Peanut (and a little bit of Rex too)
September 25, 2006 l 6 Comments
[photos can be clicked on to be enlarged]
Their pen:
Here you can see she’s filled back in to her normal size (5 pounds):
My sweet, happy, totally relaxed bunny:
Her eyes melt my heart:
Showing off her balance and grooming skills:
The most dramatic exhibit of tilt. For comparison, this is what she looked like four months ago.
What’s up, mum?
nose rubs and tooth purrs = a happy bunny
And of course, Rex had to pose for the camera too:
back to the vet
September 21, 2006 l 2 Comments
For one last time, hopefully. Peanut has to go in for a weight check. She lost nearly two pounds over the course of her illness this summer, which is a lot when you only weigh five pounds to begin with. After feeding her extra high-quality pellets she looks bulkier, but it will be interesting to see how much weight she’s actually gained. This will also be a good time for Dr. G to get an idea of how well she’s doing.
While I don’t, as my Holistic Health professor put it, “worship at the altar of Western medicine” I do think it’s important for your veterinarian to know your pet(s). Dr. G uses a different set of criteria to evaluate Peanut (and Rex), so while a mother’s intuition is important (especially when it comes to changes in behavior, quality of life, etc), I like my vet to know my rabbits well enough to see when there is something medically wrong.
Rex also needs to go in for his last PennG injection. Abscesses are notoriously difficult to cure, so I am very thankful that this one does not appear to be growing back. This last shot should discourage any bacteria that have been hanging around.
In addition to the visit today, a new set of protocols have been added to the home routine. Rex gets checked over weekly for any lumps and bumps that could signal the formation of another abscess (and he just loooves being prodded). Peanut also has her weight checked on a biweekly basis to see if she’s gaining, or perhaps losing too much weight.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
*eta*
Keep your fingers crossed for us this week: the vet noticed some granulated tissue around Rex’s toe. It may not mean anything, but it may mean that the abscess will come back. Dr. G gave Rex the PennG shot and said that if the abscess returns within a week or so, Rex will need to go in for surgery to have the abscess and the surrounding tissue completely removed. It’s not as though Rex has a lot of tissue on his toes to begin with, so that could affect wound healing. If the abscess comes back, pre-surgery X-rays will tell us whether or not it’s invaded the bone. If it has, the whole toe will be removed.
This is, of course, not what I wanted to hear but not entirely unexpected. Prayers, thoughts, and good vibes are definitely appreciated! In other news, Peanut gained over 1/2 pound in three weeks, and won’t need to see the vet until her check-up in six months. That’s my girl.
and they all lived together in a little crooked house…
September 14, 2006 l 1 Comment
Well, Rex got his second PennG shot today, and the vet agrees that his toe looks great. Both bunnies will be going back next week: Peanut for a weight check, and Rex for one final look at his toe. We’re blessed to have completely avoided surgery with this abscess, though Rex won’t be happy until we stop messing with his feet.
Peanut continues to make amazing process. Unlike her recovery in July, her head is tilted and remains tilted 24/7. But she stands up, scratches her ears, eats from a dish, and generally behaves like a very normal bunny. I’m cautiously optimistic, because she has made progress in the past, only to become worse within a matter of days. I’m hoping and, as always, praying that this time it will last and that she’ll be able to live out her life happy and healthy, even if her head is a bit crooked.
on the up-and-up
September 12, 2006 l Leave a Comment
Rex’s toe is healing very nicely, the abscess doesn’t show any signs of filling up again, and the wound is looking good. Of course, he doesn’t appreciate the twice-a-day cleanings, but I have a feeling he’d appreciate toe surgery even less, so I’ll do whatever I can to keep him healthy. Peanut is also doing well. Her poor head still looks like it’s on sideways (looking at her from the front, her ears are in the 10 o’clock position). But she’s upright for the most part, eating on her own, cleaning herself, etc. She loves kisses and nose rubs and will absolutely melt for a neck massage. Overall, I think we’re in a good place with her condition.
The kitties are boisterous, as usual. Their activity level never ceases to amaze me, it’s like having a troop of preschoolers in the house. Tearing from one end of the house to the other, flying over furniture, dashing around doorways and up onto beds and perches. The introductions have, yet again, stalled because my schedule is a bit irregular. They are still having face-to-face meetings, just not on a daily basis as it was before. PJ and Steph are the closest (they can touch noses without a hiss or growl being exchanged), and Miko will tolerate her brother but isn’t afraid to whap him on the head if he needs it.
Scully avoids PJ at all costs, which will need to be worked out before we can leave them unsupervised, because PJ will often corner her trying to get a reaction, which causes Scully to become even more scared and react aggressively. She runs, he chases - it’s not the best dynamic.
Beeper doesn’t get a lot of airtime here, I know. She’s made a nice home for herself in the addition of our house, sleeping in the spacious storage room, and visiting my grandfather in his apartment. For a seventeen year old she has a lot of spunk (and attitude) is very much the queen of her domain.
The mice are certainly not appreciating the cold weather that ushers in a New England fall. I went to check on them this morning, and I swear Martin grumbled as he poked his bleary-eyed head from the warmth of his nest. Nevermind that I gave them breakfast, Just wake me up when it’s summer, mom…
Fall means other things too, like allergens. We’re all suffering, but poor Chuck especially. He hasn’t scratched his eye too badly, but it’s watery and so I’ve been giving him extra Green Mush, which seems to help. Martin is on regular antibiotics to keep his myco flare-ups under control. His breathing has never been an issue, but I try to stay on top of it, because mice can go downhill so fast. Despite their health issues (welcome to the family, boys) they are happy, active, and oh-so-adorable. But I may be biased.
Mr. Owie Toe
September 8, 2006 l 3 Comments
The vet said Rex’s abscess looked ready to burst, so he opened, drained, and washed it out. He also gave Rex a PennG injection. I need to wash it twice a day for the next week, and he’ll get another shot next Thursday morning.
Rex is playing the “owie” card for all it’s worth. Of course, when he tried to get sympathy from Peanut, she nudged him away and told him to suck it up. He’s pouting now, but that’s hard to do when your fat tushie and tail are poking through the bars of the pen and mommy keeps laughing at you. Poor, poor rabbit.
