RIP Nugget :(

[Jeremy]

At just 15 months, our beautiful little boy, Nugget, fell ill and yesterday we had to order the vet to put him to sleep.

He had lost some weight over the last 2-3 weeks, but was due for a vaccine which includes a health check at the vet. The vets words were “his body condition is good” so I figured he was just a skinny rabbit and didn’t really question it. Maybe he’s lost weight because we feed him such a strict, healthy diet? We started feeding him some more vegetable treats than usual but he wasn’t gaining weight.

Yesterday he was so low on energy, a sudden downfall in his mobility. The poor little guy wasn’t leaving his cage (abnormal, as he’s a free roaming indoor family member) so we took him to the vet. She straight away was worried about his weight and could feel something wrong with his insides. They took xrays and found a large mass inside of him. Without opening him up, they couldn’t tell if it were some material he’d eaten or a tumor of sorts. Unfortunately, all 4 vets agreed he would not survive the anesthetic, let alone the surgery.

I’m so angry at myself for not getting a second opinion on his skinniness. Maybe it was too late anyway (2 weeks ago) and the outcome would have been the same but I’m going to never know.

I’ve never been this sad in my life. I loved this little man like a real son 

May this be a reminder to all bunny owners if they change in any way, question it and if you don’t have complete confidence in your vet’s recommendation, get a second opinion, as we know our bunnies better than they do. I feel like I failed this little guy.

[OnyxMoon]

Im so sorry. Binky free Nugget..

[September]

Beautiful Nugget… I am crying looking at his photos. I am so sorry. This is a cruel world sometimes.

Xxx

[Phil]

This is so sad what a Beautiful bunny, my jasper was 8 when he didn’t survive op to remove testical tumor, I’ve been distraught ever since, feel I failed him too, my heart goes out to you. Life’s so unfair. I’m so upset reading this. Know just how you feel its awful x

[tobyluv]

I’m very sorry about the loss of your sweet Nugget.

[Gordo and Janice]

So sorry. Very cute pics of such a handsome guy! The first picture with his ears up has me grinning, big time. So cute! And sadly yes too young to have to leave so early.

You know I often went through the same thing about second opinions and that I somehow failed my little girl, Icey. Their was always a seed of doubt that our vet didn’t know something or catch something and maybe if we had gone to someone else things would be different. Maybe that comes from feeling like things are controllable if we do the right things. And since the outcome wasn’t positive or what I wanted then I failed to do the right thing.

Life is unpredictable and not always controllable, obviously. I believe you did everything you could. There was no reason to believe that Nugget could possibly have a serious issue at 15 months. You were taking him in for his scheduled vaccine and health check up for goodness sake. You were caring for him as properly as anyone would. Again I wish I had the answers and all the wisdom to make sense of such things as the sickness and death of such young ones.

Thank you for giving him a wonderful life and allowing him to be free. It’s very, very emotionally difficult, always will be, with such a loss. Try to be thankful for the time you had together. Mindful of the things that make you smile. I would have never thought having a bunny could be such a rewarding experience while we shared in each other’s lives. An experience so many miss out on. But not you. Not us.

You and little “Nuggers” are in my thoughts.

Binky free cute little {{{Nugget}}}

[Phil]

I’ve been thinking all day about your little Nugget, what a darling he was, so unfair, he looks so healthy, I just wish we could turn back time and fix it all so we have them forever, I am so greatful to have had my bunny for a long time, I question myself every day, could I have done more, but its to late, wish we could turn back time and, save them, we can’t its so very hard to accept this. We are all special people on binky bun. We care so much, and love our bunnies with all our hearts, be proud of that x

[Flakie]

So sorry to hear of the loss of your lovely bunny Nugget. What lovely pictures of him.

I just lost my Flakie aged 10 in January and it still hurts. You didn’t fail him at all you did your very best for him. You gave him a lovely life with you and special memories which you will treasure forever.

Binky free Nugget x

[Flakie]

So sorry to hear of the loss of your lovely bunny Nugget. What lovely pictures of him.

I just lost my Flakie aged 10 in January and it still hurts. You didn’t fail him at all you did your very best for him. You gave him a lovely life with you and special memories which you will treasure forever.

Binky free Nugget x

[GeorgeBooBoo]

So sorry to hear this, I cannot imagine the pain as my Georgie has become such a great part of my life that life without him would be dull. Never feel as though you failed Nugget, the vet was in the wrong having not checked him further. Binky free Nugget. Also take this as a lesson. It would’ve come off as just weight loss to me too. Not a mass.

[Jeremy]

Hi everyone,

What a kind community this is. Thanks for all the kind words and thoughts and for sharing your own experiences.

It’s still hurting so badly. I woke in tears again today and as soon as I got that under control, walked out to the kitchen and saw his hutch and nearly fell over in tears again. I feel insane but my partner had closed the little door on his indoor hutch but I had to re-open it so he is free to come and go

I think the key is going to be to not let myself feel guilty or responsible for his early death, but to focus only on the positives we shared together. I’m so glad I managed to capture some videos of him binking around the lounge room over the year. But then the downside to those memories is I now realise he hadn’t been binking around for a few weeks – a sign I’d missed. It’s really a vicious cycle of thoughts though so I’m trying hard to block the bad ones.

One other point to note is he had been far more cuddly with us in the last weeks. I wonder if he knew. He always liked a morning lap cuddle but more-so recently.

In the beginning, my partner bought Nugget home without even running it by me. I rolled my eyes. I never thought I’d have a pet rabbit. But far out, I fell so in love with him almost instantly. My life became about providing for him, ensuring he was happy and healthy. I don’t have my own child, just my 7 year old step son, but I really do think I loved Nuggles like a son.

Jeremy.

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