floor?

GruciusMalfoy · 26/05/2019 21:51

You aren't evil for worrying about this. I would speak with your vet and see if the rabbit might have an infection, I know another animals this can make them quite confused.

Is there no way of making a separate area within the living room, to keep rabbit and baby apart? What about an indoor hutch?

MissCharleyP · 26/05/2019 21:52

Ask your vet for advice?

scratchyfluffface · 26/05/2019 21:52

I'm sorry, but I disagree that killing her is the best way to deal with this, there must be a way to separate her waste from your son.

If you genuinely think it could be a medical issue then speak to the vet, but if they say that she is fine and you choose to do it anyway, at least acknowledge that you are doing it out of convenience for you not because it it is in her best interests.

If there is a genuine medical need and it will end suffering that is a completely different thing, but I hate that people see animals as disposable objects when kids come along....

rose789 · 26/05/2019 21:53

How about a playpen for the rabbit? If she won’t go on the Lino it won’t restrict her movement too much. Remove the rug.
Have you had her checked at the vets? My friends rabbit started weeing inside instead of in the litter tray and she had a UTI course of antibiotics and she was ok

scratchyfluffface · 26/05/2019 21:53

I'm sorry, but I disagree that killing her is the best way to deal with this, there must be a way to separate her waste from your son.

If you genuinely think it could be a medical issue then speak to the vet, but if they say that she is fine and you choose to do it anyway, at least acknowledge that you are doing it out of convenience for you not because it it is in her best interests.

If there is a genuine medical need and it will end suffering that is a completely different thing, but I hate that people see animals as disposable objects when kids come along....

QueenOfTheTofuTree · 26/05/2019 21:54

I think it would be very difficult to rehome a 9 year old rabbit tbh.

Bambamber · 26/05/2019 21:54

Has she seen a vet since she started pooing and weeing over the rug?

I would be tempted to cordon off the rug area with something like a puppy pen, she may not have long left. I don't know how realistic it is to re-home an old arthritic rabbit, and I wouldn't want to euthanise an animal unless it was suffering

sweeneytoddsrazor · 26/05/2019 21:54

Why haven't you taken her to a vet if she has suddenly started going to toilet anywhere? That should be your starting point.

Pipandmum · 26/05/2019 21:54

Can you keep the rabbit in a pen of some sort? Can she be moved to another room? If it becomes impossible give her to an animal rescue rather than put her down.

Evenstar · 26/05/2019 21:55

How about making a cage like this with grids, might need to be higher, you can buy fleece bedding to fit online. Let her live out her time with you, and also do take her to the vet and have her checked over

AIBU to consider having my rabbit put down for these reasons?
scratchyfluffface · 26/05/2019 21:55

Whoops, the app said the first one didn't post 🤦‍♀️

Wolfiefan · 26/05/2019 21:55

Why haven’t you taken the rabbit for a vet check since this change of behaviour? PTS shouldn’t be the first thought. Shock

ThePixieQueen · 26/05/2019 21:56

Sad I’m with the others - there must be a way to contain her tiny rug that it’s not a risk to your son. If you genuinely don’t believe it can be done, rehome her. Don’t be putting her down for your convenience

thetemptationofchocolate · 26/05/2019 21:57

Goodness, that is a grand age for a rabbit!
I think you would be a bit unreasonable if you didn't at least ask your vet if there was something treatable, like an infection. I also think you would feel awful if you just went ahead and pts, without trying to find out if there was something that could be done.
But if this is the start of the end of your rabbit's life, then no you would not be unreasonable to consider pts now. There is nothing wrong with letting a loved pet go, while they are still mainly OK, if the future looks bleak for them.

BeenHereForAges · 26/05/2019 21:57

How about investing in a larger hutch for daytime & letting her out in the evenings & at nap time for a run? Please dont put her down, she sounds lovely.

Cryalot2 · 26/05/2019 21:58

It sounds drastic. I would have her 'rehomed .

VodselForDinner · 26/05/2019 22:00

You’ve had her for nine years, and now you want her killed because she’s I convenient?

Poor bun.

Synecdoche · 26/05/2019 22:02

Has she been spayed?

Original poster
MagicalCreatures · 26/05/2019 22:05

She has a cage which she uses as her toilet, ususally, but she won't let us lock her in anymore. We used too but she started rattling the bars when she was about a year old and she got too distressed being locked up.
Bare in mind we've always joked that she's half human because she is so tame and extremely clever. She's trained to the point where she understands what different words mean, she gets annoyed with me when I go away and can actually throw a tantrum 😂
But what I forgot to add is that the arthritis is now making it very hard for her to run around. She's become very lazy so puts on weight very easily and has trouble cleaning herself. Also because of the growth under her chin. She basically gets her faeces stuck to her bum and every other day we are having to turn her over and cut it off. Which also causes her more distress. Soynetimes it gets so bad that I have to take her to the vets and they have to shave the whole area. If gets very sore.
This is why I'm asking would it actually be kinder to her. Do you think she's had enough anyway? It breaks my heart but I also don't want to see her suffer anymore if she is suffering.
I was going to have a word with the vet about it all.
We aren't extremely well off so having huge vet bills or paying someone to take care of her for us will hurt us financially.
But I honestly don't know if I could give her to someone else.
It sounds ridiculous but I am her mummy and I know she feels that way and it upsets me more knowing that for the last few months or years of her life, she would think I abandoned her. X

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 26/05/2019 22:07

Bit of a drip feed. You were only concerned about the mess and your child to start with. Confused Consult a vet.