Dear community of bunny lovers,
Today I lost my Adi, my best friend for over 11 years. Unfortunately, I never had any human friend like him which I think is sad, too. I got him as a little boy (from the pet shop at the time, I didn’t know about adaption) and fell immediately in love. He too, because he licked my hand. He was the last one waiting for me and I actually did not plan on going to the pet shop that day. I never stepped a foot in it before. There was that pull and I trusted it. The wonderful salesperson said he’s very playful. And damn was he right.
Years of joy began. The apartment was full of life and energy. Where should I begin, a snapshot here. He had a play tunnel, many actually of the same kind that Trixie sold back at that time made of fabric not plastic. And he loved dragging it around through the entire apartment. We played catch and he made me laugh so much all these years. He laid down and watched me dance, he came to the door to greet me at times, he thumped when I got mad once at somebody ringing my door, he slept under my bed by choice (he had the whole apartment).
When I tried the xpen, he would open the door by lifting it up with his teeth. He was the cleanest bunny albeit he wasn’t neutered. In his older age, I got him neutered as he started having fun urinating here and there and his cleanliness was gone. Now I think maybe it could have been related to kidneys. Anyways, he changed a little afterwards. We then adopted his partner which thank God is with me in this difficult time. They both relocated with me last year, being on a 7-hour flight which I was so scared of for them. Everything went fine and they were quite happy in the new place. He also supervised the movers when my stuff got delivered and when I was building furniture together with my mom.
Unfortunately, he got a bit quieter by end of last year and as my family was saying “you’ve been having him for long, he’s an old bunny”, I thought it may be age related and let him be that older bunny. Then in January, he was still coming to the kitchen excited for his food pulling on my pants asking to finally get it. Then end of Jan, he fell when he wanted to move unable to run around. I went to the vet following the reviews on Google. Unfortunately, the nice VET misdiagnosed him in the beginning because he did not have the head tilt although her husband said it was probably E. C.
She scheduled us one week later for a Xray (as he first got some balance issues after the neuter which then later went away) and after doing research I insisted on having a blood test. Yes, E.C. positive! It took all in all 2 weeks from the first signs until him getting his medicine!!! I wonder nowadays if he had gotten proper care earlier, if I had seen another VET (so many bad reviews for other VETS here), things would have turned out differently and if he could still be with me today. Did I give him food without washing it properly?
Anyhow, my bunny boy was not able to run around anymore and didn’t fully recover although we found a great VET afterwards. I hoped things would become better, gave him massages, he took his medicine. He lost weight and was quite bony understandably. He still enjoyed his food very much and our company.
However, yesterday, he hardly ate anything, one blueberry, but he took his medicine and Vitamin which I think shows how much he wanted to live! The day before he also didn’t eat so well. His droppings were very tiny and very few today, but he urinated despite hardly drinking water (he always drank a lot of water). He seemed weak and somehow sad, so I took him to an Emergency VET to a neighboring city as the one near mine did not answer.
I wondered even last night if the dying process had started, was crying so much, or if he was not feeling well. It was so hot here in Europe as well over the past days, mind you no A/C! I couldn’t even sleep at night. So initially I thought it may be heat related. His ears were at a normal temperature. The emergency Vet measured 38 degrees and since they were not his VET were rather surprised (maybe shocked as well) how thin he was (his weight today 1.56 kg).
She said she cannot let me take him again this way and he should be released as he’s suffering. I know of many stories where they are suggesting it albeit the bunny recovers afterwards when it was not agreed to. While I had sworn myself to never play God and decide when it’s time to go, I agreed. He did not lick my finger (which he always did except when he wasn’t feeling well), didn’t take water, didn’t take the dried pea flake, he seemed simply exhausted. I never expected it to happen. My plan was for them to force feed him and to give him fluids. So, after 15 min I got his carry box back with him in which I had crawled him throughout the whole taxi ride just an hour earlier.
I am mad at the first VET for misdiagnosing him and waiting one week to do anything. She just thought it may be bone related and didn’t consider anything else. I am also mad at myself for not being more assertive earlier and for not pushing more or seeking out somebody else. I spent a lot of money on taxi bills as she was located outside of the city.
I wrote a lot, but I also wanted to share something about Adi and how he was. Thank you for reading if you made it thus far.
I am glad too that I am in my home country so I can get him buried in a pet cemetery instead of him having to be cremated which was the only option as far as I know where I lived before.
Nonetheless, it’s so hard having to live without him now, I cared for him over the last months since the E.C. and would have cared for him even longer. At the same time I understand that he had a good age with 11 years and 6 months but sadly spent with E.C. aftermath for the past 5 months. I am grateful for the most wonderful time we had.
Best wishes
.
