Beagles and Bunnies...
So, I have a sneaking suspicion that Plainfield (my old, blind bunny) has cancer. He's always been a warty bunny, but I just noticed last night that he has two small new growths on his ears that look kind of thorny. They have the consistency of wood. You can read more about what I think it is, here:
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Viral_diseases/papilloma.pdf
I have very mixed feelings on how to deal with this. First of all, because of financial concerns, I haven't been able to follow up with Pocky's problems at the vet. Instead, the vet gave me refills of all her meds, and we'll bring her back next month when things are a little calmer. Having a second bunny with health problems is less than ideal right now.
I am going to have him checked out as soon as I can. I want to find out if the growths can be removed. If they can, I'm sure they'll grow back, because he has a long history with warts that just grow. (He had some removed from inside his ears a few years ago.) But if they can be removed when they're bigger, to keep him from being burdened by them, that would be great. Aside from that, I'd like to keep him free of pain and eating. Nothing more. So, pretty much, surgery only if these things are too big to ignore, and pain medication to keep him from hurting. And, when he's not enjoying life anymore, I think it will be best to have him put to sleep.
This bunny has had ear surgery, eye surgery, he's been neutered, had his teeth worked on. He's had an EKG and an ECG. He's had needles and abscesses removed. He had a tube put in his ear. When he had the tube put in his ear (which he yanked out, and was a mess), I said, that's it. No more. This guy has lived a long life and he's one of the best bunnies anyone could ever know, but that's it. No more surgery for this bunny. I'm going to let him live whatever the rest of his life is, without pain and torture.
So, as soon as I take Pocky back for her visit, I'll bring Plainy in after that for his. (Never mind the fact that Gene is wayyy overdue for a visit of his own!) And we'll see what the next step is then. I just wanted to write it down so that I don't get so emotional that I forget that the best thing for him might be to let him go. I want to make sure the quality of his life is the best it can be.
Here's the most awesome picture of Plainy:
In other news, my boyfriend and I went to PetSmart to see the beagles a rescue has there every week. We got there an hour after a man surrendered his own beagle to the rescue. Apparently he had a story that was inconsistent (they were moving, they worked too much and didn't have time for him, he was 2 yrs old, then he was 3, he wasn't housebroken, etc) and he just wanted to be rid of this awesome pup. So, after a lot of finagling and begging, Nick got his parents to foster him. He's 3 yrs old and he's so sweet. He's completely sad and confused. He lays on the couch and bites his blanket and cries. But he's also very friendly and cuddly and he's just awesome. He likes to play. I'm sure he'll be more playful when he can forget the douchebag family who couldn't be bothered to keep him. Anyway, his name is Toby, and he's so cute, he'll devour your soul:
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Viral_diseases/papilloma.pdf
I have very mixed feelings on how to deal with this. First of all, because of financial concerns, I haven't been able to follow up with Pocky's problems at the vet. Instead, the vet gave me refills of all her meds, and we'll bring her back next month when things are a little calmer. Having a second bunny with health problems is less than ideal right now.
I am going to have him checked out as soon as I can. I want to find out if the growths can be removed. If they can, I'm sure they'll grow back, because he has a long history with warts that just grow. (He had some removed from inside his ears a few years ago.) But if they can be removed when they're bigger, to keep him from being burdened by them, that would be great. Aside from that, I'd like to keep him free of pain and eating. Nothing more. So, pretty much, surgery only if these things are too big to ignore, and pain medication to keep him from hurting. And, when he's not enjoying life anymore, I think it will be best to have him put to sleep.
This bunny has had ear surgery, eye surgery, he's been neutered, had his teeth worked on. He's had an EKG and an ECG. He's had needles and abscesses removed. He had a tube put in his ear. When he had the tube put in his ear (which he yanked out, and was a mess), I said, that's it. No more. This guy has lived a long life and he's one of the best bunnies anyone could ever know, but that's it. No more surgery for this bunny. I'm going to let him live whatever the rest of his life is, without pain and torture.
So, as soon as I take Pocky back for her visit, I'll bring Plainy in after that for his. (Never mind the fact that Gene is wayyy overdue for a visit of his own!) And we'll see what the next step is then. I just wanted to write it down so that I don't get so emotional that I forget that the best thing for him might be to let him go. I want to make sure the quality of his life is the best it can be.
Here's the most awesome picture of Plainy:
In other news, my boyfriend and I went to PetSmart to see the beagles a rescue has there every week. We got there an hour after a man surrendered his own beagle to the rescue. Apparently he had a story that was inconsistent (they were moving, they worked too much and didn't have time for him, he was 2 yrs old, then he was 3, he wasn't housebroken, etc) and he just wanted to be rid of this awesome pup. So, after a lot of finagling and begging, Nick got his parents to foster him. He's 3 yrs old and he's so sweet. He's completely sad and confused. He lays on the couch and bites his blanket and cries. But he's also very friendly and cuddly and he's just awesome. He likes to play. I'm sure he'll be more playful when he can forget the douchebag family who couldn't be bothered to keep him. Anyway, his name is Toby, and he's so cute, he'll devour your soul:
