Need opinions - Catnip sick - weak back end

External Since: Jul 09, 2007 Posts: 159

On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:46:54 GMT, Rhonda
wrote:

>This morning, Catnip left for the bridge. OMG, she fought so hard. At
>4am I heard strange noises and it was her, fighting to stay with us. Her
>struggle broke my heart into a million pieces. Walter was able to get a
>shot of pain killer into her and she left us within a half hour. I hope
>she didn't suffer for too long.

Rhonda, I am so sorry for your loss. Catnip will be missed. I always
loved her pictures on the holiday cards. She was a beautiful rexy
girl. ((HUGS))

Lisa, Hershey, Boo Boo, Louise & Sharkey (Thelma, Wendy & Cartman FTB)

External Since: May 26, 2008 Posts: 77

Hi

So sorry to hear of this. Losing anyone is really tough, and you're never
prepared for it even though you may think you are.

God Bless.

Richard
"Rhonda" wrote in message

> This morning, Catnip left for the bridge. OMG, she fought so hard. At 4am
> I heard strange noises and it was her, fighting to stay with us. Her
> struggle broke my heart into a million pieces. Walter was able to get a
> shot of pain killer into her and she left us within a half hour. I hope
> she didn't suffer for too long.
>
> The last couple of weeks I would think Catnip was at the end and then she
> would eat something with gusto. She never quite ate enough and would not
> swallow when I gave her Critical Care. We just kept trying new veggies
> until something interested her. She also got fluids. I kept hoping to turn
> a corner.
>
> She was so tired though, and gave up trying to move at all. She slept
> almost all of the time. At least she is free now.
>
> Thanks everyone, for caring.
>
> Rhonda (and Nurse Bambi, who is eating but spent most of the day sulking)
>
>
> wrote:
>> On Nov 13, 2:48 am, Rhonda wrote:
>>
>>>Hi everyone,
>>>
>>>Sorry to blast back to the group with a problem, but I know where to
>>>come for bunny experience!
>>>
>>>Catnip is blind and probably 10-11 years old. In the last two weeks she
>>>started losing the use of her rear legs. It would come and go but now
>>>she cannot balance on them -- she just wobbles until she falls on her
>>>side. She spends most of her time just laying, she can only rotate in a
>>>circle using her front legs.
>>>
>>>The vet did x-rays and blood tests and can't find anything obvious. She
>>>has some bone spurs/arthritis and is now on pain meds, but it doesn't
>>>make a huge difference. The vet thinks more is going on.
>>>
>>>She has only nibbled food for the last several days and now is only
>>>eating if we stick banana in front of her nose. She drank a little bit
>>>tonight and we are giving sub-q fluids.
>>>
>>>Tonight, she is having trouble with her front legs too. She almost seems
>>>dizzy. Either that or more weak in general. She tries to sit up for a
>>>minute and groom herself but starts swaying and falls.
>>>
>>>Now I'm wondering if this could be E. Cuniculi. The vet says I can bring
>>>her back in for a blood test but she has not had good luck treating it.
>>>I know blood tests don't show active infections, only exposure during
>>>their lifetime.
>>>
>>>Here's the question, what is that possibility? The vet is very worried
>>>Catnip has a tumor or something horrible that is undetected, given her
>>>age. Should we drag her in for a blood test? I hate so much to give up
>>>on her, but it's hard to see her like this and especially barely eating.
>>>So far I have not force-fed her because I hate to do that to her with
>>>her circumstances. If I knew this was temporary and she was younger and
>>>had a good chance, that would be one thing. If this is nearing the end
>>>for her, I'm hesitant to make it uncomfortable for her.
>>>
>>>Guess I needed to talk too.
>>>
>>>Any experience with what your bunnies went through for hind leg problems
>>>or EC or anything similar would be appreciated.
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>
>>>Rhonda (little Bambi is being a wonderful nurse)
>>
>> you don't have to take blood test to give the med for ec. i would just
>> get her on panacur. it is cheap and easy to use . onece a day.
>> it really could be anything. amber gave out on use of his legs from
>> arthritus at ten years old. he started falling alot. he was completely
>> disssable the last couple years of his life.
>> does sound like it could be pain. i would get some glucossamine and
>> condroiton for now 250 mg. half a tab once a day. adequan is also
>> something you can consider. it is given in shots. amber was in alot of
>> pain alot. i treated him with natural stuff and in a few months he got
>> alot better. it is more than what i listed here. it is easy to do. i
>> also gave him hot butt baths. i bought a foot jacuzzi and put epsoms
>> slat in it and bathed him everday to ease the pain.
>