Well, it’s been 3 months, Lilly has passed on, and Norbert is now living free in my home office.  He is slower than he used to be, but he’s also 8 years old, which is senior for a bunny, and has one front leg he doesn’t use.  He is still eating good, and can get his move on quickly when I come in with his meals.  So now I’m beginning to have guilt.  I feel like I should have had his leg amputated.  It’s been three months and he’s still doing as well as he was in January.  Which is pretty good for an old bunny.  If I’d had it done, he would be recovered and and his fur would be growing in.

I talked to JH yesterday to get his thoughts since he tends to be my sounding board for things like this.  He doesn’t judge me about spending lots of money on what most people feel is “just a bunny”, but is honest if he thinks I should move forward or not based on the quality of life the animal in question will have.  I think I have decided to take Norbert to the vet when I get back from my business trip, and talk to the vet again and make a decision.  Right now, I’m leaning towards having the amputation done.  I think it will give him more room to move around, get rid of what is basically a useles leg, and get rid of that lump growing on his side.  Then, once the vet is in there, we can tell what the status of his cancer actually is, and get a better idea of time frames.

However, I’m still hesitating because am I doing this for him, or because I just lost Lilly, and thought of losing him so close behind her is terrifying?  Am I contemplating throwing all this medicine at him hoping for some kind of miracle, when really I should leave him in peace?  My biggest fear when I make these types of decisions for any of my animals, is am I doing it for them, or am I doing it because I’m a selfish human and can’t bear to let them go?

Thoughts?  Comments?

UPDATE:

The Vet agrees with the decision I made three months ago to not ampute Norberts front leg.  So we are going to leave him be.  On another note, since he has been so sneezy, and then got snotty while I was in Peru, we did a culture and started him on some antibiotics which seems to be helping.

Sweet little Lilly went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday.

After years of dealing with her teeth issues, and having surgery time and again to maintain the problem, it turns out her body just couldn’t fight anymore.  She went into the vet to have an exam because she wasn’t eating, and it turns out her teeth were a mess once again.  Just a mere 4 months after her last molar float.  Dr. Riggan put her under to remove several molars and float others hoping to give her a more permanent and long lasting solution and she passed away while under anesthesia.

Surrendered at a shelter I worked at 8 years ago, I pulled her off the euthanasia list and adopted her, even though I knew she would have lifelong issues with her teeth.  She was just so sweet I couldn’t help myself.  A favorite of the vets who have treated her, numerous pet sitters, and lots of friends, she will most definitely be missed.

Rest in peace little “Nilla Bean”.

Once upon a time, I was working at an animal shelter, and this cute 6 month old baby bunny came in.  He was sweet and cute as only little bunnies can be, and when he was placed on the euthanasia list due to lack of space, I decided to adopt him.  However, I didn’t realize he was slated for euthanasia until he was tranquilized and awaiting the final lethal injection.  As there was no vet on staff that day to do a reversal, we wrapped him in a blanket, put some ointment in his eyes (so they wouldn’t get dry) and prayed.  He made it through and woke up, then the staff vet turned around the very next day and neutered him.  Yah!  Not good for bunnies.  Through all that he lived, and I adopted him and named him Norbert.  He was the education bunny at that shelter and live in my office until we moved to Texas.  Now 8 years old, he is starting to get gray on his dark nose, and it makes me sad he’s getting old.

A few months after Norbert moved into my office, a 1 year old chinchilla colored Netherland Dwarf was surrendered to the the shelter.  With teeth growing out of her mouth like tusks, and her severely smooshed in face, it was obvious she was going to be a dental nightmare her whole life.  Since rabbits are considered exotics, bunny dentals are expensive, and not many vets can work on them.  She was immediately placed on the euthanasia list, and put in a holding cage inside the receiving department where I found her.  I thought she was adorable, and she had the sweetest little personality, so I decided Norbert needed a friend.  I adopted her and named her Lilly.  I found a rabbit vet who removed her front incisors, and started floating her molars every 6 months. Lilly will always have teeth issues, just six months ago she had a molar removed during a routine molar float.  However, she is still sweet, sassy, and funny, and I don’t regret adopting her.  Even with all of her problems.  She is 9 now, and I know she’s going to be hard to maintain as she gets older, but I can’t imagine life without her.