Monday, February 16, 2009

Niblet update -- bad news

I took Nibble in to see a bunny doctor on Friday, and apparently abcesses are "a bunny thing" and they're usually removed by surgery. However, Niblet's abcess is very close to his missing ear, and the doctor is worried that the infection originates in his inner ear. Thus he's advising that the surgery be done by a specialist at Cornell or Penn. This would mean a couple thousand dollars, and so it's pretty much out of the question.

For now, we're going to see what happens to the abcess over the next three weeks. He didn't give me any antibiotics or anything, saying they wouldn't help. I think I liked it better when I thought it was just a matter of lancing and draining.

If anyone out there has any experience with this kind of thing, I'd appreciate any information you can give me.

Obviously, this is going to run into some vet bills, and I've decided that I don't have the financial means to go to the New River birding festival with the Flock in April. I'm pretty bummed about this, but I think it's probably best to keep whatever pennies I have in case I need them for the little Son Moon and Stars.

Meanwhile, I already asked off for those days in April, so I think I will probably end up just going camping around here somewhere, maybe with Gretchen, and birding. We've got some migration paths in this area, and I'm hopeful that I'll still get a lot of birds. I figure it's the low-cost option.

13 comments:

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

You could come down and visit Sparky and I in April. We'd love to have you.

Tina said...

So sorry to hear about Nibble..hope he gets well w/o having to under go any type of discomfort. My sister took her dog to Penn for a hip replacement..ouch $7,000! Dog is doing fine but like you said it was a large bill.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Waaaa....
I'm sorry Delia. We'll figure something out for the next get-together festival.
There WILL be another Flock convergence!

kiss Nibble for me-

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Oh, no! I hope Niblet rallies anyway. Poor critter. :-(

KGMom said...

Delia--so sorry for your double trouble here. Of course, caring for beloved Niblet is most important. But you needed some personal time too.
Hope all works out.

(Remember the name of the invisible rabbit in the Jimmy Stewar movie--his friend Harvey? Well, my word verification word is Harvi--in honor of bunnies.)

Susan Gets Native said...

All of this SUX.

I wish I knew more about bunny ears. I would drive there tonight, perform delicate bunny ear surgery, make the Nibs feel 100% better, and ask for nothing but a place to sleep for the night.

*Hoping that the abscess heals anyway*
**and wondering if you could pull a whirlwind "one day only" engagement in WV**

Dawn Fine said...

So sorry about Niblet!
Have you tried Homeopathy..
you can buy remedies at most health food stores and pets seem to respond well.
Here is a site I found online

http://www.holisticanimalmedicines.com/index.php?gPath=10&usg=__t3r8vNqkdBQRsJvNlbtcDMnaZLc=

good luck with your little critter

NCmountainwoman said...

Oh, so sorry about Niblet, Delia. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Heck, I might even drop a card in the prayer box at church. Can't hurt and who's to know he's a rabbit? Well, OK, I guess God would know but would understand.

Take care of yourself while you are taking care of him.

RG said...

that's sad news. i can sure understand the feeling .. you'ld do anything for the little guy, but you can't so do your best.

we've had a couple who might have lived longer with some expensive vet work, but we could not do that either. we always have a prescription of an anti-infammatory/pain med. called metacam in the house and it keeps the bunn from suffering much pain.

and we always remember why we have a bunny and just enjoy the heck out of them until it's time.

good luck... Niblet would like California!

LauraHinNJ said...

Ok... I'm sorry, but no ABX and no pain meds cause, why?

Arrggghhh!

Seriously Delia, my bunny vet is probably the best in NJ and maybe your vet could consult with him, at least to make Niblet more comfortable somehow?

(We're not that far away, either, you know?)

Just an idea... let me know if you want his contact info, ok?

Beth said...

I hope Niblet is okay and gets better. Sorry to hear you are not coming to New River - you will be missed.

Beth

Matthew Hubbard said...

Best wishes for my favorite internets bun-bun.

lisahgolden said...

I hope that Niblet improves. And I'm so sorry about you birding trip, but you sound like you've got a handle on things. Dang, it still stinks that things aren't working out.