Bunny Vet Trip Question

[Quantum]

My apologies for not posting for some time.  I asked you all before about taking Quantum with me when I went to stay with my Dad once he got back out of the hospital.  Unfortunately, my Dad didn’t get to come home and he died on Feb. 17th.

In the midst of currently dealing with all this, Quantum began having some problems with her right hind foot.  She’s scuffing it along on the floor.  At first we thought that it was a sprain and kept her confined to a smaller area, thinking less exercise might be good for it.  Then, too, she’d had her bout of diarrhea, maybe she had some matting problem that was pulling on the fur.  We flipped her over (her least favorite thing in the world) and I trimmed any and all little catchy places in her fur.  At one point, she stuck both hind legs straight out, spreading the toes on both feet (“No!  I tell you, NO!!!”).  She obviously has no problems moving that foot–she just doesn’t seem to want to walk on it normally.  Both legs and feet feel the same, both feet are fine, I recently trimmed her nails and she doesn’t have a torn nail on that foot.  She isn’t in any pain–lies primarily in the “sphinx” pose, never all hunched and anxious, comes for long pet sessions frequently and the only tooth grinding is occassional tooth purrs while being petted (which is normal for her) and she “binkies” to the extent she can with a foot she’s not using.   I’ve seen her shake the foot to get hay off of it and she’ll use it very, very infrequently, but most of the time it’s,  “hop-scuff, hop-scuff” across the floor.

I called our local “rabbit savvy” vet’s office and that particular vet will be in tomorrow and you can bet we have an appointment.  My question: has anybody else run into anything like this and, if so, what the heck was it?  And reference the vet: is it likely they’re going to have to keep my girl overnight or would this be an “x-ray and run” kind of thing?  Any mind-easing would be greatly appreciated and my apologies for rambling–I seem to be doing a lot of that lately.

[bunnytowne]

OH nooo  sorry for your loss.  A tough time for you right now.   Sorry about your bunny too.   It could be a sprain or pulled muscle.  I doubt it is spinal in nature.  I dont’ have any personal experience with this.

I wish for you and your bun the best.   May you all come out with no serious issues. 

[kralspace]

oh Quantum, I’m so sorry for your loss, it’s so hard to lose a parent. I don’t have any advice to offer, just condolances and lots of bunny hugs, sweetie.

[Sarita]

Quantam, I’m so sorry for your loss, my condolences to you.

[Beka27]

My deepest condolences to you. I will keep you in my thoughts.

I am unsure what could be wrong with her foot, but it’s good you are taking her to get checked out. I don’t remember, are you the member who’s bunny had an abscess on the rear leg, or was that someone else?

[KatnipCrzy]

Beka- I think it was the bunny Sparty that had rear leg abcess and she posted the x-rays.

Good luck at the vet tomorrow!

[Quantum]

Thanks, everyone, for the kind thoughts.  I really, really don’t want any more heartbreak right now.  I keep telling her she has bad timing and all she says is, “Shut up and pet me!”

No, the only two problems she’s had since we brought her in were a (I think) sprained front paw which cleared up on its own (she got startled, bolted forward and, I think, caught a toenail in the carpet) and a bout of diarrhea (caused by my feeding her a little too much apple one day).  I’m totally confuzzled on how this one happened–one day, all is fine and happy.  Next day, she’s scuffing that foot along.  I don’t think it’s anything out of joint; I would think that it’d be painful or the leg would look odd or she wouldn’t have been able to do the full stretch she did while on her back or she’d huddle up and act hurt.  She’s totally normal except for “hop-scuff”-ing along. 

 

[skunklionshow]

Is it possible that he/she stepped on something or possibly got it caught in something again?  I don’t have much experience w/ this and rabbits, but based on my cat experience….it’s VERY obvious if it’s a break or a fracture.  I can’t imagine that they’d keep her over night.  My guess would be x-rays and/or keep an eye on it.  If it’s a sprain, either muscle or tendon, it won’t show on an x-ray and would definately be a wait & see situation (unless I’m totally wrong, but on human’s that’s the case).  Here’s hoping or hopping for a speedy recovery.

Also, I’m so sorry for your loss.  My dad recently underwent quad bypass, colerectomy, and the removal of other malignant growths in his bladder all w/in a 30 day period.  That’s really pushed me to make sure I tell him “I love him” whenever I get the chance.  Your own loss reminds me again, why it’s so important to tell those we love that we love them.  Thank you for reminding us all!

[Beka27]

Thank you Katnip! That’s right! I do recall that thread!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I am sooo sorry for your loss!! I don’t have any words that could possibly comfort you, but my thoughts are with you and your family in this time of need. *hugs*

Good luck at the vet and keep us posted-it doesn’t sound like anything is broken so hopefully it’s minor! {{Vibes}}

[Quantum]

Oh, Skunklionshow!  {{{big hugs}}}  Yeah,  you know exactly what I went through–just one thing after another.  Dad had COPD and a bum heart valve and needed an angioplasty for arterial stenosis.  Angioplasty went well, but he had an “episode” afterwards (blood oxygen levels dropped like a brick).  A week in the hospital following what should have been “day surgery”.  Then he was home and I was staying with him, helping out.  A week later at his check-up, he’s anemic and bleeding somewhere internally.  Back to the hospital for another week, bleeding stops.  Another week home with me there and the day after Thanksgiving, another episode–ambulance to hospital.  It seems that the increased blood flow from the angioplasty is causing problems with the bum heart valve.  Open heart surgery for valve replacement.  Again, surgery goes well, but they couldn’t get him off the ventilator.  He was in the hospital/respiratory care center from the day after Thanksgiving until Feb. 17th.

So, for my totally unwanted soapbox moment–if anybody reading this smokes?  Stop.  Just stop.  Two surgeries, done every day with huge success, killed him because of the COPD.  Not to mention the years before that he spent tied to a portable oxygen tank.  Yeah, yeah it’s “your life” (generic “you”), but it’s your family that has to deal with the heartbreak.  Off the soapbox here for good, I promise.

[Quantum]

Well, Mike and Quantum got home a bit ago. The vet’s best guess is that she’s about 5 years old and is an English Spot. She doesn’t think it’s any kind of spinal problem–probably a muscle strain or even arthritis. She gave us a bottle of liquid anti-inflammitory drug to give her once a day to see if that’ll take care of the problem.

Now, the bad news. The vet believes that Quantum probably had several litters and is currently unfixed. She also has quite a number of growths the vet can feel. The vet’s reasonably certain that Quantum has cancer and probably has 6 months to a year to live, although she said she could surprise the heck out of everybody and she (the vet) was certainly hoping so. Mike asked about surgery and the vet was not inclined to do it. She said with the number of growths she’s feeling, it’d be unnessasarily hard on Quantum with no gain. So, any good wishes you can come up with for my butterfly-nosed baby to beat the heck out of the odds is more than welcome. And now, I have to go cry.

[KatnipCrzy]

aw….I am so sorry to hear that Quantum most likely has cancer!  ((Hugs))  You could always take her to another vet for a second opinion- just so you can be sure there are no options for her.

 

[jerseygirl]

Oh gosh, that’s rough. I agree, get 2nd opinion or some more definative test to see what she is dealing with. The likelihood of ovarian and uterian cancers in increased in unspayed non-breeding does but as Quantum has likely had some litters, it’s not just for the non breeders. Hugs and support from me to you. My condolences also on the recent passing of your Dad. (((((QUANTUM+Family)))))

[Beka27]

First off, I am very sorry to hear this. If I remember right, you rescued her from outside? So you don’t know any of her history…

Did the vet do or recommend any further testing, or she came to this diagnosis just thru palpating her stomach?

Can you go to someone else for another opinion? Or is your vet able to refer you to a specialist?

Sigh… I hate that you even have to deal with this, especially now. But the odds are against her, uterine cancer is definitely a real threat.

Big Vibes to Quantum and Hugs to you. Really.

Please let us know what goes on from here.

[Sarita]

Hugs to you and Quantum. It probably wouldn’t hurt to seek a 2nd opinion just for your peace of mind too.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

*hugs* {{Quantum}}

I agree-maybe a second opinion?
My dog has cancer and with radiation she was given up to one year to live-it’s been 2.5-keep hoping! *HUGS*

[skunklionshow]

OMG…I am so very very sorry.  I know w/ all you have been dealing w/ you are probably just reeling from emotion and aren’t really in a place to do much planning, however, I highly recommend a 2nd opinion.  My cat was given a diagnosis of metastisized (sp?) cancer.  DH & I were overwrought w/ emotion and had no idea what to do next .  The vet told us it was likely weeks or months.  We then saw our regular vet for a 2nd opinion & he totally disagreed.  So there is hope….

Katnip is a vet tech so maybe she can give some input as well, but I was wondering…how did they make this diagnosis?  Did they do any ultrasounds to identify if it is uterine cancer VS Mammary cancer?  Did they do some bloodwork to support this diagnosis?  I’m really basing this input on my experience w/ cat medicine not rabbit medicine, so I may be completely off base.

Just an additional bit of input….our hutch bunny had a mamary tumor for years.  I’m so sad to say that we didn’t do anything about it and she lived w/ it for almost 4 years.  She ran though the garden every summer w/ a giant tumor.

Take care and let us know if you need anything…even if it’s just hearing…”good job” from us.

[Quantum]

Thank you again to everyone. We’re still pondering the second opinion idea. The vet we took her to is one of only two specializing in rabbits (the other is part of the same clinic) in our town. Ours is a member of the House Rabbit Society and a number of other rabbit-oriented groups. I’ll have to see if the next town further north has anyone available. Evidently the lumps are numerous, hardish and easy to feel. One is in one of Quantum’s mammaries, the others are abdominal. The vet gave us her opinion based on the number, size and spread, saying things weren’t looking promising and that she would have advised surgery if it was just the ovaries or the ovaries and another in the same general area. As spread out as they are, it’s her belief that the cancer’s gone too far for them to catch, not to mention what kind of quality of life my girl would have if they have to remove as much tissue as she believes they would have to. I’m just not sure what would be best, at this point.

[jerseygirl]

You vet does sound experienced so perhaps she could do some scans or further testing and you can make the next step from there.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Yeh your vet does sound good. That’s awful news though, *HUGS* And *Nose rubs*
Keep us posted-we’re here for you.

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