Remembering Dijon's 12th Birthday

This time last year, we were celebrating Dijon’s 12th Birthday. 

 

Every birthday is a special milestone for a rabbit, but as Dijon headed towards his 12th, we realised every single day was special. By that time, he had an intermittent watery eye from a chronic blocked tear duct caused by a past eye infection, an arthritic knee from rupturing a ligament, and had suffered sporadically with periods of straining to pass droppings. 

An episode of straining caused Dijon to prolapse in Nov ’22, requiring urgent surgery. We knew the risks of anesthesia at his age – earlier that year, we’d opted not to undergo diagnostic tests which required sedation, as the risks outweighed the benefits. The prolapse left us with no choice. Miraculously, Dijon survived the operation, but the next day, he was in pain, unable to pass droppings. We were incredibly fortunate that an exotics specialist was able to see him immediately. He was horrified, spotting instantly that the stitches had been placed too tightly. Within seconds, he’d flipped Dijon over, snipped the stitches, given him a shot of opioids and whisked him away for surgery. We didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye. Dijon’s second sedation within 24 hours – surely, he didn’t stand a chance? 

Miraculously, Dijon pulled through to live another year, with no further episodes of straining until his last day. 

It’s not easy having a senior bun. Dijon didn’t always reach his litter tray, and when he did, his bottom was often over the edge (he responded well to our instruction of “Dijon, turn round!”, if we noticed in time!). We covered the carpet with old sheets and towels, which we changed and washed daily, cleaning soaked-through patches with a spot carpet cleaner, bought for the purpose. We timed outings around medicine times (7am Gabapentin; 10am Meloxicam, Emeprid, Lactulose; 3pm Gabapentin; 10.30pm Gabapentin, Meloxicam, Emeprid, Lactulose – times which are drilled into our subconscious, still, even today, drawing attention to the fact he’s no longer here with us). But it was worth it – each day, he greeted us with a little dance for breakfast, came running to lap his medicine from a spoon, ventured out of the living room to patrol his favourite new room, and never stopped loving his food and cuddles.