So, Rex had a vet appt yesterday…
April 30, 2008 l 2 Comments
x-posted from Rabbits Online Forum:
To start things off, at our last visit I was given an appointment reminder card, but the appointment itself was never put into the computer. We were just lucky that when we showed up yesterday (for what I thought was a scheduled appointment) they were able to squeeze us in.
We waited for almost 40 minutes.
Dr. G came in, examined Rex, and said - quite simply - there was no improvement. Not that this came as a surprise, of course.
He also said that we have exhausted all of the ‘easy’ answers, and without further testing, he won’t know what it is that we’re dealing with.
Which is where I begin to have reservations…
Rex is normally a very gregarious and happy rabbit. But in this past week, just with twice-daily medicating, I have watched him withdraw considerably. “Further testing” would entail general anesthesia and a day at the hospital. Can I do that to him?
My gut is absolutely telling me that this is a systemic issue. Is it worth it? Treating a condition only to have him become further isolated?
And for what? He’s an old bunny. I don’t mean that as a cop-out for treating him, but in the sense that it’s not a lifetime ahead of him that we’re talking about. It’s a few years, at best. He doesn’t even have a companion anymore.
I do think that Rex has a great quality of life right now, but part of me really feels that pursuing a diagnosis may in fact diminish that quality of life. Does that make sense to anyone else?
apologies for the dormant posting
April 19, 2008 l 3 Comments
I’m in the last couple weeks of my undergraduate career and am being stretched just a weeeeee bit thin.
Rex had a visit with Dr. G on Friday. He had a little build-up in his ear that I was concerned about - turned out to be just wax. But he had a slightly sniffly nose, too, so Dr. G prescribed antibiotics.
My poor little old man.
Rex’s skin really isn’t getting any better, even with multiple treatments with Revolution. It’s still scaly and flaking, and his fur continues to grow in and fall right out. He had his third or fourth skin scrape that yet again came back clean. That, in addition to the clean fungal culture and normal blood panel, adds up to a great big Who The Heck Knows?
If Rex isn’t improved by his next visit on the 29th, then I think it will be another blood test (specifically, checking thyroid function) and perhaps a biopsy.
The good news? Rex has gained weight, so at least I know that something we’re doing is working.
my velveteen rabbit
April 8, 2008 l 3 Comments
I found the full text of this wonderful story online. Remember this part? Lately this has reminded me of Rex:
And so time went on, and the little Rabbit was very happy–so happy that he never noticed how his beautiful velveteen fur was getting shabbier and shabbier, and his tail becoming unsewn, and all the pink rubbed off his nose where the Boy had kissed him…And into his boot-button eyes, that had long ago lost their polish, there came a look of wisdom and beauty, so that even Nana noticed it next morning when she picked him up, and said, “I declare if that old Bunny hasn’t got quite a knowing expression!”
Miko’s toys
April 4, 2008 l 2 Comments
On the left is Monroe the stuffed groundhog. He’s been Miko’s favorite toy since she was barely bigger than he is. Every night she carries Monroe around in her mouth, crying loudly, and then places him in a safe spot before going off to sleep. The other night Miko instead lined up Monroe next to her blue ball and put them right in the middle of the floor, where they were found the next morning by Mom and a camera. Sometimes I just don’t know why cats do the things that they do…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Franny Syufy at About.com: Cats had some really nice things to say about our little internet abode:
Blog of the Week: The Domestic Zoo
I happened upon The Domestic Zoo the other day while looking up something about raw feeding, and landed on another area of the site, which was occupied by rabbits, mice, and other gently 4-legged critters. I really liked the writing style of The Zookeeper, who appears to be a student (and likely young enough to be my granddaughter.) Having been entertained by rabbit reading for some time, I moved to close the page, but saw “cats” out of the corner of my eye. She has an entire section on cats! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a blog of the week, but I simply couldn’t pass this one by. The writing is clear, concise, and entertaining, and the photos are wonderfully engaging. I predict a great future for this young woman, whatever her life goals may be.
Thanks, Franny!
