Just putting this up to let you know we are working on retreiving your post about Momo and Sentry medication. It already had a few responses.
Original Post by PrinceMomo:
I feel like a failure as a pet owner right now, and I normally lurk these forums without actually making an account and posting. I figured if I could get my story out there and possibly help save someone’s rabbit, that maybe it’ll help my own personal guilt.
I’ll start this by saying, I have a one year old male mini rex named Momo. I recently got two kittens, who love Momo. They all play together daily, and love each other. I live about a hour away from my doctor office, so I had planned to go stay with my mom overnight so that I could make my appointment in the morning (my mom lives next to the doctors office), as I was getting ready to leave, I noticed the kittens had fleas. I was quite shocked since they’re indoor cats. I was already in such a rush and now I was running behind, so I did a quick Google search on what kitten medicine for fleas I could also use on my rabbit. I kept reading “do not use frontline!”, so I didn’t. Instead I used the brand Sentry. Little did I know at the time, Sentry uses the same active ingredient as Frontline. I headed over to the nearest Tractor Supply, grabbed the box that perfectly had 3 gel applicators (for the two kittens, and Momo), came home, applied it to my kittens, and then to my rabbit. You spread the hair between their shoulder blades, then squeeze it out onto the skin. I noticed instantly momo was licking it, so I grabbed some cabbage and let him chew on that instead. I dried it while he ate, then grabbed my things and left for the night. I’d only be gone a few hours. I came home the following morning and was promptly greeted by the kittens with their meows and licks. I walked into my bedroom and waited for momo to come running up like he always does… but he didn’t.
Instead, he just laid there. I could tell instantly I messed up. In a panic, I start googling all about Sentry, only to discover the worst possible outcome. FIPRONIL. It’s extremely toxic to rabbits (and all animals really…). I called the vet asking if I should bring him in or wait awhile and observe his behavior. They said to wait, so I did. I wiped the spot I applied the Sentry down with a wet rag and dawn, then waited. Momo just sat in the corner, not eating, not drinking… After two or three hours, I heard a thump. I thought, “Yay! He’s moving around!” only to look over and see my baby having an extreme seizure. I screamed and fell to my knees hysterically sobbing. His seizure lasted around 30 seconds, before he just laid there. He was still breathing and blinking, just looked like he was confused. I couldn’t talk or move because I was sobbing so hysterically (I’ve never experienced anything like this before) so my boyfriend called the vets. It was a little after 6:30 so most places were A. Closed, B. don’t work with “exotics”.
We finally got ahold of an ER vet who was willing to work with a rabbit. We had to wait about two hours before he was free to see momo. We drove him to the ER finally, and he said Momo’s vitals weren’t too alarming. His did seem responsive still, so he calculated his weight and gave him Valium (anti-seizure medicine). He said I should take Momo home and keep the room dark and quiet, to help prevent any seizures. He didn’t want to give him any fluids, because he said Momo wasnt dehydrated yet, and that fluids can “tear the skin” since rabbits have thin skin. He told me to give Momo a bath tomorrow, to get any of the extra Sentry off of him.
During the night, Momo had peed, which is a good sign. I even saw him drinking some water. I tried to offer him food, but he wouldn’t eat. I finally gathered the courage to give him a bath. I ran some lukewarm water, had the towel ready, and some oatmeal shampoo ready. I grabbed him fairly easy, placed him in the sink and started bathing him. He freaked out after about 30 seconds, and then jumped from the sink onto the floor and started seizing again. All I could do was watch and cry, I’ve been told not to touch anything while it has a seizure, because you can harm them. I’ve never felt so responsible and heartbroken in my life. I called the vet, and made sure they had time to see him before I quickly drove us both over.
They got the rest of the shampoo off of him for me, and dried him. Then gave him some more Valium, and finally some fluids under the skin. It created a small pouch, but they told me it would go down over the course of a day. They again, sent him home with me. (They said because of all the bright lights and barking dogs, that my quiet home would be better for him to stay at.) When we got home, he again just sat in the corner, not eating, not drinking. I decided to go to the other room to watch a movie so that I could give Momo peace and quiet. I heard a loud thump again about 5 hours after we had gotten back from the vet. Again, Momo was having a seizure, and again I broke down crying. It kills me to see my fur baby in pain, especially knowing if I had just done more research we could have avoided this entirely.
My boyfriend called the ER vet once again (again it was about 6:45 so the normal clinics were closed) and he told us that Valium can even be dangerous for a rabbit when you give it too much. He said the fact Momo is seizing while on Valium was a very bad sign. He said because he still isn’t eating, peeing, or pooping, that his reccomendation would be to put Momo down… So this is where I’m at. It’s 10:30 pm… And I’m so unsure.
I don’t know when it becomes cruel to keep him alive. What point do I become selfish and continue to let him to suffer because I don’t want to say goodbye? Should I put him down? Should I wait it out? If I wait, he won’t be able to see a vet for 2 days as it’s the weekend and everywhere is closed. I really need some encouragement, or advice, or anything… I feel so guilty and heartbroken right now.
Store
.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Accidental things like this are just heartbreaking. My thoughts are with you.
