Sycamore Chins
Well-known member
I'm hoping someone out there has had a similar experience, so I don't feel so alone in this.
Friday my rabbit (7 yrs old) was diagnosed with cancer, likely osteosarcoma. She has a tumor off her right tibia about the size of a garlic clove. From what the vet and I have read, osteosarcomas aren't as aggressive in rabbits as in cats and dogs, but at the same time we think this tumor grew to garlic clove size in 2-3 weeks...so she may have a very aggressive form.
She was on Metacam but I didn't think it was helping so she is on Buprenex and Rimadyl right now. I think it is helping now that she's been on it for almost 48 hours. She is having these episodes where it seems like her leg gets stuck in one position and she freaks out and hops around her cage a few times then (presumable straightens her leg out) calms down and goes back to resting.
Yesterday she didn't want to have anything to do with the bag of goodies my neighbor (fellow vet student and rabbit/bird rescuer) brought over for her. I wasn't sure if this was due to meds or pain. When I woke up today she had eaten all the treats and took some from my hands. She also took some parsley this afternoon. Thankfully, I think she is having a better day today than yesterday.
Fortunately/Unfortunately, i've never dealt with a terminally ill pet before. I just don't know what to do, and don't know how to judge when it is time. I'm a firm believer of "better too soon, than too late" but I just don't know with her. It's freaking cancer, something that is so unpredictable. With our chins and our previous rabbit we knew we needed to euthanize them, or they died on their own.
So, I guess I'm just looking for how you knew when it was time to put your rabbit down. I've heard that some rabbits will stop eating from pain and some won't. Some will just not find it worth it to get up and go to the other side of the cage for food or water. She is eating and drinking and peeing and pooping in her litter box. I just don't want to wait till it's too late...
Attached is a picture of my girl, Annabelle. Don't mind the eyes - it's from the eye lube from sedation for x-rays.
Friday my rabbit (7 yrs old) was diagnosed with cancer, likely osteosarcoma. She has a tumor off her right tibia about the size of a garlic clove. From what the vet and I have read, osteosarcomas aren't as aggressive in rabbits as in cats and dogs, but at the same time we think this tumor grew to garlic clove size in 2-3 weeks...so she may have a very aggressive form.
She was on Metacam but I didn't think it was helping so she is on Buprenex and Rimadyl right now. I think it is helping now that she's been on it for almost 48 hours. She is having these episodes where it seems like her leg gets stuck in one position and she freaks out and hops around her cage a few times then (presumable straightens her leg out) calms down and goes back to resting.
Yesterday she didn't want to have anything to do with the bag of goodies my neighbor (fellow vet student and rabbit/bird rescuer) brought over for her. I wasn't sure if this was due to meds or pain. When I woke up today she had eaten all the treats and took some from my hands. She also took some parsley this afternoon. Thankfully, I think she is having a better day today than yesterday.
Fortunately/Unfortunately, i've never dealt with a terminally ill pet before. I just don't know what to do, and don't know how to judge when it is time. I'm a firm believer of "better too soon, than too late" but I just don't know with her. It's freaking cancer, something that is so unpredictable. With our chins and our previous rabbit we knew we needed to euthanize them, or they died on their own.
So, I guess I'm just looking for how you knew when it was time to put your rabbit down. I've heard that some rabbits will stop eating from pain and some won't. Some will just not find it worth it to get up and go to the other side of the cage for food or water. She is eating and drinking and peeing and pooping in her litter box. I just don't want to wait till it's too late...
Attached is a picture of my girl, Annabelle. Don't mind the eyes - it's from the eye lube from sedation for x-rays.