Sad Updates on Jessica & Chewbacca

[skunklionshow]

I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve been looking for a new job & DH was laid off from his job.  I believe that my last post was to share that Jessica recovered from her head tilt.  This was fantastic news and we all worked very hard to get her back to stasis.  We also added a few more cats to our family, a new calico kitten named Zoey and a white boy w/ blk horns on his head, Liam.  Liam was an 11th hr rescue from the hotshot….he was in the holding cage and was next on the list for euthanasia.  We got him just in time.  So everyone have been working on getting along….

About 2 wks ago, Jessica got out of her pen and was in a major battle w/ Chewbacca.  We think the kitten shimmied the gate open while playing w/ Jessica.  As usual Jessica got the bad end of the battle, about 6 major puncture wounds.  She was shaved down on all those patches, so she was definately looking really sad.  I’ve been interviewing across country, so last weekend, we had to board Jessica at the vet, her wounds required more intense care than what our pet sitter could provide.  Everyone else, including Chewie stayed at home w/ Pet sitter visits scheduled 2 times day.  We left on Friday (6am).  On Tuesday, the pet sitter called to say that he found Chewbacca next to her food bin, dead.  He found no obvious wounds on her and reported that she had been eating her pellets, veggies, & treats consistently.  She also had been pottying just fine. 

DH didn’t know what to do, so he asked the sitter to put her body in Jessica’s cage and that we will likely leave for Philly (from IL-driving) as soon as I returned from interviews.  Needless to say I was not ready to spend 12 hours in a car to race home to her dead body left in the house.  I made several phone calls and found a pet transporter, associated w/ our hospital, to pick up Chewbacca & bring her to the hospital for a necropsy & subsequent cremation.  We then left IL the next day….We got the Necropsy results on our drive home.  Vet found a severe case of pneumonia.  Chewy showed NO symptoms at all!  No coughing, drooling, sneezing, wheezing, poor appetite or lack of poop.  The vet believes she likely had pneumonia for about 2-3 weeks.  She just went to sleep & didn’t wake up.  The vet reminded us that prey animals are incrediably good at covering up their illness & that there was NOTHING we could have done, etc.

It still doesn’t help…it’s still very sad & shocking.  This year we have lost 2 rabbits & 1 cat.  It just feels so overwhelming!  I loved them all so much and miss them so much now.  Extra hugs & bunny kisses to all your buns.  I guess not everybunn is as tough as nails as my Jessica.  She takes a lickiing & keeps on ticking.  She’s been doing very well post -wounds.

[Beka27]

Oh SLS… I am so, so sorry! I had noticed you haven’t been on very much lately, and I figured it was just due to “life”, I really hate to hear about all this sadness.  You know she had the most exquisite, pampered life possible with you.  She was one lucky bun. It is so very telling that even amongst the stress of a nationwide job search, you are still reaching out to animals in need. Hugs for you and your family…

((((((((((((((Binky Free Chewy!!!)))))))))))))))

(((Healing vibes for Jessica. Be a strong girl!)))

[RabbitPam]

Oh, I’m so sorry!
It seems even harder somehow when you’re away and something like this happens. The poor pet sitter, too! You did an excellent thing having Chewbacca picked up and examined. Now you know for sure, the pet sitter knows, and you have been assured you could not have done anything else. It’s hard to accept, but without external symptoms of any kind, you have to assume all pets are well. We do our best for them all, as you have shown with Jessica and her wonderful results.

Please accept my hugs and condolences to your DH for your loss. It is terrible to have to be job hunting, and my Spockie died while I was looking for work. It just makes a bad situation so much worse. The black cloud will lift eventually, but that’s hard to believe right now. Just hold your lovely family and remember Chewbacca as the loved one she was. They may be grieving too.

[Sarita]

Huge hugs to you. How is Jessica doing now?

[BinkyBunny]

I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s heartbreaking and what a challenge to have to deal with this long-distance, while interviewing. How rough!
You did an excellent job and getting the necropsy done. Pretty amazing..

Hugs to you, DH and your fuzzy family and healing vibes to Jessica.

[bunnymum16]

im so sorry for your loss.healing vibes to jessica.

[Andi]

*HUGS* I’m so sorry for your recent loss.
Hope Jessica is healing up quickly.

[Monkeybun]

*hugs* I’m so sorry for your loss

Binky Free Chewy! Keep an eye on your mama from the bridge, and shoo jobs towards her!

[Deleted User]

I’m sorry, too. Healing vibes for Jessica definitely!
–How stressful for you. Sending recovery vibes from all this and job vibes too!

[KatnipCrzy]

It is always heartbreaking to lose a pet.  My condolences- and I hope that things settle down in your household so you can spend more time with your fur babies and less time traveling!  That is usually a good cure for most things- a cuddle with a bunny, cat, etc.

[jerseygirl]

I’m so sorry. We’re here to lend an ear SLS.
{{{Skunklionshow & Family}}} {{{Healing vibes for Jessica}}}
Binky Free Chewie! SLS, thank you for giving her a great home.

[lashkay]

I’m sorry to hear about your loss of a beloved pet. Is that Chewbacca in your avatar? She looks like she was very sweet and special. Healing vibes to you in your loss, hope you feel better very soon.

[FunnyBunnyLove]

I’m so very sorry!! I’m new hear but everyone is so nice so far
Sorry about your terrible losses

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of Chewbacca! My deepest condolences to you.

{{{{{Binky Free Chewbacca}}}}}}

[skunklionshow]

Thank you everyone for your kind words.  I always appreciate the support & bunny love that I get from this site. 

My avatar is Leo the Lionhead.  He passed away very unexpectedly as well in January.  Chewbacca was a brown lop, very similar looking to LPT’s middle rabbit, with a brown smudgy nose.  Jessica is recovering very well.  Yesterday was the first day that she has had free reign since her injuries.  She seemed to spend time upstairs next to Chewy’s former doorway to her room.  That was pretty sad!  Even though she did not like Chewbacca, he seemed to look for her.  Else we are trying to move on.  I just can’t believe that Chewy gave us no clue that she was so sick!  The vet said her belly & colon were full so she had no problems eating.  It just stinks to lose so many furbabies this past year.  Thank you again.

[Author]

Messages