When to say goodbye? 10.5 yrs old

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This topic has 8sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 5 months ago by Cheeko&Abby.

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- 10/30/2018 at 9:51 AM
  Cheeko&Abby
  Participant
  26 posts
  I’m just looking for some feedback from people who have had to make the decision to euthanize their bunnies, how did you know it was time, and how did you justify making the decision to put them down?
  
  My sweet boy Cheeko is declining, I have posted about him before, but I think his time is coming. He has chronic renal failure which hasn’t really changed him much, but his arthritis is really hurting him, I keep finding him on his side in the mornings covered in urine and poop. Usually once I help him up, he stays upright for the remainder of the day and can move around enough to eat and drink, but I think his joints are getting much more stiff. This morning I helped him up and within 5 mins he was back on his side again because he’s so wobbly. I picked him up and snuggled him and his bones are so frail. It’s like he’s scared to move around too much since he’s so unstable that he just sits there staring off into space (or into his cataracts since he is completely blind).
  
  He has been on the oxbow joint support hay tabs for months, as well as Tramadol and Meloxicam for pain and inflammation. He is also currently on Enrofloxacin and Panacur due to his mild head tilt.
  
  I know if this were someone else’s bunny I would think they were abusing him by keeping him alive in this state, he has been needing daily help getting up, gets poop stuck all over his feet and pee all over him. I clean him (which he hates) and try to love and snuggle him as much as he will allow, but he has just lost interest in everything except food.
  
  I know the 3 A’s are Affection, Attitude and Appetite and right now he only seems to have one of them – appetite. I’ve been wondering if he flops on his side to die and I’m annoying him by helping him back up when he doesn’t want to fight anymore. In my mind, he wants to live, he enjoys food and gets excited for treats, but the rest of the time he is a zombie, sitting there looking confused and disinterested. I just need some reassurance that it’s the right thing to do, in my heart I can’t justify playing God and deciding when he has to die, but I know he is in pain.
- 10/30/2018 at 10:05 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  I’m so sorry to hear about Cheeko’s health. It sounds like he is on a good regimen (altho of course I am no expert) but if he is still declining, I would be questioning euthanasia as you are. I don’t necessarily think there is a right or wrong answer to this but here’s my thoughts:
  
  -Is he having more bad times than good? How many hours a day does he look happy verses how many does he show signs of sadness and discomfort? This is a tricky one because often we, as humans project our own emotions onto our animals, but does he ever exhibit signs of lethargy, reluctance to do anything, no enthusiasm? This brings me to my next point…
  
  -Is Is he able to do anything a healthy bun can? Can he still play, forage, groom at all? Or is it all down to you? Does he want to play and do healthy bunny stuff?
  
  – Another point to consider is often humans keep their animals around because they think it’s for the best but once they’ve made the decision to finally let them go, they look back with hindsight and realise they should have done so sooner. Perhaps it would have been kinder to let them go. Of course this depends on the first 2 points I made.
  
  I’m not sure I’m of any help whatsoever but I hope you’re able to come to a decision and feel confident that it’s the right one (whichever choice you make)
  
  Noseboops for Cheeko xx
- 10/30/2018 at 3:11 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  From your post, it sounds like you know it is time…
  
  I personally think that being able to painlessly help an animal pass is a gift to the animal, and also a responsibility as a pet owner. In the wild, sick and declining animals are eaten quickly by predators, and do not make it to the point of suffering for a long time before passing.
  
  If you feel like it is his time (and it sounds like you do, but want reassurance), then I don’t think you should feel guilty in the slightest. Rather, I think you should consider a peaceful passing as your final gift to him. If you wait until he stops eating, he might be in additional pain from stasis.
  
  I’m so sorry you are going through this.
  
  (I know you didn’t ask this… but just wanted to add that when he does pass, whether at home or at the vet’s, you should allow Abby to spend some time with his body. It will greatly help her to accept that he is gone, rather than just continuing to look for him everywhere.)
  
  (((Cheeko)))
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 10/30/2018 at 7:31 PM
  Cheeko&Abby
  Participant
  26 posts
  Thank you both for your kind, heartfelt responses. I’ve been lucky to have never made this decision for a pet before.
  
  Sarah, I think his only good times are when he’s eating. The rest of the time he sleeps or sits in one spot staring into space, or with his head up against the side of their pen. He always looks like he is in discomfort, even after getting his meds, just sometimes he’s more unstable than others. He hasn’t played or forgaed in a long time and the last time I saw him hop normally was before July. He hasn’t binkied since at least January and he can groom his face, but nothing more. I think he WANTS to do healthy bunny stuff, but his legs don’t cooperate and he ends up falling over when he rushes too fast for treats. In my mind, he doesn’t want to die because he’s still eating well, but I know if I wait until he’s having seizures and can’t move at all, it will be so much worse on him. He’s definitely not happy, but he’s also not obviously ready to die.
  
  Dana, thank you for your kind words too. Thank you for saying that being able to painlessly help them pass is a gift and a responsibility. I feel like his battery isn’t fully worn down yet and I keep waiting until I “know” it’s time, and I keep figuring as long as he’s able to move around to eat and drink then why end his life.
  This morning when he kept falling back onto his side I was so scared that I let it go too long and I was going to have to wait to find a vet that could take him and euthanize him today. I was so relieved when he finally stayed in an upright position. He’s much more stiff in the mornings and his legs just don’t cooperate. Having to rush to find a vet that could do it because he’s in excruciating pain is my worst fear.
  
  Thank you for the info about letting Abby spend some time with his body. If it happens at the vet’s, I am planning to bring him back home and leave him with her for a few hours. It’s just so hard. I think looking at this from an outside perspective, it’s definitely time… but looking at it from a bunny mom perspective, I can keep giving him more and more meds, clean urine off him and clean poop off his feet for as long as he’s willing to fight because he hasn’t 100% lost his will to live yet.
- 10/31/2018 at 10:03 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  (((HUGS to You, Cheeko, and Abby too)))
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 11/01/2018 at 6:10 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I’m so very sorry. I agree with Dana. It sounds like you know it is time. It can help to ask for reassurance, of course. It’s such an unbearably hard decision. But I agree with Dana in that it is doing them a kindness when they are at a certain stage.
  
  I keep waiting until I “know” it’s time, and I keep figuring as long as he’s able to move around to eat and drink then why end his life.
  
  Just want to share my experience with regard to what you mention here. My first and very beloved bunny, Stormy got cancer when he was 9. I knew he was declining and it was awful seeing him that way but I kept him with me because he still seemed so interested in food. He always ate all his meals and treats. But after I put him down, I realized I waited too long and I wish I would have done it sooner. Bunnies are prey animals and eating is not always an indicator of how they are feeling. I don’t want anyone else to feel the regret that I feel. I feel like I wronged him. But I loved him so….
  
  Of course, this is ultimately your decision. Only you can know in your heart when it is truly time. ((((Hugs)))))
- 11/01/2018 at 11:27 PM
  Cheeko&Abby
  Participant
  26 posts
  Thank you for sharing your experience with me. My husband and my mom (who is a hospice nurse) have both gently told me it’s almost his time. I’m just so scared to make the decision for him if it’s not what he wants/needs. I read the most awful story about a girl who took her mom’s Guinea pig to the vet to be put down and they had to gas it twice because it didn’t die the first time. Do they use gas with bunnies or is it the same injection they use for cats and dogs? I can’t imagine watching him suffer more when the decision is already hard enough.
  
  He’s not changed over the last few days. Yesterday morning he was actually upright when I woke up, but this morning he was on his side again. Later when I was giving them treats, he rushed too fast to get to the treats and ended up on his side again. It seems like his back right foot is just so stiff and twists under him, causing him to lose balance. All I can do for him is keep him on pain meds and joint support supplements until I decide he’s had enough.
  
  I’m also worried about Abby since she’s almost 10 and showing no signs of aging. We won’t be getting another bunny after Cheeko passes due to my husband’s allergies, so I hope she is ok with extra love and attention from me. I guess I’m selfishly keeping Cheeko alive for her as well.
- 11/03/2018 at 9:47 AM
  Hazel
  Participant
  2587 posts
  Posted By Cheeko&Abby on 10/30/2018 9:51 AM
  
  I know if this were someone else’s bunny I would think they were abusing him by keeping him alive in this state
  
  I think you have kinda answered your on question right there. You acknowledge that your attachment to him is the deciding factor, rather than his condition. I’ve been there, I know that right now, each additional day you get to spend with him seems like a gift. But once he is gone, you will look back on those days with regret, wishing that you would have let him go when he was ready, instead of waiting for yourself to be. At least that is what I went through when I was in your situation. I’m not saying this to be mean, but regret can be worse than grief.
  
  I’m sorry you’re going through this.
- 11/04/2018 at 10:41 AM
  Cheeko&Abby
  Participant
  26 posts
  The hardest part is his health keeps yo-yo ing. One day he seems like he’s on his death bed, then the next day he’s up and moving around.
  
  I have a friend who raises rabbits and her vet recommended something called T Relief Mobility for her rabbits with arthritis, is a herbal supplement for humans that’s all natural and safe for long term use. Before I gave it to Cheeko I asked my vet if any of the ingredients could harm him. The vet said they are safe to give him, so I’ve been giving him one per day for the last few days and today is day 3 that he’s upright when I wake up! I googled the T Relief and it turns out a lot of people give them to their dogs for the same issues.
  
  Hopefully this is a good solution for his stability issues since he’s definitely walking around better than before! For now, he seems to be happier and more confident!
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