Misty Is Home!

[bk_forever]

Finally, I have Misty home! He's still not eating properly, so he stayed a bit longer to be force fed, I had hoped to bring him home yesterday - I think the vet didn't want to give him back ;)

He's a bit scruffy and ruffled-looking (being wrapped in a towel to be force fed will do that to you), and was a bit stressed when we got home, but he's relaxing now and watching the world go by.

That's the good news. The not-so-good news is that I have to try to give him antibiotics twice a day and painkillers once a day, by mouth using a syringe. It's nothing I haven't done before (I syringe-fed a tortoise and one of my previous rabbits), but Misty is bigger and heavier than anything I've had to medicate before, the only help I'll have is my 81 year old mother, and my arthritic hands are not as flexible or strong as they used to be. Add to that the fact that Misty is always a devil to catch at the best of times and is very wriggly, and the whole process would probably be very amusing for anyone watching, but considerably less so for the participants. However, we will try our best, though I suspect Misty will try his worst. I have a very large towel to wrap him in, which might immobilise him if I can get him wrapped up well enough. It's just bad luck that our neighbour who would normally gladly help out in such situations is in Cornwall on holiday for another week.

Wish me luck - I suspect I'm going to need it! o_0

Comments

[toshiani007.livejournal.com]

Yay, congrats!!!
Good luck!!!
Hugs!!!

[bk_forever]

Thank you! *hugs* I think I'll need it!

[too-beauty.livejournal.com]

so happy to know that he is home again!!!!!

AHA! he is a little devil, can't you put him on a long leash? sorry but I know nothing how to handle rabbits ;)

wish you tons of luck!

[bk_forever]

Unfortunately I can't. When I got him he was tiny so I waited until he grew a bit and then started to train him to wear a harness. But then I injured my wrist and it took eight weeks to heal, I couldn't use my left hand at all and by the time it had healed, he was too big and strong to train, I couldn't even get the harness on him. He's even bigger now and very strong, despite everything. He doesn't seem to have lost any weight, which I guess is a good thing, but it does make him hard to pick up. You're supposed to pick up a rabbit by the loose skin at the back of their necks, then support their butts, but Misty is all muscle where there should be loose skin. The vet was highly amused by that!

[too-beauty.livejournal.com]

ooops really a big devil there!
well I think you will finally find the way ....

[bk_forever]

Let's just say the first attempt at medicating Misty was... interesting. Not at all sure who won! Wrapping a rabbit in a towel really isn't any easier than wrapping a cat in a towel. The number of legs seem to multiply. o_0

[iantojjackh.livejournal.com]

Yah! He's home. Here's to a complete and speedy recovery.

[bk_forever]

Thank you, I'm keeping my fingers crossed! The antibiotics will help if I can get them down him, I'm preparing myself for a wrestling match this evening!

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad Misty is home! I don't know if this will work with Misty, but I pin Teddy Boo between my knees to keep him immobilized. Good luck - it may be a messy couple of weeks, but I hope the worst is done.

[bk_forever]

Nothing short of wrapping Misty like a mummy is going to be much use, judging by our first attempt! I know he only has 4 legs, but it seemed like more. He doesn't have much neck either, so he kept pulling his chin inside the wrappings. Mum and I had to use the vacuum cleaner on each other afterwards. Hopefully we will do better next time, but short of shaving Misty completely, there's no way to avoid getting covered in fluff!

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! I guess it's good that's he's strong enough to put up a fight, but that makes your job difficult. Good luck!

[bk_forever]

Yep! He really didn't appreciate being manhandled. Can't say I enjoyed it either. Still, first attempt at giving him his meds was reasonably successful - he didn't get away and I think most of the medicine went in his mouth. FINDING his mouth was harder than you might think, he kept tucking his chin in. Rabbits have small mouths anyway. At least I know to stick the syringe in at the side, his front teeth are a quite formidable barrier! Didn't do a very good job of wrapping him, hopefully we'll do better tomorrow. Practice is definitely needed. He goes back for a checkup on Tuesday morning, so I have a few days to recover from the stress. I'm exhausted and I'm sure I've lost the 3 pounds in weight I'd managed to gain.

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

Say, there wouldn't be video of this anywhere, would there? ;)

He sounds like a big guy! Good for cuddling, when he's not trying to escape your medical ministrations.

[bk_forever]

I'm back! I lost my internet connection, thought my modem had broken down, but no - all the downstairs sockets have gone on the blink! One of them must be faulty, but we can't find out which without an electrician and it is, of course, 9.30pm on Saturday!

Sadly, no video - it would be very entertaining except for those involved, lol!

Misty isn't huge, but he's a good size, especially for me. I have very small hands, so picking him up is a bit of a juggling act! I think I stuffed him half under one arm to carry him, maybe I should drape him over my shoulder next time!

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am glad your bunny is home and I am so sorry the poor thing wouldn't eat and is not eating well right now. He's just been through so much and being away from home probably made him not want to eat too. He will probably get better being back with you again. I sure hope so. Oh I hate having to give any kind of medicine to our cats. They fight it like crazy. I have to trick them by hiding it in their food and that doesn't always work. I think the can taste it or they know something's up. They are smart little/big stinkers! Yes! I understand about trying to hold them while giving them meds. It is "impossible" to hold onto Neo! He just slides right out of my arms and shoots away and hides! lol! You can't make that cat do anything. Petey is not a whole lot better either though he usually doesn't fight as hard.

I'm sorry your neighbor is not there to help you. Maybe your mum can help some.

Good Luck!

It is raining and thundering here. I may have to shut down my lap top. I am afraid lighting may hit it. I am running off a wire not a battery right now. I would get the battery, but I need to get ready to go to my parents. I haven't showered though not thrilled about that idea either with the thunder and lighenting. lol! Fried Debbie!

Love you!

Hang in there with your Rabbit! You can do it! :D
♥

[bk_forever]

*giggles* I think you would have been very entertained watching us! Mum had to hold Misty, wrapped rather badly in a towel (hopefully we'll do the wrapping better tomorrow), they I had to try to syringe the liquid into his mouth. I think I got most of it in - whether or not he actually swallowed it is another matter. He kept turning his head away, which made things difficult. We ended up having to use the vacuum cleaner on both of us afterwards, we were covered in white fluff. I wish I could vacuum Misty, but I think it would scare him.I'll have to see if he'll let me brush him a bit, there's so much loose fluff, it's sticking out in tufts all over him. I pluck tufts out all the time, he never minds me doing that, but he not so keen on the brush, I think it tugs his fur a bit.

Love you back! Hope the storm has passed. *hugs* xxx

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

I would have laughed for sure watching you two trying to get him to take the medicine. :D I hope you have been able to get enough down to help him the last few days.

Neo always gets nervous when I try to brush him. He tries to walk away from me, I am walking behind him with the brush, brushing him a little, then sometimes he lays down and I can only get his side or back a little. lol! Well I haven't brushed him lately, but that is the way it goes. He is shedding a lot lately too, but it is still very hot here, some days in the upper 90's. When fall finally comes it will cool down a lot and he will start putting on his warm coat for the winter. It usually is coldest here in Jan. and Feb. though year before last we had a very cold Dec. and it even snowed on Christmas day which never happens here!...or rarely.

We have been having thunderstorms a lot at night, today we haven't had any rain. I guess we got a break today and tonight. It was pretty and sunny outside today. I just wish my mood had been better. Oh, I won't be going to the pain clinic tomorrow. I just wrote on another post that I am going to try accupuncture for awhile, (I'm scared!)...no drugs so maybe my body will go back to normal at some point so I can take meds. again if I need them.

love deb.

[bk_forever]

Don't worry about the acupunture, I've heard from people who've tried it that it's painless, just a bit strange, and it really does work for all kinds of things! Plus, of course, the benefit of no drugs =D

I think Misty spat out most of his antibiotics this morning - not our most successful attempt! We've been doing okay until then. Well, sort of okay, anyway!

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

Yeah that is what Michael said too that the acupuncture was painless...I hope so. lol!

Oh, Misty didn't like the taste of those antibiotics, don't blame him. Hang in there with him. :)

[bk_forever]

He seems to like the painkiller though, there's no trouble getting him to take that. That's only once a day though, the antibiotics are twice daily. *sigh*

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

LMAO!!!!! I don't blame him! I love the pain killers too! Thanks for making me laugh! I needed that. I told my husband that and he said it was LOL funny! :D

I'm sorry it is so hard to get him to take the antibiotics though. He really does need those to heal I know. You poor girl. Are you and your Mum still wrestling him in a towel?! lol!

[bk_forever]

It's a laugh a minute 0_o

I'm starting to think that it's actually harder to wrap a rabbit in a towel than it is with a cat. I had to do that with a cat when I was about 11 - it was my sister's cat, but my sister was worse than useless at doing it, so somehow the youngest person wound up giving the cat her pills. At that point I was still thinking of becoming a vet, so I didn't mind.

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

My gosh, this is an old post, sorry, but I was wondering about your rabbit anyway. How is he doing?

I bet you would have a made a great vet. I wish you had a video of you and your Mum wrapping him in a blanket and trying to gets his meds down. I know it is not really funny at the time it is happening, but would be hysterical to watch later.

So you are the youngest child in your family? I am the baby too. I just have one sibling, an older brother, Tim, he is 4 years older than me is married with 2 kids, I'm sure I have told you before. Anyway, we were super close growing up which is unusual I know. Most brothers and sisters fight I guess. We went through one stage where I became the "brat sister" and drove my poor brother crazy, but thank goodness that stage didn't last too long and then we became very close again. I had problems even then with depression and not liking myself. Tim was my funny, clowning, big brother who was always trying to make me laugh. He was the best! He still brings the family and comes to visit once a month usually. He stays at my parent's house. There would be no room for him, Lynise, and their two boys here. There is barely enough room for the three of us in the house. My computer room doesn't have a bed in it anymore. There is no room for one in it anymore. Too much junk! I would have to majorly clean it out if I wanted it to serve as a guest room too. Not likely to happen anytime soon.

I might have told you, Michael talked to a girl off a NVA (National Vulvodynia Association) site who gave us info on doctor in TN. that specializes in treating VVS or GV which is what I have (Generalized Vulvodynia) The VVS (Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome) kind doesn't cause constant pain. I had to get the kind that does, touch or no touch! :( ...sorry, complaining and digressing. Anyway we called a Dr. Jeff Andrew's office @ Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee. We finally got the insurance stuff straight and they can see me next Monday at 4:15 p.m. their time, it will be 5:15 p.m. here. Only bad thing is it is a 5 hour drive there and back, but this guy looks good. Percentage of his practice that is devoted to vulva disorders is 65%! That is the highest of any doctor close enough to us to drive to. Sitting all that way is scaring me to death, but if he could possibly help me, it will be worth it. If we go for nothing, I may have a breakdown. Michael wants me to stay positive. He's right I know. There is only one guy in town who "might" could help, but he does reconstructive surgery on women and I am afraid that is the "first" thing he would want to do. We live in a small town when you compare us to other places around us. Not terribly small, but when it comes to finding a GYN who even knows about this condition, it is rare. My GYN figured it out after I saw her 3 times and my NP, Nancy, knew "nothing" of it. I had researched it on the net and had to tell her about it! That is not good. Only my GYN finally gave it a name, the one I had looked up already of Vulvodynia. It affects millions of women yet nobody has ever heard of it not even me until it happened to me. Well I'm ranting, sorry.

Anyway, pray for me that this doctor can help more than the ones I've seen in town. I am hopeful, but scared all at the same time...and we are very low on money this month. Great time to take a trip! NOT.

love Deb.

♥

[bk_forever]

Misty is doing well, no more meds for now and he goes back to the vet in 6 weeks. He might need another course of antibiotics then, but I'm hoping not. I don't think I got much down him the last few days - he was attacking the syringe!

Oh, I'm glad you got an appointment with a specialist, but so sorry it's such a long drive! Take your crystals and a pillow with you, or two cushions so you can raise yourself up with a gap between to keep your painful bits from touching anything. I'll be thinking of you and willing things to go well. *hugs carefully*

My sister is 3 year older than me, we're not close and never really were. My nephew and niece are like you and Tim, really close - they even rent a house together.

Take care, love you loads! J xxx

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

I just wrote you more current posts, you were off to bed. I was just wondering if Misty had to take more antibiotics? I know you said he is doing real well now.

I'm sorry you are not close to your sister. I think sometimes it is harder for 2 sisters or 2 brothers to be close. I'm not sure why since I've never had a sister, just a girlfriend who was like a sister to me and now you of course. Michael is about a year and a-half older than his brother and they never got along he said, but they are "very" different in their interests and the way they see things sometimes. I got the brainery brother I guess, lol!...not that Mark is stupid, he is just not as book smart as Michael. Mark works on cars at their dad's autoshop and Mark is friendly. He definitely makes more friends than Michael does. Michael can meet people easily, but often says something he shouldn't, even if it is the truth. He has gotten a lot of people mad at him for that. Poor Michael didn't mean to hurt them, he is just very straight forward. He will tell me later that he felt bad about it. He wants to be "Spock" ...completely honest, but without tact that can cause problems.

Sorry, I'm rambling on, Michael is napping, and I'm hungry. I need to either cook or see if I can get him up to cook me something. He cooks, I do dishes. I really should learn to cook more. I'm so lazy!

[bk_forever]

Lol! I love Spock =)

My sister and I are very different, we get on better now she's living so far away but we never really have anything to talk about. *shrugs*

No antibiotics for Misty at the moment, but might need another course later. Just got to see how things go. He goes back in six weeks for a check up.

[magikalrhiannon.livejournal.com]

YAY!! Best of luck!

[bk_forever]

Thank you, we need it! We've given him his morning medicine, but we're still not doing well with the wrapping. Somehow he still manages to get his front legs in the way. By the time we get it right, he'll probably be finished with the meds. o_0

[timelordshines.livejournal.com]

Yay bunny's back :-) and its good to hear he's feeling well enough to give you a hard time when you try to medicate him. Good luck with that!

[bk_forever]

Thanks! It's a bit of a struggle, but I hope I'm managing to get at least some medicine into him. Now I just need him to get back to eating properly. He had a fair amount ofcabbage yesterday and a few bits of dried food, but he really needs to eat more. Like me, he doesn't eat much when it's hot, so perhaps he'll be hungrier this evening when it gets cooler.

[sassysailorgirl.livejournal.com]

Try sitting on him. ;p Works for my big black cat!

[bk_forever]

Heee! I think he'd squirm out. He didn't like being given his meds this morning - rabbits CAN make noises and he was quietly whining. Then when I picked him up afterwards, he stuck his head under my arm like he was hiding. Poor thing. He's not eaten much today, but it's hot and like me, he has no appetite then. Hopefully he'll eat this evening when it's cooler.

[debmommy22.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor little guy. I hope he finally ate something. I know this reply wasn't to me, but I just had to comment. It's so hard to watch your pets hurt, I know.

I'm going to try to move on to more current posts. :)