Bunny blues

03 February 2003 ~ 17:44

He usually has his back teeth clipped every few weeks. At least he has been having them done for a year or so since they became overgrown and cut his mouth. We'd noticed he was drinking a lot of water, even bashing his water dropper with his front paws in frustration at the water not coming out quickly enough. So since then, every time he starts doing that, we take him in to the surgery, drop him off and pick him up in the evening. We thought that's what had happened this time�that his teeth were overgrown again.

Only I got a call from the vet who told me that they thought Blackie's teeth were OK. He had a much more serious problem. They suspected his kidneys were failing.

Poor old Blackie. He had to have a blood test and an X-ray, and from this the vet could see that the kidneys were only functioning 30 to 40% capacity.

Now, Blackie is old, so perhaps it's not all that suprising. He'll be nine years old in a few months. Yet having had him all this time, I've sort of come to take him for granted. The rats have always been fussed over, had lots of photos taken of them, because we've always been aware of their limited time on earth - usually only two years. Blackie's had a lot longer and therefore not had the same fuss. Oh, he gets his fair share of cuddles though. He really is a gorgeous little bunny, solid black save for a small white patch under his chin.

The vet admitted not much is known about loss of kidney function in bunnies. She is going to check with a company who make cat kidney medicine so see if they can come up with something to help him. In the meantime, a low protein diet means no more chocolate sweeties for poor Blackie, no bananas, which he loves, in fact no more of any of his favourite foods (he thinks he is a human being when it comes to meal times)!

Everyone please send positive vibes for our little bunny-wunny. We're not yet ready to let him go to the big warren in the sky.


Stored nuts | Future acorns