Thank you for your kind replies, it means a lot.
I did some research and here the law seems to say that a vet is not allowed to keep a pet as it’s considered property of the owner. If they assume neglect or cruelty, they can report it to the Veterinary Office and it’s the Veterinary Office that decides anything further. That would mean that the emergency vet was either lying to me or she wasn’t aware of the law. She looked very young. Maybe that played a role (lack of experience). I was told she was an exotic animal specialist. They didn’t even introduce themselves (by name) and I initially thought they were the nurses.
Also, the law says that putting them to sleep can only happen with the consent of the owner. Well, I consented eventually based on their recommendation but was a bit coerced I feel by her statements. I felt and feel that they refused to help him and just considered euthanasia. He had a time before when he didn’t eat and then started eating again. I don’t want to dispute their knowledge or expertise about knowing when an animal suffers and when not. They just didn’t know him. He had also mucus in his droppings which his vet treated with some probiotic paste earlier and last week it appeared again. Perhaps it could have been also the digestive track stopped working.
Also, the emergency Vet said when I told her that I would like to go with him to his Vet on Monday to consult before making such decision that he would tell me the same . and my bunny is starving in front of my eyes. She didn’t even know his Vet. Maybe it was his body giving up after him being so strong for so long. I checked the Google reviews now and one person wrote that they are completely inexperienced, another one they are clueless. Other people wrote that the dog/cat was an emergency, they did nothing and the pets later died. This makes me think that they put him to sleep because he was thin and impaired unable to sit by himself not considering any GI issues.
Others gave good reviews but that doesn’t have to mean anything as they could have been written by their friends. It’s so confusing. Had I waited one more night to see his vet would it have made a difference. Would it really have meant having him suffer and how would that compare to him getting possibly better or more help the next day?
Should I have kept him in the basement during the hot days. All these questions. It wasn’t even on my mind to buy a ventilator and today where it’s cooler I finally purchased one. It’s so hard to balance your gut feeling, own observations and recommendations from professionals. They say the gut does not lie. Disappointing that there are so many vets, but good ones are hard to come by. Or is it me misjudging it… She also said something around these lines, they don’t do it lightly and sometimes we should trust them as well. Well, trust is built over time actually.
I called Adi’s vet today and the nurse said it’s difficult to say what they would have done in the situation as it really depends. But his vet had given him some infusion fluid before and then things were better. This emergency vet refused to do it. Yes, he was not well but was it indeed the right solution to put him to sleep considering a few days earlier he still ate well and was normal considering his circumstance?
Have you or anyone witnessed the natural dying process in rabbits? The internet says they will refuse to eat and drink but yes, they also do this when they are not dying. How does one know other than the screams, confused running, lack of response and seizure? My feeling somehow said it might be happening but I simply didn’t know and wasn’t sure at all. He was responsive. If he was in the natural dying process, would it have been better had I stayed at home with him comforting him, playing soft music, etc.? Or would it have been cruel?
Thank you for the info on EC. He got the EC medicine with a 2-weeks delay sadly. After one week an X ray was done and the blood test and another week to get the blood test results and the medicine (yes this is a so-called first world country and it seems to take forever!). My plan was to get him well back on his feet. I understand that 5 months is a long time for him not being able to walk but problems could improve I read even after longer periods. In general, could Fenbendazole be given longer? The first dose with the first vet was 2 weeks if I remember correctly and the second dose with the current Vet was 28 days. I read that when Fenbendazole is given long term, it could also create issues.
Regarding the decision to be with him or not. It was more of a spontaneous feeling as I didn’t get there even thinking that he would get euthanized and seeing it would just be too painful my feeling told me at the time. I was basically not mentally prepared for that! Now thinking about it a day later, I should have probably been there holding his cute paw. They didn’t seem to care and were fine taking him to another room. They didn’t ask me if I was sure or offered it explicitly. Also, they said earlier when I asked questions about this procedure that they are spending already more time with me. This doesn’t give a nice feeling and I wonder why people in such professions are like this and sometimes seem to lack empathy, patience and understanding.
I want to learn from this experience and process it. It’s a life they in my view decided to take so quickly although for them it might be business as usual. My feeling was it was a gut issue due to the mucus he had (which I forgot to tell them) but since they just saw him thin and bony and, in a way, impaired, along with his current state of not eating/drinking they probably estimated him to be suffering. It’s just my interpretation now. Maybe he was suffering and is now released from his ordeal (a few days earlier he didn’t give me that impression). Maybe he just needed fluid and support. When do you trust the “professionals’ and when do you trust yourself? After all they just met the bunny, and I’ve known him for years. I was used to seeing his current situation, caring for him and was in contact with his vet who didn’t bring up euthanasia at all.
I find that it’s also better to take somebody with you in such situation but when nobody is available it’s difficult. After speaking to my family today they said it was probably best for him. I brought him to the pet cemetery today and we will have the burial next week. It’s a grave that’s renewable every three years and also needs to be maintained; I’ll see how it goes with it. I am thankful though that at least for now his body will have nice resting place in a green peaceful nature area.
I tried to attach pictures of him but it doesn’t work. It says no items found.
