Rabbit - is it time to say goodbye??

[JoandMax]

We adopted a rabbit last year - she’s at least 9 years old. Gorgeous, huge (3.6kg!) and happy to have free run of the garden pottering about. She loves to eat and sit about!

She developed a big abscess in her cheek 2 weeks ago. It was operated on and she’s had a drain in and a collar on since, hopefully coming off today. She’s been utterly miserable and hates the collar and us as getting ABs in her daily is a mission!

Vet has explained there’s a 50/50 chance it will come back. Her cheek looks a bit swollen again so off to vets later. They recommended if it did to have another operation........

But I just don’t know if it’s fair. She’s hated the last 2 weeks, she’s so old and I hate to see her suffer. I don’t know if the kindest thing is just to pts. We really do love her and want to do what’s best. I don’t want her last months to be constant collars and surgery and her to be unhappy

Any advice??

So sorry - that sounds awful for you and her. I would say that you know her best and can judge how happy she is/the quality of her life and make the best decision for her. I always ask the vet what they would do if it was their pet - a good vet is pretty honest about that. If it is going to be an endless round of ops meds and collars, I'd probably be thinking about saying goodbye.

9 is a good age for a large breed bun. Mines a big boy and is turning 7 soon. He had a rough few months last year with quite routine tooth ops etc and having been through that with him and seeing how miserable he was, I wouldn't put him through any more now.

When it's time, you just know. And it is a hard decision but often the kindest one.

Thanks Fernie x

The vet took the drain out so eventually she has no collar! She was so happy to get rid of it. The swelling could be from the drain and stitches so we’re carrying on with the antibiotics and will go back in a week to reassess. A load of gunk came out with the drain so hopefully she’ll be feeling more comfy now.

I hadn’t realized how attached I was to her until all this happened! We’ve never had a rabbit before and only took her as she was about to be abandoned but really do love the old girl!

I agree, I have had lots of bunnies in my life and loved them all. If she is unhappy and not thriving you will know what to do. Hope she hops on for much longer. My 22year old cat passed away peacefully in her sleep recently. I was just glad she did not suffer.