Empty box

"Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms."
(George Eliot)

A different blip to the one I had planned. That one will wait until tomorrow, though. Something came up...

This is Stewie, one of the last of many rabbits I've had over the past 10 years. Now Lola is the last remaining one.

Stewie has had a medical condition for years, called E. cuniculi, which is a protozoan parasite that lives in the cells of the body. It is mostly passed from the mother at birth or soon after and, for the most part, infected rabbits can remain unaffected by it.

But Stewie has always had some sort of ailment or other, from the moment we took him in from his previous owner. So his immune system was not really up to fighting off such a parasite. And so, today, we were faced with having to make a decision whether to continue treatment or not. The vet confirmed what we had already suspected; that we would only be delaying the inevitable. Whether for a matter of weeks or a month or two, it's not important.

His quality of life had begun to suffer and, although he stayed spirited and mischievous, it had become more apparent that his back end would eventually fail him completely. His muscles have been wasting for a while and his mobility was sometimes normal, other days poor. And other symptoms, which I won't bore you with.

I'm usually a wreck at the vets' if we come home empty-handed, but today I just felt like it was right for him and so it was easier.
You can't be selfish about these things.

I know it's a lengthy write-up for a wee beastie, and 'non-owned' people won't necessarily understand and may think me sentimental, but that's not important.

Stewie was a wee ray of sunshine, each and every day. His cuddles always made me feel better and his mischief always made me chuckle and smile. My life is better for having known him and he will forever be remembered fondly.
If I can, in future years (hopefully distant), have half as glowing an epitaph from someone then I'll be happy...

Night night sweet Stewie :) xxx