Tried With Fire

Big Bun sporting airplane ears in 2009 Big Bun took a sudden downturn last week-end. Although his appetite was almost back to normal, his back legs became progressively weaker, and he lost the use of his left front paw. Thus he was unable to sit up or walk. I took care of him as best I could by bringing food and water right to his mouth and changing his bedding as often as necessary, but this could not go on. So on Monday, he took his last visit to the vet, and we said goodbye. I had what I thought would be my big cry on Sunday evening as I sat next to him and gave him pets. However, there was another deluge when the vet came to take him away. So after more than a decade, there are no bunnies in the house. Even though they were never noisy, it seems even quieter. I had hoped Big Bun would live a little longer following Lizzy's loss, but it was not to be. Was it grief, old age, or a combination of the two? I will never know. I am in no hurry to adopt another bunny at the mo...

Lizzy 2003-2015 Last week was rough emotionally. One of my beloved bunnies, Lizzy, took a rapid downturn. She was unable to use her back legs and unable to eat or drink. By the time we got to the vet's office, her front paws were even weaker. Diagnostic testing could be done, but to what end? Even if the cause was discovered, what treatment could be done that would make any difference to a rabbit who was as old as the maximum average life span? There was only one viable choice given Lizzy's precarious condition, but it still wasn't easy. The vet reassured me that I had made the right decision given her symptoms and age. The entire staff were very kind and compassionate, but I still bawled like a baby and held her as long as I could until it was time to say goodbye. The next day, my last bunny stopped eating for no apparent reason and began to show the same weakness in his limbs. So it was back to the vet again. I know I shouldn't have favorites, but in my opinion,...

We awoke this morning to find that Rusty, the guinea pig, had died in his sleep. We had taken him to the vet last week because his appetite was steadily decreasing each day and to check for an upper respiratory infection. After a thorough exam and administering subcutaneous fluids, there wasn't much the vet could do except blood work. Even if we did the blood tests and found that one of his organ systems was failing, there are very little treatment options, if any, for small mammals. We knew it was only a matter of time before either Rusty would die, we would have to force feed him, or put him to sleep if he was slowly staving himself to death. I am thankful he died naturally according to God's sovereign timing. Although Rusty was eating less and less, he did not appear to be in any pain. So our pet population is down to the two rabbits. Lizzy is 7, and Big Bun is 5, which is the youngest estimate for their ages. Bunnies live 8-10 years so we may have them for a while....

Here is a picture of the pets in exile. A friend from church helped us move the animals yesterday. Lizzy is napping in the cardboard box on the rug. Big Bun is to the left in his cage, and Rusty is sleeping in his purple pigloo on the table. I don't think they mind the change too much as long as they get regular room service from the staff.

"Did I do something wrong?" You didn't do anything, Rusty. People aren't used to seeing a guinea pig in a huge cage or free-roaming bunnies. The pets have been banished to the little 2nd floor bedroom in an attempt to make the house look more conventional. Their room will be turned into a pseudo-dining room. I think it is a reasonable compromise. If we move the pets, we don't have to rearrange the living room or the school room.

This is from guinea pig jamboree . (My daughter said I shouldn't post such weird things on a more serious-ish blog. But, I have a strange side, too.)

We said goodbye to Squeaky this morning. His condition rapidly worsened to the point where he was not eating or drinking anything except water by syringe. He might have had serious issues with his kidneys based on the ultrasound. The poor piggy was so miserable and there was nothing more that we could do. He is survived by his son, Rusty AKA Plumpy. I think Rusty will do fine but we'll keep an eye on him. We'll miss his little furry face and his loud squeaks for food. Squeaky was a good pet and we were glad to have him for nearly three years.

This is a picture of Squeaky, the guinea pig, when we first adopted him in August 2006. He's a bit skinnier now with his multiple illnesses. Since last spring, he has been in and out of the vet's with 2 URI's and 2 UTI's. The vet diagnosed bladder sludge as the cause of his latest UTI. Consequently, Squeaky is on his second round of antibiotics and taking Metacam for the pain. There isn't definitive treatment for this condition so we can only do the best we can for him. It is strange how we humans get attached to animals. I know that they are just animals and probably their sole existence is for this time alone. (I do not believe that I will see Matthew and Toby, our two departed bunnies, waiting for me at the pearly gates.) Yet, it is hard to see Squeaky suffer and hear his little cries of pain. I guess I am a pushover for a cute furry face. But our Heavenly Father knows when one sparrow falls. He knows and has ordained the days for even this little gui...