Excuse me while I take a little Labyrinth break and insert a little life update. It’s been a busy and scary couple of days here as Gatsby, the world’s plushest and most opinionated rabbit, had a serious health crisis when his digestive system stopped working. Rabbits are always eating and always pooping, but poor Gatsby’s guts got backed up and his tiny stomach went from the size of a golf ball to the size of a grapefruit. Luckily we got him to the vet right away and his doctor was able to pump the poor guy’s stomach and jumpstart his system. The doctor explained that rabbits are closest to horses in the way their digestion works, and what happened to Gatsby is the number one cause of death in horses, but thankfully, the little guy is pulling through. He’s on four medications for the short-term, and we have to squirt a nutritional paste into his mouth with a big plastic syringe until he starts eating a balanced diet on his own.
I’ve been around pets for most of my life, but this is the first time I’ve experienced a life-and-death crisis. This has been (and continues to be, poor guy) a stark reminder of how dependent our pets are on our love and vigilance. If you have a rabbit or a cat or a dog or a rodent or any sort of pet, make sure to check that they’re feeling well before you go to bed tonight, okay?
UPDATE — As far as I can tell, Gatsby is back to full health. As of today, he’s eating normally and seems to be fully recovered. Unfortunately, 3 days apart from his ladyfriend Greta has caused the two of them to have a bit of a falling out. When we first adopted her, she was a very docile and traumatized rescue animal, and she and Gatsby bonded very quickly. Now, Greta is stronger and has opinions and doesn’t much like Gatsby trying to assert his dominance. Such drama! They should get a reality show. Anyway, Gatsby’s follow up vet visit is tomorrow and we’ll know if he’s definitely in the clear.
Oh, how sad! Get Well Soon Gatsby!
I hope Gatsby gets well soon…Its sad to think about how much medicating and caring for animals can cost…I know a few people who have had to put down pets because they couldn’t afford the cost of treatment.
My particularily bipolar cat has one bad nail that tends to grow into the pad in her foot. Since we have to drug her so that she wont maul us when we clip her nails, everytime we go to the vet it costs us 200 dollars.
How is your other rabbit doing? Didn’t you guys adopt a female bunny a little while back?
Gatsby is lucky to have such a caring human dad
He’s doing just wonderfully (although quite unnerved by frequent mouth injections of various liquids and foodpastes).
We did adopt a lady bun to keep him company last year. Her name is Greta, pictured here with our male cat (Chairman Mao): http://www.flickr.com/photos/pigeonhero/4400756910/in/set-72157622443302478/
She’s perturbed that she has to live separately from Gatz, but rather happy to be away as he is prone to taking out his feeling bad with rather fierce humping.
Poor Gatsby. That’s why my dad wouldn’t allow pets, and I wouldn’t want to take care of rabbits coz mine died… Just to think the stuff I’ve been doing… Thank God he’s ok.
Feeling a little teary now because we had to say goodbye to our dog very suddenly just a month ago. So I can’t check on him tonight but he’s been on my mind all today more than usual for some reason. I’m happy, though, that Gatsby has such a wonderful family to take care of him and I hope the little guy feels better soon,
I’m so sorry to hear that, Terra. It sounds like your dog was very loved.
(The reply button is not working right now, so this is to Terra)
Sorry, Terra. I am a huge dog lover and have two Shelties myself and they’re basically my children. I’ve had about five dogs that have died and I know exactly how it feels. I also had a few cats die, one this October because she was allergic to the meidication to help her overactive thyroid.
Anyway, I get moments like that to, where I think about an animal quite a bit. You’ll be okay, Terra. I’m sure he’s very happy where he is and I bet he was very lucky to have an owner like you who loved him very much *big hug!*
Aww, poor Gatsby and Jake! Get well in a jiffy, little fluffy bunny!
Get well soon, Gatsby!
Aw, poor Gatsby! D: Fell better soon!
*feel, in my last post. Not fell. ^^
Oh no. I hope your bunny is hopping again soon.
Aww, I’m so glad you guys caught it in time!
Back in January, my congo grey parrot suddenly fell ill, and I called my husband to come back from work and take him to the vet- by the time he’d gotten to the house Raimey had died. I’ve been wallowing in guilt for the past few months, so haven’t been online; it’s great to see other people who understand how important a pet is in the family.
And wow! Four meds? How do you get him to eat them? I can’t imagine they’d taste very good…
I’m sorry to hear about your parrot. A friend of mine has a grey parrot named Lola. She’s a pretty awesome creature — like a little feathered dinosaur. So smart! And very loving too.
As for Gatsby’s meds, three of them are liquids that I have to squirt down his mouth with a plastic syringe. Actually, he doesn’t mind that much. The thing that can be trick is the assisted feedings. They’re delivered the same way, just with a really big syringe. 25cc of nutritional paste — it takes a while to get it all down. Fortunately, the little fella seems to be eating normally, so if the Vet says it’s okay, we might be able to stop doing that as of today.
Lola would like to remind you that she is, in fact, GREEN. And then she would like to bite you to remind you that she loves no one.
Awe, I hope the little guy gets well soon.
My youngest cat, a male named Cocoa, had serious intestinal parasites when I first got him in 2002. He only had a fifty / fifty chance of pulling through but Animal Life Line paid for his medication and saved him.
Aww, poor cutie! I am glad he’s feeling better. You, Sir, have a very adorable pet!
My poor Toy Pomeranian is getting old, and I am constantly worried about her health. It’s always an eye opener when you see your pet hurt or uncomfortable.
Still relieved that the little guy is doing better~
:3
Glad to hear Gatsby’s better.
I would so totally watch a bunny reality show. Greta>>>>>Snookie.