Denver, my bun bun is sick!

Sas, this is really neither here nor there but you mentioned flora...

When my mini lop was ill with a hind gut infection, my bun-savy vet told me I could feed her about a tablespoon of pinacolada, plain, or pineapple yogurt, daily. (Not the fat-free stuff - the regular kind.) While that really has nothing to do with sinuses, it might be a viable option for disgusing meds and/or adding varity to Denver's palate.

Pedialyte is an option, too, if you're concerned about dehydration from the diarrhea. However, Sophie wouldn't touch the stuff... I took a sip and can't say I blame her! YUCK!! :eek:


Good luck with the bun; keeping you guys in my thoughts!

Denver did fine with the Benadryl liquid, cherry flavored. I put 2 ml. in a kiddie's measuring plunger thingie...... (I don't have children, can you tell?)....and pushed that stuff right into his widdle mouth! He was shocked at first. The flavor is strong, but I think he liked it! I did the same this morning....hehehehehehehe. He licks his chops after I shoot the junk in.....its so darn funny. We were afraid the junk would make him hyper, but it is not, its making him sleepy! Phewwwwwwww.

So ten days of this and then what?

:rolleyes:

Keep taking your meds little Denver - what a good bun bun you are

Last evening, I moved Denver from the guest room to the porch. He is in a pen , by himself and not in touch with the other bunny at all. They can see each other, but that is about it! I covered his pen with a blanket last night, to keep him warm and feeling loved. He ate like a champ this morning - and it is the first time I have seen him really happy to eat Spring Mix .... it was his favorite until this nose things came in to play.

I hope there is much improvement today and over the weekend. I bought him bunny vitamins to take too.

I have the phone number for the exotict pet vet at Tuft's University and if Denver does not improve over the weekend, I will ask my vet to call for advice.

Wish us luck!

:confused:

We have everything crossed here for Denver!

Keeping tabs on you and Denver. Here's to a weekend full of improvements!

Everything's crossed for Denver this weekend! :)

He is eating everything now. I went to the health food store and bought every kind of exotic herb I could find. I am trying to fix him with good, healthy food! He is still using the nebulizer and taking benadryl but that is about it.

If Denver is still suffering by this weekend, as much as he is now, I am going to opt for a round of a different antibiotic, in liquid form. I am going to call the vet today, to set up an appointment.

He is out on my porch in his cadillac cage, covered at night to keep warm, and happy as a clam, watching Cinnamon run all around the porch. I would have switched them and put Cinnamon in the cage, but Denver has a tendency to eat anything and everything in sight, including rugs, brooms, you name it. I thought that keeping his intake of foreign objects should be kept to a minimum.....thus the cage.

I have never seen a bunny with as much strength as Denver. He has been trying to breathe for almost two months now!

Thanks for listening!

SAS :rolleyes:

Keep breathing little Denver - you are a superhero-bun bun :D

I gave Denver his first dose of Zithromax and he tolerated the cherry flavored junk. I have to give it to him only once a day, for 14 days! . His appetite is still going strongly. The vet agreed that that alone is a good sign. She said he may breathe like he is doing now, for some time.

I think he is going to make it! Phewwwww. We still have a few hurdles but I do think he is getting better.

Bunnies.......now I will have the re-introduction thing to worry about when he is all better! I look forward to that, though! :D

Yippee!!!!! this calls for some celebration photos

I am exhausted from this amount of attention to one pet, for such a long time....my gosh. I can really appreciate what it takes to have a cronic condition with constant needs. Miley, the one cat takes a pill twice a day, but that is about it except for fur face Denver these days! :eek: I still will do the nebulizer and Benadryl. Ugh.

Look forward to seeing them

Sas, I am so happy to hear that Denver is finally eating better and showing other signs of improvement.
I know you have put a lot of time and money into getting him healthy again.

Here is a photo that I took of Denver and Cinnamon when I visited you in March.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...denvercinn.jpg
I didn't post it before because I didn't think it was a very good photo of them.
(Poor Denver got redeye from the flash and Cinnamon was too fluffy to even see her eyes)
Hopefully Denver keeps improving and you will have some new photos to share with us. :)

i am so happy denver is feeling better. denver make sure to make up for the lack of appetite by pigging out now. lol.

Hey, that's great that Denver is feeling better. No wonder he wasn't hungry when he could not smell the food.

That's great news Sas....i'm so pleased for little Denver and of course you. Maybe soon you will be able to spend some time pampering yourself!

Denver still sounds the same, but is back to normal behavior other than that. I called the vet yesterday, to ask about doing an exploratory test up his (Denver's) nose and the specialist said he was not sure he could get anything up the bun bun's nose and if he could it would cost between 800-1000 dollars. Well, I think Denver is going to have to repair with the meds and treatment that are in place. I have already spent lots of money on this guy and there is a limit, really. Even if I had the special test done, there is a big chance that they will find nothing!

I will keep everyone posted. Hopefully, his immune system will kick in and cure him of this nasty virus/infection.

My vet said that I may have to get accustomed to hearing him breath the way his does, forever!

So, things are better for Denver, just not back to normal!

:confused:

Oh Denver glad you are feeling better.:D

Denver is not worse but not that much better. He is eating up a storm and yet still sounds congested. I am planning on building an outside cage for the summer months - with sun and shade and a more natual setting. Of course, lots of security since I live in the country and there are many predators! Maybe the fresh air (although there is fresh air on the porch) will do him some good. I don't have the two bunnies together just beside each other, behind fences.

So, Denver is hanging in there.

I think I have given it my all and just want mother nature to do her thing now. :o

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sasvermont

I think I have given it my all and just want mother nature to do her thing now. :o

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I would do the same - just keep an eye on his appetite ;)

Hi Sas

How's Denver doing? We haven't heard from you in a while, I hope everything is ok.

I have made an appointment at the Vet's for Denver boy. I think he is struggling to breath way too much and it is breaking my heart. I have done all I can for him. He is still eating and using the litter box, but to see him gasping for his breath is not pleasant for me or for him. He is doing the best he can and so am I. He needs relief.

So, it is with a heavy heart that I decided to let him go be with the other bunnies, kittens, and pupsters at Rainbow Bridge on Saturday, 11:30.

I cried when making the appointment and still have hope that he will be better by Saturday. He has been sick since March. The time has come. He needs to be without struggle. I cannot stop crying.

I'm so sorry to hear this sad news.:( If it's his time I hope that everything goes smoothly and he crosses the Bridge peacefully. Please take care. (((HUGS)))

Oh, sas. :( I haven't posted before but I have been popping in to see how Denver's doing and hoping (saying a prayer too) that he would get better. I am so, so sorry. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...iles/Hugs2.gif

I just can't do it. I hope he appreciates how much anguish this is causing me. He is trying so hard to hang in there, so I guess I will too. Sorry for the alarming message earlier.

I am just not that tough.

Ugh x 1,000,000

:confused:

sas, I'm glad you're keeping on hanging on with your boy. {{hugs}} Prayers on the way.

Sas, I'm so sorry to hear that Denver still isn't feeling well. :(
Hang in there, hopefully he will improve soon.
I'm sending hugs your way, let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

I was just reading posts from other forums and also from the rabbit friendly sites on the net, and a few have mentioned that sometimes bunnies catch a bug that stays with them the rest of their lives. Bunnies, in general, do not have a long shelf life, so it isn't a long term (relative) ... I am feeling ok about watching him struggle....for the time being.....

I have a garden this summer and Denver really enjoys all the lettuce and herbs and for no other reason, he is eating up a storm.

I am not sure why I decided to call the vet - to make the dreaded appointment, but it felt right at the time..... I suppose I was feeling horrible about his breathing .... He also has begun to "slobber" down the front of himself..... I wonder if there is a bunny nursing home for him? Oh, yes, its here!

I am sure I am not the only person who has made the appointment and then changed her mind....... Again, forgive me for the alarm, only to have cancelled it.

Off to the bunny.....I hear him now.....it sounds like he is sucking air all the time..... like a suction cup noise.....not pleasant!

:eek:

I couldn't reply to your "alarm" as I wasn't sure what to say; I could feel the deep hurt in your post. It saddened me to know "we" were losing Denver, and more so that he was losing his struggle with the illness.

I'm still saddened that he isn't 100% but quite glad that he's still around for you to share. Many blessings of health and hoppiness to you both!

Get well, sweet Denver!

owww i know what that it like. only recently i was about to ring the vet and get my baby scruffy (guinea pig) put down. when i checked in the morning though, she had already passed away.

It was strange though. she had cancer under her chin so you could see it or feel it until it was too big. her strange breathing noises triggered me off. she wasnt in too much pain, because she was still chirpy and hungry. she must have passed away quickly.

angel, one of my other guinea pigs has cancer on her cheek. she is old, so surgery would not do much to extend her life. she doesnt seem to care about it at all though. it is huge, but because it is not internal, it is fine. maybe it is just some kind of a growth, not cancer. or the cancer is just not spreading. the only time she had a problem with it was when her sister dutchess bit her and she hit the cancer. must have nerves going through it cause she squealed so load i heard it from inside and came running. it was bleeding a little but i stopped it. if it starts causing her to be in pain or uncomfortable, i am taking her to the vet to be put down. i have never had to do it with any of my animals.

it would be a haard decision, because life just seems so sacred, but you dont want them to suffer either. I know when boof got sick, we all honestly thought he was gonna die. i still dont believe that he is alive sometimes. you have no idea how sick he was. seriously, it must have been a miracle, God must have heard our prayers. i just keep thinking, what if... the same thing happened to another one of my pets, but i put it down first. argh i hate it.

If Denver had had enough he would just stop eating and give up....that's not happening at the moment.

Give that brave bunny a few kisses from me

This morning, I went to check on the bun buns and Denver was in his little cardboard castle / house sitting in it leaving just his head out and eating from his bowl of food. I always leave pellets out and give them fruits and veggies once a day. He was eating pellets. He devours lettuce and herbs and fruits, but mostly lettuce. I have lots growing in my garden, so he gets it right from the ground. Couldn't be any fresher!

Cinnamon was no where to be found when I was checking, but upon a closer inspection, she was smack up against Denver, tucked to his side, watching him eat. It was so darn cute. They have a love/hate relationship, but are mostly in love these days. I think her being there will give him more reason to hang on.

So, another month of hearing him try to catch his breath while eating..... He seems to be drinking lots these days too. It is hot and humid out, so that would make sense. Yes, they both are in the shade, on the porch, with cats visiting on and off all day.

JuniRose, my one Aby likes to roll on Denver and Cinnamon. She makes a real itch of herself. They sometimes fight back and she could care less. Juni is Juni. She loves the bunnies. She wants to be a bunny. I do have an odd lot here at Camp Vermont.

Thanks for caring about my sweet bunny boy Denver.

I know everyone's support helps in the long run. At least I feel better!

:)

Oh Sallyanne, this woke memories ;)
It is fun to see Juni Rose trying to roll on the bunnies - she is in love with them because they are so nice and fuzzy I am sure.
And good that Cinnamon and Denver are back in love again.
I am sure Denver enjoys all the nice fresh fruit and veggies- well we were very happy with it so why shouldn't he be;)

Sas I'm sorry I didn't see this thread until now. I just wanted to tell you what a hero you are to Denver and what an inspiration you are to people who consider bunnies 'disposable pets'. I know none of those people 'reside' here in PT land, but they are out there and they all need to meet you!

I will put Denver in my prayers. I really, really hope he starts breathing better. Gosh, you are truly an amazing person to fight so hard for Denver. I can tell from your posts how much you love him. Poor guy :(

Denver is doing ok. I have been dumping tons of veggies fresh from the garden and he lots them. I am hoping he can kick this thing eventually. I am going to the vet tomorrow, with two well cats, for check ups and I will talk with the vet about Denver, once again.

He seems happy and especially to be back with Cinnamon, his little furry buddy.

He still has a nasty nose discharge and sounds horrible, but it isn't killing him, so, we will learn to adjust. I will have to rethink the winter time though. I may have to house them inside this year as frozen discharge just doens't sound like fun to me.

I will keep you posted.

I will admit, each time I look in on the bun buns, I expect to find Denver expired. So far, not so!

Thanks again. :)

Thanks for the update, we were wondering how Denver was doing.

Cuddles and kisses to a very special bunbun

When I fed the two this AM, they were all cuddled up together. The big and the small of it all! I hope having Cinnamon to keep him going, he will recover sooner. He is still breathing oddly, at best, but also still eating and pooping up a storm. Also drinking lots of water.

Thanks for thinking of us! ;)

That sounds good sas! :) Thanks for the update.

Prayers continuing.