Rough day for Mimz

[MimzMum]

Warning…LONG rant ahead…

It has been a trying day in the MimzMum household. You’d think by now I could catch a break. The one good thing that’s happened today is that Griff’s eye is almost back to normal, and also it was the one year anniversary of when we first brought Jenna home. But most of my day has been consumed with trying to keep Mimzy comfortable. He’s been shedding, he has a bum back leg and he’s losing weight and apparently his appetite with it. I’ve posted about his peeing in his habitat and his going lame in other threads, but his problems are so scattered about the forum, I thought I’d post an update here instead where I can maybe get some feedback to boost my mood and clear my head. >.<

So here’s the poop, I’ve got him an appointment for May 1st, which is the soonest they could get me in to see my choice vet. (Hellooo LPT! I hope you were able to get Bindi in sooner!) I’ll phone them each day this weekend and next-her only times on call-to see if another patient canceled so I can get him in sooner, but I almost took him in as an ER this morning. Here’s why…

 

Some background… When he first recovered from his recent dental last month, it seemed like he was more interested in eating than he was before and I’d hoped he would begin putting more weight back on, but in the last few days he’s been picky about his feed and seems to be going back to drinking more water again. It’s been drying out here with spring coming and the snow evaporating, so all of us are super thirsty including the animals, so I put his increased water intake again down to the dry air here.
I’ve also been giving him lettuce leaves and parsley, with a slice of carrot in the evenings and I noticed last night he took his time about eating the green leaf lettuce I’d given him. I didn’t think much of it, but this morning when I got up and went to check on him (I’d only been asleep since about 5 AM and it was now 10…I’d woken with a bad premonition) he was lying flat at the back of his habitat and as I petted him he just sank even further to the floor. He usually jumps right up when my hand comes in the pen but I am realizing he is not doing this as much lately. Today it was really pronounced and I was worried he might be feeling sick. I tried picking him up and he just let me do it, hanging over my hand like a slab of raw pizza dough…not normal for him at all, and then at the last minute kicked himself out of my grasp and into the litter box.  Until he did that I was afraid he was dying on me.

 

I tried to get him to eat something and then noticed he hadn’t really touched the bunny blend hay I’d put in for him the night before and his water sippy wasn’t as empty as it usually is, so now I’m seriously concerned. He would move about the pen if I prompted him, but then he would sit in a  hunched position and half close his eyes and this is such an alarming attitude for him to take, I decided I’d better get his carrier ready.

 

On a side note, for the last week or so I’ve been using the coarse brown Carefresh litter to help fluff up his box and it seems to be helping with him getting in and out, plus there were no more pee spots on the floor. Still poops outside of the box, but I can see it’s because he is just too uncomfortable to get up from a sitting or lying position to make a deposit in the proper receptacle.
However, I have realized today that the box is where he eats those ninja cecals of his. So now I’m thinking he might also be swallowing some Carefresh with his cecals.
He’s been eating and pottying pretty regularly, and there were poops in the box this morning, but that hindquarter fur is still not growing back in, and you can tell that he has folds of skin over his rear legs that must be from where he’s lost weight…I am not sure he hasn’t gone down a little further as it is, he seems like his body is skin and bones. The neck is prominent and his ribs are unmistakable when I pet him. So even if he does eat, it just doesn’t seem to stay with him.

 

I took out the dirty box with the Carefresh (didn’t want him possibly swallowing any in this state if he hadn’t eaten some already) and bagged some poop samples. Since they looked normal I tried offering some of his favorite treats to see if he would eat if I hand fed him. He wouldn’t eat hay from my hand for more than a nibble or so and even his favorite timothy treats were shunned. I got him a carrot slice, he begrudginly took it and chewed it down. I couldn’t get him to stand on his back legs like he usually does for treats. So as you can see, he wasn’t acting like himself at all.

 

Next I pulled him out and spent some time with him on my bed doing massage, listening to his stomach with my ear against his side (can’t find my stethoscope) and I could hear gurgling for the most part, but his tummy felt a bit tight so I gave him some simethicone. I let him wander if he wanted (peed the puppy pad right away again) and he would go over to Fiver’s pen and they would touch noses, but he wasn’t really moving about as much as I’d like, even so I kept trying to get him to move around. I’d have to say it took about two hours of this to really get him acting like a normal bunny again with massage, simethicone and offering treats, but the tummy still felt a bit tight in some spots, so I was worried he might have some kind of blockage and I wasn’t expert enough to find it. For most of the day I’ve been checking that tummy and pushing edibles, just to keep him going and he does seem to be improved this evening, but every time he seems to slow down again, I panic.

 

Anyway, earlier he would dig at the puppy pad which is a signal he wants to potty, so I did pull his litterbox out onto the bed and he went into it and left a cecal, which I picked up and fed to him. He only finished about two thirds of it, but that was a good sign. I put the remainder in the baggy just in case, but continued to watch him. From time to time that sparkle would come back in his eyes just enough that I was beginning to feel he was playing me. Then I’d remember how limp he felt when I lifted him and I’d get a cold lump in my stomach.
The more he ate what I offered (and then would poop) and the more he moved about the bed (I groomed him and we had about a two hours snuggle session as he began to look better) the more I could see him acting almost normal, but for his leg that still seems weak (he grooms himself by leaning on his right side which is the only one that holds him up anymore it looks like.) He still seems sluggish, and uncomfortable at times, but he’s starting to eat again tonight and he must be pretty low on energy for basically going hungry all last night. I also gave him a crock of water which he seems to prefer today. Have to hand it to the simethicone, I am going with the conclusion that it may have just been bad gas, probably from the lettuce which he seems to not be able to tolerate anymore. Or from how picky he’s been with the hays I’ve offered to try and get him to eat regularly, leading us to change types every few days or so. (We’re switching up from bunny blend, to orchard to the meadow grass that BB.com sells-this last is clearly the favorite currently and I don’t have much left.)

 

Like I said, I’ve been watching him like a hawk all day and if he appears to be the slightest bit off I’ll be driving him in. But I’m hoping we averted a crisis. Or he was just messing with me.
Still…his leg is clearly paining him, and though I’ve got some last drops of metacam I am afraid to use it in case he’s got some kidney issues going on that the vet missed, or that it would hurt his tummy enough to stop him eating again. (Scratch that, I just pulled it out to try to give him and apparently I left a wet paper towel inside the container with the syringe and metacam bottle and the whole package is moldy now…too much of a risk to give him that…)

He just seems so unhappy and uncomfortable lately and I can’t stand to see him like this. Today I was more scared than ever that I am slowly watching the Black Rabbit take him by the paw.
He’s always been such a lump, I’m wondering if his bones are wasting despite his age. He lives to hide and sleep and generally be left alone, whereas Pip and Fiver are real social movers and will do bunny 500’s and popcorn binkies even in their night pens if necessary to get your attention. Must be an uppy ear bunny thing. 
Mimzy STILL has some nasal issues and the goop coming from his nose is opaque and gooey. At the very least, the doc is going to have to take a culture and see if he’s developed something we’ve missed and give him some antibiotics. (Oh boy, more tummy woes!) Between the gimpy leg, the hair loss, the nose and the lack of energy and a wavering appetite…I’m very worried about my bun.
I really need this one vet to see him, but if he goes south suddenly, of course I’ll take who I can get. But I’m dubious about the results of such a visit.

 

Update to the update…I had to give him more simethicone this evening because he just kept getting this look on his face that made me think he was hurting. More out time with just mommy, more massage, and by the time I returned him to his habitat so he could eat he was looking less peaked. His pelt looks so rough right now you’d think he was living in a ditch by the side of the road for the last few weeks. I don’t doubt I won’t sleep much tonight and will probably be parking poor Jenna in her pen so I can keep bringing Mimzy out to try to perk him up periodically.

For a 4 year old bunny, he seems much older. I just don’t know what I’d do without him, but it’s days like this I feel I should be better prepared for it than I am. But who wants to prepare for such a thing?

 

Anyone have any good news for me? Or suggestions? Or just a plain old, ‘suck it up’?

[LizzieKnittyBun]

The good news is that you’re a terrific ,pet mother and whatever is happening to him, he is so lucky to have you. I don’t know many people who would spend so much time and energy with a sick pet, and you’re going above and beyond to help him with anything he needs.

I wish I had some useful advice :- /

[MimzMum]

*blushes* Aww..thanks, Liz, that’s awful nice of you to say, thank you.
Yeah, I just peeked in and caught him munching a bit. He is being SO picky about his food and I think in the state he’s in he doesn’t have any right to be so…BUNNY! >.<
But as long as he’s eating something and stuff comes out the other end, I’m not knocking it.

I know I worry too much about them, but I know they aren’t going to be around as long as Jenna or the kitties, so I try to make their lives as worthwhile as possible. And with it being Easter and you just know there’s going to be bunnies in dire straits for the next month…well…
Nothing is too good for my bubs. They deserve the best. They have brought me so much joy, and so many good friends. (((((((((((((((hugs all forum members))))))))))))))
And I don’t try to play favorites, but Mimzy is so special, being my first house bunny. There will never be another one like him, and that’s the way it should be.
Well, I’ve got a pooch to walk and habitats to clean for the night, so I’m going to sign off. Gosh I hope I can sleep…I feel like the walking dead! I’ll see you all tomorrow, hopefully with better news. ^_^ G’night!

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Just know that we’re thinking about you. You’re going through such a rough patch, and you deserve a rest! But I admire your courage, and I know you’re doing the best job you possible can.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Oh, Mimz…I’m so sorry to hear that things have been going badly for you. ***Hugs*** I would never say “suck it up” because I know all too well about how hard it is to worry and stress about a beloved pet (or pets as things have been lately for both you and me!). I’m like you…I worry too much about them…especially my bunnies because I know how fragile they can be. I worry when there is nothing to worry about and then when there is actually something wrong I’m just a nut-case with stress and worry. It’s so hard to love an animal so much. I dread the day when they will leave me..in truth I think about it way too much. I dreamed last night that Stormy was very sick and I woke up with a heavy heart.

I hope you can get Mimzy in sooner than the 1st and I’m sending you lots of vibes for (((((Mimzy))))) that he regains his appetite. I’m sorry that I can’t remember but have you had a full blood panel done on Mimzy yet? It could be there is one thing causing all of his ailments. Unfortunately, I don’t have any idea as to what that could be. Have you ever written to Dana Krempels? I can’t remember the web address to her site but I wrote to her once regarding Bindi’s chronic ear infections and she has a lot of knowledge and wrote back promptly. I think Sarita could give you the address. Maybe she could help you out.

I will make sure to send a little prayer to St. Martin about Mimzy. I have a strong spiritual side and I do credit him with several “miracles” regarding my rabbits. I came very close to losing Bindi that time he ate the stuffed toy and it truly did seems like a miracle when he got better. We were certain he was going to die.

Hang in there….we’re all here for you!

[kralspace]

Oh MM, I’m so sorry to read all this about Mimz, it just seems troubles have kept piling up on the little one. I’ve read the other posts, but to see it all here in one place makes me realize just how scary it must be for you. Liz is right, Mimz couldn’t be in better hands. We all send healing vibes and hope that there will be a cancellation so you can get him into your vet ASAP.

I know how scary it is to see your bun go down to skin and bones so quickly, I had it happen with Hershey and Lola, but you’re doing everything possible and Mimz seems to want to fight it and get better. We’re all here for you, and sending lots of prayers for Mimz and you.
Kathy and the furballs

[Monkeybun]

Oh MM I am so sorry Mimzy isn’t doing well I do hope you can get him to the vet soon.

 

To cheer you up, I’m going to post a pic for you. It was going to be a surprise, but I think you need a little something to lift your spirits. It’s not ready to be sent up yet, but…

It’s part of a series called Grumpy Bunnies, which all have pink noses, thus why Mimzy’s nose is pink in it It’s also why I begged for pics of him hehe. It will be sent up to you soon

[MimzMum]

Okay, we’re back.
I got an urgent care slot early this morning, since they’d be closed tomorrow and I didn’t want to wait another week for the chance to see the vet I like.
Hubby was away, so I had to drive us in. Not too bad as the road is much nicer and almost completely free of melting ice.

My vet took a look at Mimz and poked around that hind end, he was definitely sensitive on the left side although the bones felt even to her, so she got him a radiograph. He does appear to have some calcification(?) going on at the hip joint on both sides, but much more pronounced on the left, so she prescribed him some metacam. She also wants me to try the chondroitin (I think that waas Katnip’s suggestion?) at about 100 mg in a bowl of applesauce per day?

His thigh muscle on his left side measures 15.07 millimeters I think? Or would that be centimeters? They have this lovely computer system that toggles the xray on the screen and you can do all sorts of measurements, but doesn’t seem to tell you the type of measurement she was using. The other side is more like 16.90. So he’s lost some mass in that leg muscle and that indicates to me that this has been going on a bit longer than I thought.
He also seems to have something like a ‘tear’ in the muscle where it attaches to the long bone of the thigh, there’s a spot where the density was not as thick as the other side and the ends of it were kind of ragged. So he may have torn it, probalby in one of his falls from his shelf, or it could be atrophy due to his favoring that leg. She thinks the metacam will give him enough relief that he begins to move, feel and eat better.

Nothing for the nose, she said we’ve tried every antibiotic. She wants me to nebulize him, so he’ll be joining me in his carrier in the bathroom a few times a week for my showers.

His tum did show that he’d eaten something, which surprised me, I sure didn’t see much of his hay go away last night again. And he’s up a few ounces, so he hasn’t lost weight. He still has some gas bubbles, not sure why those were still there. No sign of blockages. He is pooping, but she seemed to think they were kind of dry.

The bare patches on his leg disturbed her. She thought it was that mite they call ‘walking dandruff’, but nothing was travelling while she inspected the spot, so she figures he may have been the one to barber that leg that way if it was painful to the touch. I do see him nipping at his butt once in awhile, when he can get himself round to it, but not as much as I thought would cause that much hair loss.

His spine and other bones look good. No breaks, no fractures. He just doens’t move enough to keep those hips healthy. Little bugger.

But with the metacam, which she said he’d likely be on the rest of his life, she felt he will be happier and maybe more mobile, but she wants anything raised in his habitat permanently removed and his litter boxes will need to be cut down so he can step into them.

Sorry, I know I’m babbling, but I’m just so relieved that nothing was broken, blocked or growing a tumor. I’ve been up two nights in a row just catnapping from time to time and the rest of the time checking on him. I was glad to see this morning he wasn’t just lying like a lump on his floor and he hopped up to greet me at the door, but since he still looked uncomfortable and that hay wasn’t eaten, I figured why tempt fate?

Unfortunately, since I only filled his litter box in the carrier with hay, and he’d peed on the way home completely soaking his back legs (I’d hoped he would go before we got to the doctor’s office so she could get a sample) I had to wash and dry him again. Not so cooperative as he was after the dental (and a lot of struggling resulted, so I hope he hasn’t further twisted anything down there.) I think he had to have still been doped up that day. His right hind foot trembles when he knows he’s going under the tap. And he did his best to squirm his way up into my jacket armpit while I was drying him. That reminded me of how when I first brought Griff home he’d hidden from the other little kids at the school in my jacket sleeve. And then while I was driving home he crawled up my shirt and hung onto my neck with his little pin-sized claws. 0_o; Ow.

But overall, the trip went well and Mimzy’s resting in his hab right now. I have to say though, it was a bit unsettling while we were waiting to see a dog come in, carried by the owner, who had a mangled hind limb (the owners left a while later without her and were obviously shaken up) and another large dog about Shadow’s size and at first glance appearing to be healthy was walked in by his owner and I caught the conversation between him and the receptionist…he was to be euthanized. The irony was stark. I think the first set of folks would’ve been over the moon to take their dog home, but I don’t think she made it…while this other person brought what looked like a healthy dog in for his last journey. Surely there was a good reason, but it wasn’t visibly apparent.

I realized just sitting there, I could never work in a vet’s office. I could not watch the patients that are coming in that I know will not leave the same way they entered and not fall apart. It takes a very special kind of person to do this job.

[MimzMum]

OMG, I just posted and your post came up MB…!
I am just speechless…! I had seen the thread you started about the Grumpy Bunnies, and I had forgotten about all the pix I sent you. This is such a sweet thing for you to have done! Thank you so much! ^_^
lolz…I love this person’s style with these paintings (I did see Madame Chacha shooting some stinkeye out of hers) I only wish I could be this talented!

Thanks again, oh my, that is such a sweet gesture! ((((((((((hugs)))))))))

[Michelle&Lolli]

Oh Mimz….(((((HUGS and SNUGGLES))))) I never realized how heart wrenching seeing your bunny not eat and get weaker was until Eddie quit eating and ultimately passed away from his blockage. I have to admit that it was hard reading about this latest updated with Mimzy because of that. But I was praying the whole time that he would pull through. I am so glad he is doing better and hopefully the metacam will help him. I think it’s a good sign though that he was fighting with you on the bath. Shows that while he might not be feeling the greatest, he’s not feeling THAT bad. lol Little stinkers!

Hopefully the metacam doesn’t make him feel TOO good. My dog and her mother were given a pain reliever at 12 & 13 years old and they kept trying to jump around and stuff. I was scolding them the whole time….”you’re too old to do that! Stop before you hurt yourself more!” LOL Both had arthritis. I will continue to pray for you and your furbabies!

[MimzMum]

Thanks Michelle!
I miss Eddie too. I only knew him by what you posted, but he seemed like he was quite a wonderful little guy. I may be a bit prejudiced towards loppies, but hey…they are the quintessential bun to me.
I relate to your story of the dogs, my two old boys were kept on metacam and sometimes had to take rimadyl for their arthritis as they aged, I don’t think it was really that good for their stomachs. Bunnies however are supposed to be able to tolerate metacam better per pound of body weight to dose ratio than other mammals. And after having given him his first dose a few hours ago, I can see it is already helping.
I went in to check on him and he was in his litter box, and as I watched he scratched his face with his left rear leg, something he hasn’t done in a long time…I really don’t recall when I last saw him do it…and then scratched it again…and then he stuck it out to it’s full length in a looooonnngg stretch! Wow! 0_0 He had such a pained look in his face earlier today and now he looks like the bunny I remember. It is so good to see!

I know I often let my imagination run away with me when it comes to my animals, but I truly feel I can sense a change in them when they have either a decline or improvement in health. There’s just a whole different vibe that comes off them. No one else in the house sees it, and therefore they feel I’m nuts, but if I had to hazard a guess, I really think he’s feeling pretty good right about now. ^_^

Thank you also for your prayers. I always say there’s nothing like BB.com forum member vibes to get something good done. (((((((((hugs)))))))))))))

[lashkay]

MimzMum, please accept my GOOD HEALTH VIBES too, for Mimzy. I was so heartened to read toward the end of your thread that he seems to you to be feeling pretty good. I can’t imagine a better bunny parent than yourself, you have unending patience and tenderness needed to make a difference for the better in a bunny’s life. My thoughts and prayers are with you that Mimzy will have good health and your worries and stress will be eased and given a reprieve.
That’s a beautiful thing you did, MB, and what great timing! Beautiful bunny portrait of Mimzy.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

my WORD what a beautiful bunny portrait!

and my WORD I am relieved at some of the later posts in this thread = D

::hug::

[Monkeybun]

I couldn’t help myself MM has been a wonderful lady, and I wanted to do something nice for her. The painting has been sitting in my living room for a couple of weeks now, it has a tiny spot that still needs to dry. I’ve been itching to tell her about it for ages now, and today I felt was a good time to lift her spirits

I’ll tell Lorraine you guys love it

[RabbitPam]

Hi, MM,
I needed some time to sit down to read your whole thread, and today I was able to – plus read the updates. I am so glad you got him in to the vet.
I know he is only 4, but the diagnosis and treatment is remarkably similar to Spockie. Including being on Metacam daily for the rest of his life. Let me say that it helped him a lot in terms of enjoying his life while being disabled by his lack of use of one rear leg, with the other one not quite well either.
He also had to have all upper levels removed from his house (he used to love to eat his greens on a raised platform and look out at the world, ie. my apartment.) The litter pan was a challenge too (thus the Palace Pet Bed rugs that I washed and changed out almost daily) and he was also given a dose of glucosamine ground up into his food. This lasted for us for about 9 months. As you know, it was only after he passed away that I found BinkyBunny a month later. It was ironic.

We coped well with the help of a great vet and the HRS and the Cats & Rabbits & More website. Here’s a link to their pages on Disabled Rabbits:
http://www.catsandrabbitsandmore.com/disabled_rabbits

What I noticed was that Spockie was low key in the morning, took his meds quite willingly after a very short time, napped for about 15 minutes, then clearly perked up. The metacam was taking effect and he was better. (Syringe fed to side of mouth.)

Not being able to heft himself into the litter pan bothered him, so the rugs helped and he became much more cooperative with the half bottom bathes in the sink. If Mimzy is struggling, dry him on the floor in your lap so there are no heights. Also, do not worry about eating the Carefresh. He won’t. He just gets some in his mouth on occasion trying to eat a cecal, but they know it’s not food and don’t find it good to chew either.

What was fascinating for me was seeing Spockie teach himself how to scoot around on the rug. His other leg and front paws were clearly much better, so he would kind of lie on one side, lift his front end with his front paws and head, and push himself with the good leg. I thought it was painful at first, but he got really fast! He would moved from his cage to under my loveseat (a favorite hang out spot), but then he was able to scoot out of that room and down the hall. It was amazing, and it became clear that he was adjusting to his limitations and doing what he could. He obviously enjoyed his time out and with me and I would carry him around on my shoulder to let he look around the apartment and out the windows. He loved his pets and treats still. I was between jobs (again. sheesh.) and it enabled me to be with him all day on my computer in his room, so he wasn’t alone.

MM, it was a decline in his health that I couldn’t stop. He was 7 years old, almost 8, and the vet and I treated him and made him comfortable. But I guess what I am trying to say is that perhaps you can accept ways to make Mimzy’s quality of life the best you possibly can in the time he has with you. He will probably not be a very old bunny, but he will be a very loved bunny. He has not had a life of complete health that is just who he is. Nothing you have done has been anything other than an attempt to make him well at every turn, but some of us just come into this world a bit more vulnerable or with disorders that others don’t have. Mimzy has this kind of health, and he has you to love him and make the most out of his life for him. Maybe he can bond briefly with sessions with Fiver if it would make them happy. I doubt that supervised times together would result in any harm to Mimzy, and it sounds like he would be happier with a closer bunny friend. Just a suggestion.
You are doing a great job, and Griffy is evidence of that. Hugs to you guys.

[Michelle&Lolli]

I know I often let my imagination run away with me when it comes to my animals, but I truly feel I can sense a change in them when they have either a decline or improvement in health. There’s just a whole different vibe that comes off them. No one else in the house sees it, and therefore they feel I’m nuts, but if I had to hazard a guess, I really think he’s feeling pretty good right about now. ^_^

Well, I have always been able to tell whenever my pets haven’t felt good. I used to drive my parents nuts cause I would report any *perceived* problem to them with the announcement that I thought the pet needed to go to the vet. My parents would tell me to just wait and see how the pet did. Usually the pet was completely fine within a couple of hours. And by perceived problems….I thought the dog or cat was sick or something if they didn’t eat at the usual time or looked/felt like they lost a little weight. lol And there was never a problem with taking them to the vet when they had something serious (ie real) wrong. My cat got an infection in her cheek so she was taken because of that. My dog got into a dog fight and need stitches so naturally she was taken for that. But over all, we have had pets who were healthy except for a few incidents. But my family thought I was nuts too.

I took Eddie to get his teeth checked cause he wasn’t eating pellets like he usually did. I got strange looks from both the vet and vet assistant when they told me his teeth were perfect. The only thing with Eddie that I will blame myself for for the rest of my life is that after his first bout of gas, I should’ve taken him to get checked out. But by morning, he was back to normal and I thought it was just a one time thing. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t gas but his blockage.

I am very partial to lops too. I would LOVE to get another one and a friend for Lolli as I’m pretty sure she’s lonely now. But my dad is being a grump about her even being out of her pen. “If that rabbit is out of her pen, she’s going out to the garage. I mean it!” So I get her out and snuggle with her on the couch after he goes to bed and while he’s at work. LOL

Oh…my dogs were given rimadyl. I couldn’t remember what it was called. They loved it. And tried to act like puppies. I was my usual nut self and worried about them causing more problems by running around and trying to jump, etc. lol

So I’m rambling. But I wanted you know that I know what it’s like for your family to think you’re nuts. My dad thinks I’m a bit nuts about Lolli. Heck, he thought i was nuts when I got Eddie. But I think Lolli’s slowly winning him over. He goes in and talks to her. LOL He is slowly learning the rabbit ways.

I will continue sending vibes and praying for you all!

[jerseygirl]

Mimzy Portrait! Such a lovely gift!

MM, you are so vigilant! I’m glad you’ve discerned what’s going on with Mimzy and are able to go ahead with a care plan. Sending lots of {{{VIBES}}} to you and the lil guy.
Initially when I read your post I remembered he had another time after a tooth trim that he was like this wasn’t he? It wasn’t directly after, more like weeks later.

I did think of mites when you mentioned fur loss. The can become a problem when a bunny is not 100% healthwise. Either they always have some mites that are never a problem unless they’re immune system is stressed. Or they come in numbers via the hay. As you know, I had mine treated for suspected fur mites and Jersey, for quite some time before this, seemed bony and her fur rough looking. After treatment her fur came in really thick and she gained a little weight. The vet I saw put some fur from the site under the microscope and saw eggs but no live mites. But the eggs obviously indicated they were present.
If you find Mimz is not improving in this regard, it might be an idea to treat for mites anyway.

btw, I can’t believe Jenna has been with you a whole year! Happy homecoming Jenna : ) I think some pics are required…

[Dee]

MimzMum, I’m so glad to hear that Mimzy’s vet visit went well and nothing awful was discovered. You must be so relieved! I know that feeling, just floating on air after all the worrying and stress. Our bunnies bring us so much hapiness, but it really is devastating when they get sick. I thought I was the only person who spent too much time obsessing about my bunnies getting old or becoming ill, but I see now that many other people go through the same thing.
You are absolutely amazing with Mimzy- he is one blessed bunny to have you! I feel the same way about that intuition I get when something is off with BunBun (I’ve been VERY lucky with Nelli so far). It’s like we know that they’re not right almost before they show symptoms. I’m hoping that you can relax a bit now- I have been following your posts about Mimzy and I my heart have really gone out to you- it’s just been one thing after the next, and you are so dedicated and tireless in making Mimzy comfortable and well. {{{{{Continued healing vibes for Mimzy}}}}}

Monkeybun, that portrait is incredible! You are really talented- and what a wonderful gift to give Mimz at this time .

[Monkeybun]

Oh it wasn’t me that painted it! I can barely draw stick figures properly A fellow member of Rabbit Advocates here in oregon painted it

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m very glad to hear the vet visit went well and that there is no urgent health problems. Mimzy is so lucky to have you!!! **hugs to you both**

I know how you feel about never being able to work in a vet’s office. A good friend of mine works at my rabbit vet’s and she’s a big time animal lover; I don’t know how she does it. I’ve seen some sad things while waiting in the office and my problem is when I see stuff like that, I just can’t let it go. She says you have to leave the days events at the clinic when you leave but I know I couldn’t do that.

I know I often let my imagination run away with me when it comes to my animals, but I truly feel I can sense a change in them when they have either a decline or improvement in health.

I feel the same way. I just know my bunnies so well that I can tell they are not “100 percent”. Ricky thinks I’m nuts but I’ve been right more often than not. It’s like bunny slave 6th sense. It’s bad in a way though because when I feel they are a bit “off” I worry too much. That’s pretty much the story of my life: Worrying too much!

[kralspace]

aawwww MB, the portrait is wonderful, looks soft and fluffy…..and just a little bit devilish in the eyes 😉

MM, waiting breathlessly for continued good updates and sending healing vibes – Kathy

[MimzMum]

Thanks again everyone.
Pam, your post really touched me. Everything you say is very true, albeit a bittersweet truth.
Whenever you speak of Spockie I see a bunny who had the greatest caregiver, one who had to get everything for his comfort figured out on her own, and you did so well for him. I would be interested in reviewing his history again in more depth with you, if you feel like doing so? You can PM or email me with it if you would rather not discuss it here.

I don’t want to think of Mimzy ailing from one thing or other all his life, but in a sense it is bringing us even closer because I can imagine how he feels, old before his time…it is usually these individuals in life (human or animal) who beg that extra attention and we enjoy giving it to them, because their leaving is often sudden and unexpected…and we have to hope that the time we’ve spent with them was enough to tell them they were loved. He is so dear to me. I do not know what I would ever do without him. I know it will happen one day. Until then, I want him to be the happiest he can possibly be, so that whatever memories he does have of me are ones that he will carry with him over the Bridge.
For now, he seem almost his old self. Almost. You can still tell he is not quite to the level of bunny bliss he should be.

Jerz, I forgot to answer your question; yeah I know he’d had a stasis type episode awhile back, not sure if it was after a tooth trim or before, but I had taken him to two different doctors last year to see what we could do about his teeth and his sinus problems and I remember the one that’s all the way across town had filed his molars way down at that time, taking lots of xrays to see if there was any sign of an abscess. It was a long time for him to be under anesthesia, so it took awhile for him to come back from that, but he was doing so much better when he did recover. I kind of wish I’d taken him back to her, if for no other reason than she doesn’t clip teeth and I am still concerned that perhaps in this last procedure he may have suffered a cracked molar. He still is being rather picky about what he eats right now. However he is eating small amounts (unless it’s treats) and drinking from his sippy again from time to time.

At any rate, I’ve given him his metacam every evening and he does seem to at least be a little ‘hoppier’ than he was. But he still sort of drags that left leg, he holds his right rear leg almost directly underneath him, which I find odd…unless he’s trying to balance himself to keep pressure off the left. Even his front feet have some sensitivity (we didn’t xray those…darn). Oddly, I was able to trim all the toenails on the left rear leg without any difficulty the other night, but he won’t let me touch the right rear one, which doesn’t make sense if that’s the good leg. :-/ It took such a long time to get it all done so now when I even go near his feet he springs off (he doesn’t go far, just far enough to get away from me) and thumps at me.
I made the mistake of not taking off my gold cross necklace last night and he snapped it off while I was returning him to his habitat with one of his feet, so I was watching him to make sure he hadn’t hurt himself for awhile after that. No more jewelry while I’m tending bun, I have got to remember that.

I had a weird dream of Fiver last night, carrying him around the house which my husband was renovating without asking me what I wanted to do with the rooms he was working on. I was upset because I suddenly had nowhere to put the bunnies. By the end of the dream, Fiver had shrunken till he was the size of my palm and I was afraid I’d crushed him with my hand. Don’t ask me what the significance was, unless I was secretly wishing the bunnies were smaller so I could just keep them in my pockets. And no, I didn’t eat pepperoni pizza right before bed either. >.<
He and Mimzy seem to want to interact, but Mimzy likes to try to get on top of Fiver’s habitat and Fiver will box the bars if Mimzy does that. Otherwise they are nose to nose, unless one of them is trying to ignore the other. Mimzy always seems like he’s trying to find a way to ‘spring’ his buddy…lol. They appear to be having ‘groom me’ wars. One will put his nose down low, the other will lower his under that, and so on. (I keep hearing Dueling Banjos playing in my head while this is going on.) I remember when Fiver first made a grab for Mimzy with his teeth once a long time ago, so I am nervous about putting them together at all. And yet, they both seem so lonely. I’m pretty sure I could get Mimzy and Pip back together pretty easily, but I don’t want Fiver to be the odd bun out in case those two form too strong a bond for him to wiggle in on.
My daughter thought it might not be a good idea to bond any of them together, in case Mimzy is destined to a shorter lifespan and then there’s at least one other bunny who will go through grieving. But that’s why we got more than one bun in the first place, so they could be together. I think Mimzy’s illnesses have kept them all apart for long enough. My vet doesn’t seem to think the nasal issues are going to be resolved by medicine, so they are more likely environmental, or for all I know it is stress related? So if they can’t find anything in a culture, maybe his cure lies in a bunny buddy.

There is one concern I have yet: (I’m bouncing back and forth, I know…thoughts are still scattered from lack of sleep)
I was reading a few online stories of bunnies who have had rear leg paralysis or weakness (most of these have suffered from e. cuniculi) and the owners document some eventual liver or kidney dysfunction after long term metacam use. Now, Mimzy’s dose reads ‘once daily as needed for arthritis pain’…so does that mean I could maybe skip a day if he seems to already be doing well? Or is this a medicine that needs to be daily dosed to keep the blood level up so that it works more effectively? Does anyone know?

Oh and I’ll be happy to take some snaps of Jenna to post, but today she is having some bad tummy gas herself and is not up for a photo shoot. We’ll take care of it as soon as she feels better.

[jerseygirl]

When I read what you wrote about his legs when you trimmed his nails, I did wonder if maybe he’s lost some feeling in this left leg? I’m not certain if hind limb paralysis is specific to E.C. I imagine there could be other causes. I’m curious, was the calcification that showed more pronounced on one side then the other?

Skibunny mentioned this test that the specialist did to gauge Gracies hind weakness.

He did this interesting thing where he picked her up and let her feet hang and moved her above the edge of the table so that her feet would hit the edge and then they would slide across the top. He said that normally when a rabbit hits that edge their feet would go up and not drag.

I was reading a few online stories of bunnies who have had rear leg paralysis or weakness (most of these have suffered from e. cuniculi) and the owners document some eventual liver or kidney dysfunction after long term metacam use.

In regards to metacam, I wonder if kidney damage could be directly attributed to it’s use in those cases? Because the kidneys are one of the areas effected by the EC parasite also. So buns living with the effects of EC may already have kidney dysfunction….*unsure*

Have you started him on the cosequin yet? Because it that begins to helps you may be able to modify his metacam dose.

[Sarita]

I think metacam kidney damage is documented in cats not rabbits. That being said, it is always a good idea when on medications for long term to have your vet do bloodwork.

At four years old it is definitely possible he has arthritis, that’s when Mango’s was first diagnosed.

[MimzMum]

@Jerz, yes the calcification is heavier on the left side, but I’m sure the right will catch up. My vet did not test for e. cuniculi, but if I am worried about it I can maybe ask she draw a sample when she rechecks him this weekend. But so far the metacam is doing well and he doesn’t even seem to need it every day. Rainy days are hitting us now and those times he gets more gimpy, so I am assuming it is just old bones…poor kid…I know how he feels.
As far as the foot and table test, there is no chance he will allow his feet to drag. Anytime I lift him the rear legs begin kicking, so I try to keep him as level as possible and support him properly. I think it’s just a position he’s adopted over time because I believe this has been going on longer than I realized. He’s such a lump, I don’t see him move much even when he’s out for exercise. >.<
He does move better when medicated though. Haven’t found the right cosequin capsules yet. I may not be able to get it here. Even the drops I had to use on my cat’s eye had to be specially ordered. I’ll probably have to find an online vendor.

Fiver will be piggybacking in on this appointment, he has developed poopy butt again and I’m having no luck with his usual remedies. If I could, I’d actually be taking Jenna in too, her upset tummy has apparently graduated to some kind of food allergy and she’s been scratching her ears and face like crazy. It’ll be enough just getting the buns there and back by myself without having difficulty though, so she’ll have to wait.
Everything falls apart at once, as usual. >.<

[LittlePuffyTail]

Everything falls apart at once, as usual.

Yup, unfortunately that’s how it always seems to happen. But that just means when the bad passes, it will be all good!

Good luck at the vet!

[MimzMum]

Sorry I hadn’t updated yet. Vet found Mimz was in good shape, barring that he seems to be nipping that rear left leg, because we found a bit of scab there. But the pink skin had turned an odd color and we realized it was his velvet coming back, so it’s not bothering him as much that he needs to barber it any longer.

She was going to find me a new schedule for his metacam; a 5 day on, 5 day off type of thing. And she told me I could give him the cat type of Cosequin, which I have here. Just have to find a way to hide the tuna taste. XP

Fiver went with us, I think I mentioned, and she decided not to give him any more drugs since the metronidazole didn’t clear the problem. Fiver is on a 6 week timothy hay only diet. Within two days of this I saw immense improvement (some messy cecal this morning, but nothing like what it was and he’s now drinking water like a mad-bun) so I am hopeful. His ‘borboygmous’ (that’s gurgly tummy for us) that I can hear across the room is something she prefers over completely quiet tummies, as long as he’s eating and drinking and behaving normally otherwise. I’ve found since he’s eating the straight timmy, this noise has lessened somewhat, so perhaps it was a latent symptom of his imbalanced bowel.

I also have some nicer benebac to give him so that is working better than the cheap tubes you get at Petco.

I just can’t look at Mimz without feeling sad that he is aging quicker than I’d like. But I try to push it away and just enjoy him. He is so special to me. And Fiver and Pip as well of course, in a slightly different way, although Pip is becoming quite the cranky bun since our sunrise is somewhere around 5 AM with predawn glow beginning at 3. >.< I need darker curtains. She begins litter box tossing the minute the room is light enough to see it by.

I am concerned that the metacam seems to disturb Mimzy’s breathing patterns a bit. I find him lying by his litter box with his chin propped up on the lip of it. He makes some rather loud sighs from time to time that sounds like he’s catching his breath, but if I go in to see if he’s okay, he’s up and in that box in a flash. Still boogery and the vet thinks he always will be. Maybe we just have to adjust he dose. I’ll talk to her about it this Sunday when she’s back on call. She also wants a cecal sample from Fiver for testing, and I did find a new odd thing on Mimzy’s let ear flap…feels like a pimple, but hard. So he may have a lump on top of all his other troubles. I’m hoping it’s just scratched up cartilage or something else simple.
Oh…and since Mimzy had a complete urinalysis just about a month ago, the vet said she didn’t see anything that would indicate e. cuniculi. But she said if I want to try the (in her opinion, unreliable) titer, we can do that too. I’m kind of buggered that it’s not a conclusive test.
Ironically, if she had wanted to give Fiver medicine, it would be the one they use to treat E.C. Fenbendazole, I think?

I was surprised that Mimzy and Fiver, despite their very different body shapes, are only 5 hundredths of an ounce different in weight. (Mimzy weighs slightly less than Fiver)

I think that covers it all. ^_^ And it’s 2 AM here, so I’m off to sleep…for the last hour before I can start seeing daylight….*groan*

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m glad that the vet thought Mimzy looked well. It’s great that his fur is coming back.

I think I would throw my litterbox around too if I was dealing with all your crazy sunlight hours!

[jerseygirl]

I’m sure KatnipCrzy wrote about the human cosequin D somewhere. I’ll try find where.
Edit: Ok make that Cosamin DS. She mentioned it in one of your earlier threads about Mimzy’s arthritis. https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/a…fault.aspx

Why fenbendazole for Fiver?

[kralspace]

I’m so glad to hear the encouraging news about Mimz, the hair coming back is wonderful! I know what you mean about watching them age, you just have to enjoy every day. If the med is bothering his breathing a bit, it sounds like he’s found a way to compensate by lying like that, little smarty 😉

I’d be throwing a lot more than the box if the sunrise came that early!

Sending so many healing and sleeping vibes to all of you, Kathy

[MimzMum]

Thanks for the vibes Kathy. Yeah, I’ve been waiting so long for winter to be over and now I’m trying to find a way to keep the sun out already! How ironic!
Jerz, Fiver was supposed to get the fenbendazole to help with his cecal dysbiosis since the metronidazole was unsuccessful in curing him.
I went back to the old post, unfortunately the link does not work for me. Keeps telling me “site not found”. My Cosequin is from Nutramax labs though, so I’m thinking its’ the same one. The box is identical to the one the vet was going to give me.

Fiver still has some smeared poos, but they aren’t as bad as they were. It seems to hit him once a day now instead of throughout the day like before. So that’s better. Too bad I am deathly allergic to timothy hay, so I am using a LOT of benadryl. >_< My nose clogs in minutes and I start to feel my throat close up and if the stalks poke my skin I get swelling hives.

Sheesh, reminds me, it’s time for his benebac. I am lucky he’ll slurp it right up, I used to have to hide this stuff in pumpkin, which he can no longer have.

[jerseygirl]

Hi MM

If link still not working for you, the thread is titled “Is it arthritis?” so you’ll probably find it under your forum topics.  Have you found in the past that FIver has tolerated greens and pumpkin etc after he’s been on hay-only diet for a while?

Are you able to find coroplast boards. My sister put a black piece on her little boys window for his daytime sleeps. It worked fantastic at blocking out the light.

 

OT, a random image share. I found this yesterday.   Isn’t it cute?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Teehee!! That made me laugh! Bunny moon walk!!! Thanks

[MimzMum]

Hehehe…cute bunneh. I think that’s the dance Pip uses to wake me up every morning at about 4!!!

Sorry, I wasn’t clear, it wasn’t the thread link that wasn’t working, it was the link to Nutramax Labs inside the thread. Didn’t mean to confuse you.

Fiver used to eat lots of veggies when he first came here. Over the years I’ve had to remove those, plus he had to give up pellets after he’d been here about 6 months because that was also causing poopy butt. He gets NO treats, including he can’t have willow sticks anymore. I feel so bad for him. You can tell he hasn’t forgotten them, but he thinks *I* have.

I don’t know, Benebac and restricted hay is still not clearing him up, but it’s only been a week. We’ll give it a while longer. The cecals are still like toothpaste, but not as runny as pudding which they can sometimes look like. I can probably get a sample to take to my vet (she doesn’t think he needs to be seen again and wants to spare him the trip in, since it’s stressful for him.)

Mimzy is doing pretty well, he hasn’t seemed achy for a few days and I haven’t had to give him his metacam as a result. But we’ve got rain (and would you believe, SNOW?) forecast for this weekend, so probably he’s going to be feeling the change in air pressure soon. Then he’s going to need some relief.

[Author]

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