Think Rabbits dying, any advice

millysg1

So a little update. We remembered a friend of ours GF is a vet nurse. We called her and she has looked at him and says he has probably had a stroke. She has left us some pain medication for him and some special food (he probably won!!!8217;t eat it but at least it!!!8217;s there). She doesn!!!8217;t think there is anything else a vet could do for him so not worth the trauma of transporting him. So we!!!8217;ll just wait and see what happens tonight and reassess in the morning.

Browntoa

Mine went peacefully overnight so hopefully a dignified last day at home for you .

Glad your friend was able to clarify things for you

dottiedotdot

Please please please take your rabbit to a vet or call for advice. Dribbling and wet eyes can be a sign of dental problems which are easily treatable and heavy breathing could just be stress. Please don't let it suffer over something that could be easily treated.

baza52

OP, get the poor thing to a Vet.
Saying the rabbit might get stressed is just a cop out, its clearly not well and could be suffering.
Letting nature take its course is a selfish act on your part.

UKTigerlily

How can a VN prescribe medication? If she left any, then it won't/shouldn't be prescription meds.
Sounds to me like YOU don't want to take him, yes a car journey (cover the carrier) may distress him, but he's distressed as it is & either way, in an hour the Vet will have him not in distress, which to me beats him going until the morning in distress

You can still call the OOH Vet for advice, and they won't say to bring him in if it's not needed. None of us are Vets (some on MSE are, but even they don't know your pet)

Please just take him in, it's not fair to leave him, he's clearly unwell

millysg1

I have taken very good advice, had him seen to and diagnosed. She will return in the morning and advice again. She is very experienced and I trust her. If she says take him to the vet or call the vet then I will and I will.

I really am trying to do what!!!8217;s best for him. I hate to see him distressed, it is heart breaking. We!!!8217;ve been in and out of tears all day so please don!!!8217;t assume I!!!8217;m purposely leaving him in any pain. I want to do what is best.

He is still hoping about and taken some food since she has seen him.

baza52

millysg1 wrote: »

I have taken very good advice, had him seen to and diagnosed. She will return in the morning and advice again. She is very experienced and I trust her. If she says take him to the vet or call the vet then I will and I will.

I really am trying to do what!!!8217;s best for him. I hate to see him distressed, it is heart breaking. We!!!8217;ve been in and out of tears all day so please don!!!8217;t assume I!!!8217;m purposely leaving him in any pain. I want to do what is best.

He is still hoping about and taken some food since she has seen him.

Would you trust your childrens teeth being diagnosed by a dental nurse?
She/He is a nurse and NOT qualified to make a diagnosis.

If you are truly heartbroken you must love the rabbit, if thats the case spend the money and visit a Vet.

If she has left pain medication she must be thinking the rabbit is in pain.

UKTigerlily

baza52 wrote: »

Would you trust your childrens teeth being diagnosed by a dental nurse?
She/He is a nurse and NOT qualified to make a diagnosis.

If you are truly heartbroken you must love the rabbit, if thats the case spend the money and visit a Vet.

If she has left pain medication she must be thinking the rabbit is in pain.

This, not even sure how she can leave meds? VN's aren't able to prescribe, diagnose etc. Why would you ask a Nurse, over at least calling your own Vet OOH?? (Vet who has medical notes etc)

If you don't want him distressed, why not take him vet? My Cat doesn't like going, but sometimes we have to do what we don't like & she is going tomorrow. I don't personally like some tests I have to have, and being EUPD they can severely distress me, but I have them

You asked a board of pet lovers, instead of asking the Vet, most say to call the Vet & you don't like us being concerned about him & giving good advice? Sorry it's harsh but i'm not going to say it's ok to leave him!

Asked my friend who has 5 rabbits, she said if hers she'd go Vets right away & rabbits can be iffy (and if he IS dying, then it's not of old age in his sleep so it's best to get him in)

My 18yr old cat died at the OOH Vets in 2016, I thought she was constipated due to her CKD & she was in less distress than the rabbit sounds. Turned out she needed to be PTS & I was right to take her, and why risk it? I don't understand the reluctance to take him, it'd put your mind at ease, and if he IS suffering/distressed, it will be sorted in an hour not 24

UKTigerlily

(& as to not anything else a Vet could do, a Vet could PTS if needed, administer fluids/painkillers etc etc) plus it may not be a stroke. For a rabbit, they need an exotics vet, is this VN even part of an exotics practice? (tho yes, they will still see many rabbits)

Please just take him, if you were distressed and in pain, would you not want proper medical help?

pimento

Please don't get another pet after this one dies.