RIP Snowbunny

[JezabelRabbit]

My heart is breaking.  My bunny just died in a horrible way.  My boyfriend is on a river trip so he’s out of cell phone range until Monday.  i’m all alone, and it’s 3 am so i don’t want to call anyone.  I can’t believe my bunny is gone.

Yesterday evening I realized that my bunny hadn’t eaten anything all day, and i could just tell that something was wrong.  I suspected a blockage so I took her to an emergency clinic.  They gave her sub-Q fluids, and sent me home with Metoclopram to help motility, and a bag of fluids.  I also asked for pain meds so they gave me an opiate called Buprenex.

It was really scary because she didn’t poop or pee for a long time.  But by this evening she’d done a little of both, and seemed like she was on her way to recovery.  Still, she seemed pretty uncomfortable so i decided to give her one more dose of the pain killer.  Shortly after I dosed her, she started breathing heavily, and seemed really scared.  I figured that she was feeling high from the meds and she didn’t like it.  I tried to soothe her but it didn’t help. Instead she just got more scared.  She would sort of nod out for a minute, then suddenly jump up and try to scoot away to hide, but she was so drugged that seconds later she would be flopped out on the floor again.  I thought about going back to the emergency clinic, but it’s 45 minutes away, and i figured this would probably resolve itself.  She didn’t seem to be having any unusual physical problems, she was just really scared.  This went on for a couple of hours, and then all of sudden I knew something was very wrong.  She went totally limp, and then she died.

I feel so incredibly guilty for giving her the pain meds (although how could I know what would happen) and for letting her live her last few hours in fear, and not doing anything to save her.  Bunny, you were my heart.  I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.  I love you so much. 

[GrammyB]

I am writing through tears :.( I’m so sorry you have to be alone at a time like this.

Our fur babys are so sensitive. It doesn’t take much & it doesn’t take long for them to be in trouble. I hate to ask, but do you think you gave too much pain med.? I have never heard of that med. I will do some research & get back to you.
My heart & hugs go out to you. <3 ((((HUGS))))
You can take comfort that your bun is nolonger in any discomfort. Eating the best veggies & binkying free!!

(((((BINKY FREE SNOWBUNNY)))))

[Deleted User]

I am so sorry to hear what happened. It is so hard to do right by bunnies when they are ill. All you can do is try. Not all emergency clinics know what to do with rabbits, they are good for a quick fix till you can get to a rabbit savy vet.

((((( binky free Snowbunny ))))) (((( Hugs for you JezabeRabbit ))))

[GrammyB]

I came up w/this so far. Buprenex is ok in small doses 0.3-0.5 mg., but Narcotic painkillers should never be given w/ metoclopramide.

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

[JK]

Oh I am soooo sorry. What an awful thing to go through. I’m so sad for both of you. Take care.

[Beka27]

i’m so sorry. this is heartbreaking.

(((Binky Free Sweet Snowbunny)))

[kittsbuns]

I feel for your loss I also lost my first bunny and the love of my life. I had rescued a bunny that I found out that had snuffles and the vet didn’t tell me to keep them apart. So being a new bunny mom I let them play together. In three days Buster started hiding under the bed and wouldn’t come out I thought she was been spoiled. So then I realized there was something wrong We rushed her to the vet they have her what I thought was the same meds. So I tried to give them to her she fought and then bit me . When I finally got them in her she started flopping around so I put her in her cage and just laid here. I grab my cel and called my friends phone tat had taken me to the vet ( my car was in the shop) all they could hear was me screaming they didn’t know where I was or what was wrong. He was dying I started CPR but all that did was bring the infection out of her body she was gone. I screamed for three straight hrs till they came to find me. I had through things broke thing I went nuts. sorry this is so long I think I did to grevie again. I remember my first pet and my first love. Please let yourself grieve. Again I’m sorry but some times I feel like was I might fault like I did then It took along time for me to get over that.

[rabbitsmba]

My heart aches for you and Snowbunny – there seem to be no words I can say to comfort you right now.

You must know that you are a very good bunny mom. As soon as you noticed a problem, Snowbunny got to a vet and received treatment. You did everything you could to take care of her. There was nothing you did or didn’t do that contributed to Snowbunny’s death.

I am so sorry Snowbunny’s last hours were like that, but I know she found at least a little bit of comfort knowing you were around. She is across the Rainbow Bridge now, happy and healthy with all new bunny friends who were there to greet her. She is binkying through the fields of clover to the strawberry patch that is always in season and is your very special guardian angel bunny. And if oyu listen closely, you can hear her whispering “thank you” in your ear for her wonderful and loving life with you.

Please do a little research on the use of the pain meds that were given with the metaclopromide – if this is in fact the reason why she died, that vet needs to know NEVER to do that again.

[JezabelRabbit]

Oh my god, oh my god. GrammyB, I read that same page several times when she got sick, but I missed that sentence about negative drug interactions. I can’t believe this has happened.

I was wondering why the first time I gave her the Buprenorphine , she was fine. It’s because she got the dose several hours after she received the Metocloprom.  

The second time she got the doses concurrently.

 

[JezabelRabbit]

I guess i have to go outside and bury her. I wish I wish I wish my boyfriend was here with me. He loved her almost as much as I do. He is a river guide in the summer, which is why he’s out of cell phone range. I’ll be able to talk to him on Monday night, but he won’t actually be home until July 26. I spoke to him the night she got sick, and he urged me to get off the phone and take her to the vet. I felt bad that he would be on his trip wondering if she was alright, so yesterday I left him a message saying that she was improving, knowing that he’d hear it as soon as he got off the river. Now he’s going to hear that message, and then another message that I left right after she died, of me sounding totally shell shocked. I know he’s going to feel horribly guilty that he wasn’t here with us.

And there isn’t really anyone else to call. Most people, even people with dogs or cats, don’t understand how it’s possible to get so close to a rabbit.

Her little body is lying on the floor, wrapped in a towel, and I just can’t deal with it.

[Beka27]

if you want to, you can put her and the towel into a couple doubled-up ziplock bags and place her in the freezer. it sounds weird, but i did this before when my childhood hamsters passed away in the winter and i could not bury them until spring. it will preserve her until your boyfriend gets home and you guys can do a proper burial. when my pets passed, i always had a hard time dealing with it too.

[babybunsmum]

oh you poor thing.  i’m so sorry this happened.  (((((((((hugs to you)))))))))

i’ll second beka’s suggestion if burrying her by yourself is too much for you right now.  i watched my first bunny slip away before my eyes and i know how terrible it is to endure.  i’m so sorry.

(((((((((binky free snowbunny)))))))))

[bunnytowne]

Oh nooo you poor thing both of you. OH gosh. How were you to know about the painkiller and motility drugs. oh gosh. I would definitely let the vet know and probably let him have it cause you lost your darling bun. I would be upset and screaming too. WEll bun bun is feeling better now. She will be there waiting for you.

[kralspace]

I’m so very sorry about your bunny, it’s so very hard to lose a furbaby. We’re sending you soft bunny hugs and whisker kisses…

Kathy

[JamieM]

[skunklionshow]

I am so sorry for your loss.  It’s times like these that make it really suck being an adult.  Please don’t beat yourself up right now.  This isn’t what you need & it won’t help your pain/loss.  Just take a moment to grieve w/o questioning your actions.  I suggest that each time you start to blame yourself, try to think about the good times w/ little Snowbunny (i.e. like the belly rubs in your avatar).  You’ll really have to practice this and may even tell yourself aloud “this isn’t helping…I loved Snowbunny”.

I agree w/ Beka, it might be easiest to bag him up & put him in the freezer.  When I had to do this w/ Jessica’s babies…I tried to step outside of myself…as if I had no connection to the babies.  It really helped me to get through that moment.  I wrapped them in papertowels b/f putting them in bags.  I think you might need a moment and your boyfriend b/f you can take the next step.  Take care & if you need anything, please let us know! 

[RabbitPam]

I’m so very sorry for your loss. Believe me, you did everything you could think of to do to save her. In fact, you were trying hard to get her out of any pain she was suffering, so you did your best with what you had at the time. I have often been surprised by vets who send people home to administer important medications to their pets with little or no practice. I wish they would keep bunnies overnight more to be monitored and on the receiving end of their professional care. We do our best, but we’re already upset over the illness and sometimes it’s just hard to be clear and objective during a crisis. I agree – please do not beat yourself up.

She had a loving home and bunny mom with you. She’s at peace now. {{{{{{{{{{{{{Hugs to you}}}}}}}}}}}

[Lion_Lop_Lover]

I am so very sorry Please accept my condolences

[rabbitsmba]

I consulted with a very bunny-savvy friend of mine who works in a vet clinic – specifically about the mixing of metaclopromide and bupremex. Although they do not use this drug at their clinic, as far as she knows it is safe for bunnies.

Please know that rabbits, being prey animals, hide their illness very well. G.I. Stasis, which I suspect was the cause, can strike very fast and rabbits can die in as little as 24 hours. It is often difficult for an owner to even have the chance to get help.

I hope you are able to find some comfort in your happy memories of Snowbunny. I agree with the others – wrap her up and place her in the freezer – don’t worry, she can’t feel anything, and then when your boyfriend gets home, he can grieve with you and give you the strength to give her a proper burial.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.

[JezabelRabbit]

Thank you everyone for your kind words and thoughts. It means so much to me.

No, the freezer trick isn’t weird. When Snowbunny’s mate died while I was out of town, I had the sitter put him in the freezer for me. Sadly, I’ve had a lot of bunnies die over the years, they’re just so delicate. Snowbunny seemed to be the exception, until now. I’m not sure how old she was because she was a rescue, but i had her almost six years and this was the first time she had had any serious health problems.

rabbitsmba, I think she did die from some sort of drug interaction, or else just a bad reaction to to the opiate, rather than from the stasis. She really seemed like she was coming through the stasis episode, and was going to be ok. She did still seem uncomfortable, which is why I decided to give her the pain med (.2 mg in a pre-measured syringe, in case you’re curious)

I did call the clinic to tell them what had happened. I’m not angry with the vet, I know she probably doesn’t see many rabbits, and it was just an unfortunate mistake.

Still, it’s at this point that the,”What if’s” and “If only’s” invade my head. It’s pointless, and unhelpful, but I’m having a hard time stopping the negative tape loop. A few days ago, I was having a similar problem with being unable to let go of some negative thoughts on a totally different matter. Despite my best efforts, the bad thoughts kept circling through my head, until I told myself to just replace them with something happy. And what was this happy thought? It was, “Hey, I have a bunny!” I repeated that thought every time I began to get down on myself, and eventually i was able to stop my obsessing. I guess I need a new happy thought now : (

I went ahead and buried Bunny this morning. It was hard, I didn’t want to let go of her sweet softness, but it felt like the right thing to do. I picked some white daisies and placed them on her little grave. I know that Jon would have wanted to say goodbye too, but I also know that he will understand that I needed closure, due to the difficult circumstances of her death. I feel so lucky to have a partner who respects how much I love my animals, and is able to comfort me when I lose them. i just wish we could be together right now.

I also called a couple of girlfriends, and they were very sweet. I guess what I wrote earlier about people not understanding that it’s possible to get so close to a rabbit really isn’t true. My friends did understand what i was going through, and were very consoling. One friend even gently chided me for not calling her at 3 am, because she couldn’t bear the idea that i’d had to deal with it all alone in the middle of the night.

I know it’s going to get easier, but right now it’s just so hard. She was so terrified before she died. I just thought the pain killers were making her feel weird, but now I realize that she was fighting for her life. Afterwards, I couldn’t bear to look at her face because I could still see the fear in her eyes. I don’t know how you get past something like that. It’s so painful. I’m sorry, I know this must be difficult to read, but I’m hoping that facing this horribleness, and talking about it with others might make it hurt a little less.

[jerseygirl]

My heartfelt condolences to you Jezabelrabbit. I can only imagine the pain. When my girl has become sick, the panic sets in and you do everything possible to hang on to them. For your Snowbunny to slip away after doing all you could must have been agonising. Despite that horrible moment, she has moved on from there and has peace. Unfortunately for you, it’s your mind that keeps taking you back to that moment. I suggest each time you find yourself there, replace the thought with a happy bunny memory or look at a favorite pic of Snowbunny in good health to help evoke good memories of her. Just like you did with the other issue, replace bad with good to reprogramme the brain. You sound like such a strong person and I admire how you have dealt with this. My wish for you is this pain lessens quickly and that you will be able to reflect more happily on the  time you spent with this beautiful little creature. (((HUGS)))
*Thank God for your girlfriends too!!

[BinkyBunny]

I am so sorry! I know that was just so hard, and I understand replaying that “tape in your head”. It’s horrible. I think Jerseygirl’s suggestion of replacing those thoughts with all the happy bunny memories is a good way to heal. Snowbunny is now in peace and no longer feeling terrified. It sounds like she had a wonderful life with you full of love and really that is what is the most important part worth focusing on.

I am sending you peace and healing vibes. HUGS!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’m so sorry Jez!! That’s terrible. It’s just so utterly heart breaking when they leave. Know she’s in a happy place now, binkying at Rainbow Bridge; She knows you gave her a wonderful life and loved her very much and that you tried your best. She loves you. May your heart heal.

[Beka27]

i’m still thinking of you. try and relax today… stick around here.

[MimzMum]

I am so sorry to hear of your bunny’s passing.
I understand your feelings of helplessness and the wish that we knew more about the situation to reverse the process you can see happening in front of your eyes, but sometimes even when we know what could be done, we are frozen with the inability to act upon it.
Such was the case with me last winter when one of my elderly cats died in my arms after having some kind of breathing problem (we think he was having small strokes and it was causing him to have trouble breathing). We had Prednisone to use to try and help him, but I think it may have actually pushed him past the point of no return. One night he just began staggering around the house, gasping for breath, and then he fell into my arms and slowly just stopped breathing. It was terrible. You’d think I would’ve considered attempting CPR on him, but I didn’t, I was just too scared stiff of what I saw happening. There was no vet to call, it was a weekend evening. My husband and son were in town, it was about -40 degrees outside and my daughter and I were the only ones in the house. We did the same thing you did, we wrapped him in a nice, fluffy towel and waited for my husband to get home to take him outside and lay him to rest. It was very sad.

I don’t post these things to cause you more grief, but to tell you I know where you’re coming from. Please do not despair, I am firmly convinced that when a beloved animal companion passes, there are tender heavenly arms just waiting to receive that pet, that dear friend, and to offer comfort. I think even more so than when a human being leaves this Earth, with the exception of children, for the animals are true innocence in this life.

Bless you and your boyfriend, that you can get through this sad time and comfort each other. Bless your darling Snowbunny, may she be binkying free in fields of green and the company of other bunny angels.
Take care of yourself. Sending loving vibes and hugs of comfort. ((((((((((((((((Jez & Snowbunny)))))))))))))))))

[JezabelRabbit]

I’m feeling better than I did yesterday, and I know I’m going to get through this. But I’m still crying alot, it’s hard. I was feeling pretty exhausted and a friend suggested i take a nap. When she said this, I imagined lying down on my bed, and saw my bunny lying right beside me, which she loved to do. So sad…

Thank you Thank you Thank you to everyone who’s posted such kind words. i appreciate it so much, especially those of you who shared your own painful stories, such as MimzMum, and offered wise words of advice, such as jerseygirl. You’ve been very comforting.

I am going to drive out to see my boyfriend, AND I’m going to tag along for a few days while he’s working as a river guide, so we actually get to spend some time together : ) I’ve been invited to go on the river with him many times, but I usually didn’t go because I didn’t want to leave Snowbunny.

I’m not sure I’ll be be back here since I no longer have a bunny, but thanks again for everything.

Love,
Jez

[MimzMum]

Oh Jez, your going to the river sounds wonderful and I hope you can spend some quality time with your boyfriend. But please, don’t ever feel you shouldn’t be here! There are lots of members who post here who have had bunnies, or who plan to have bunnies. You never know, maybe Snowbunny will send somebun to you in the future (I know it’s hard to think of now, but maybe someday). Either way, you are always welcome here as I am sure the forum leaders and other members would attest.
Please be safe on your trip and try to have a good time. Snowbunny would want that for you.

[osprey]

Binky Free, Snowbunny.  You were loved and well cared for, and had a good life.  I hope you can send a sign to your mom when it is time for her to take a chance on somebunny else to bring into her life.  She’ll know when the time is right if you help her.

Please continue to participate in the boards here if you’d like to.  We’d love to hear more from you.

 

[MarkBun]

One of the important things is to tell the vet about what happened. It is important that he/she learns about this mistake so that she doesn’t prescribe both meds again.

[skunklionshow]

Please keep us posted on your grieving process.  Even if you do not have a bunny your experience is very vital to all of us.  I believe that we had another member that continued on the site after her rabbit passed…she always had excellent advice.  Just remember that the grieving process is unique to everyone.  If you feel that you need to cry every hour, than cry every hour….if you need to pack up everything bunny b/c you can’t deal w/ seeing it all, than pack it up.  There is no right way to work through your grief, you need to do what is right for you and what Snowbunny would want from you.

The tape loop is a VERY common phenomena in therapy…it’s referred to as an “automatic thought”.  There are several ways to counter automatic thoughts:  1.  replace w/ a happy thought  2.  Acknowledge that it’s an auto thought and attempt to replace w/ a more positive thought, i.e. “SB was comforted that I was there for her.”  3.  Tell your mind to “shut up” and not replace w/ another thought (this tends to work w/ really negative pervasive thoughts & having the type of personality that doesn’t take it personally telling yourself to shut up”.

I hope this is helpful & I hope some time w/ the BF & the river is just what your mind needs.  Lots of warm thoughts to you.

[Sarita]

So sorry about Snowbunny. I will light a candle for her so she can cross the bridge.

Buprenex is a perfectly safe pain medication for rabbits. If you do think that there was a reaction in the medications that was given then you should discuss it with the vet if you are so inclined to do that. Basically what I understand is that the the opiate analegesics can negate the effects of reglan (metroclopramide).

[BBMommy]

i am so sad. i wish she did not die. But i know she is still alive in your heart. it is so sad at a time like this

[Author]

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