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1st Nov, 2007

Please, do not send any donations anymore

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4th Jan, 2007

Weber’s video is now on YouTube

Weber playing with his dogs Digit & DotCOM (aka Dottie) - in happier, healthier times:

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24th Dec, 2006

Weber has been buried

I had intended to have Weber buried at the cemetery where my first dog was buried 10 years ago. The prices have gone up considerably in the past 10 years. I didn’t mind spending my very last cent on Weber when he was alive, trying to make him well, but to spend hundreds of dollars after he’s gone just didn’t seem right. This was his home, and in another 30 years, I should (hopefully) own this joint free and clear… so I buried my little angel in my front yard, right under the window in front of my living room. His cage was just on the other side of the wall. Sometimes he would hop onto the window sill - and when he wasn’t chewing on the sill or the window shade, he would peek out that window.

When I picked him up from GCVS, they had him in a cardboard coffin. It was sunny in Denton, but storming in Houston. I brought a cooler with some ice and put a towel on top of the ice to keep him dry on the way home and the cooler kept him dry in the pouring rain to the car. I was thinking that maybe there was a mistake… my Weber was maybe ok and they handed me the wrong rabbit. I opened the lid of his box when I got to my car and there was my baby. He looked like he was sleeping… except the normally cute pink eyeliner he had around his eyelids was white. His fur was still soft as ever and his ears still felt like him, but he was cold and stiff and the reality sank in that he wasn’t going to magically awaken from this.

When I finally got back to Denton, I stopped at Kroger and got some dry ice while I weighed my options. A trusted neighbor who has a key to my house fed my dogs and let them potty while I was still en route. When brought the cooler in, they were both crying. Something smelled familiar, but they weren’t sure what to make of it. I let the dogs out of their crates and they bolted for the cooler, their nubs were wiggling furiously (both dogs were ‘accidental’ acquisitions and came with docked tails - I did not do that to them).

Once they calmed down a bit, I opened the cooler and took out the cardboard box and sat on the living room rug with the box in my lap. Both dogs were sniffing the box excitedly, and still wagging their nubs. I removed the lid and pulled back the little blanket. Dottie stuck her nose on Weber’s tummy and she drew in a heavy sniff - then she recoiled and ran to the other side of the room. I don’t know if it was because he was so cold and/or she smelled that he was dead. I was then worried she either thought I had done something horrible to her bunny or that she had accidentally done something to him. She acted very guilty and uneasy. I tried to reassure her, then she ran to her doggie dish and started moving it around and licking it. I think she totally gets that he’s gone, but doesn’t know how to cope. Digit was never physically affectionate with Weber like Dottie was. He would try to initiate play with Weber, but that was it. Digit seemed to realize Weber was gone and he seemed disturbed by it, but not as visibly shaken as Dottie. Digit is a very sensitive soul - so I know he’s thinking about it.

Both dogs are eating normally. The next morning, Dottie bolted from my bedroom and went to sniff the cooler again, her ears back and nub tucked in. She clearly got it that he was dead, and was trying to figure things out. Digit was also sniffing and I think both dogs are pondering the whole situation. They saw me holding Weber for the past several months giving him medicine. I know they both smelled the foul odor coming from his post surgical wounds since June… so I think they will ‘get it’ after time.

I didn’t want the dogs to get too curious, so I had the epiphany to bury him in the front. The soil is damp and heavy and full of clay - and I’m way out of shape. I was digging for about 3 hours when one of my neighbors from across the street saw me struggling and he began to help me dig. There are possums, wild rabbits, skunks, armadillos, raccoons and occasionally coyotes in the neighborhood - I didn’t want anything digging my baby up, so we dug deep enough so with the box in there, there was still about 20″ of dirt on top of him.

I opened the lid again and placed him in one of his little beds and put him back in the box. He still looked beautiful and like he could wake up in any minute. I kissed him and put him in the ground and I just cannot believe this is real. I cannot believe this is happening, it’s like a terrible nightmare. He was just in my passenger seat a few days ago, eating hay. Oh, how I miss feeling him grinding his teeth as I rubbed his head. I felt like jumping in the grave with him… but while I don’t really feel like it, I know I’m still alive and have to keep on going, chasing the almighty dollar to pay off his bills.

When I picked him up on the 21st, they forgot to give me his bed and carrier. I didn’t realize it until the next morning. I played voicemail phone tag with the folks at GCVS several times and finally gave them my home address so they could ship his carrier and bed here. I went to Tuesday Morning to get some cheap gift bags for some little presents I was going to be giving in the next few days and my cell phone rang. One of the technicians at GCVS called to confirm my address so they could send the carrier & bed… and of course, I totally lost it and had a break-down right there in front of all the customers in the store.

She said that they were all so sad that Weber died and that they all had grown very fond of him during his visits there. She was very sweet and I do know he was well thought of there. When he had had his first big surgery down there (after about 7 surgeries locally), one of my local vets said that she had talked to the folks down there and they were all big Weber fans. He was certainly a better patient than I’ve ever been. The one time I was in an ambulance, I’m surprised the paramedics didn’t hold a pillow over my face - I don’t do well while in pain or stress… but Weber was always a gentle sweetheart. I honestly do not know how I’m going to go on without him.

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20th Dec, 2006

Weber has passed away

It is with a broken heart that I tell you that my sweet baby has died. He never regained consciousness. Dr. Chen said that he may have had a stroke since so much fat is loosened when this type of surgery is done. She said another possibility was that during the blood loss during surgery, he may have not had enough oxygen to his brain. They asked if I wanted a necropsy performed, and I honestly do not see the point. There is nothing more I can do to help him live - I don’t really care what it was that killed him… all I know is that he is gone and I miss him.

My plans are to go down to Houston tomorrow to pick him up. I have no idea what kind of bill I can expect to receive. I will keep him in a cooler in the car until I can have him buried the next day.

I have just made arrangements to bring him to Petland Memorial Gardens Pet Cemetery in Duncanville on Friday. On December 27, 1996, my dog Spots, was buried at that pet cemetery and on January 3, 1967, my mother’s dog was buried there. I had my dog interred with my mother’s dog. Just for those who probably already think I am moderately (if not fully) insane for having spent this money on an animal - when my dog was buried 10 years ago, the cost of burial was $75. There will be no service, or anything like that. I will just take my baby there to get buried. They usually make the coffins there on the spot out of pine. I’m not a grave-visiting type of person… this will be only my second time there - the last time was when we buried my first dog.

When I bring him home tomorrow, I will let his dogs sniff him so they will know that he died and that I didn’t just get rid of him. The first time I ever took Weber to the vet, his dog Dottie about lost it. She wailed and screamed, so I had to take her with us. When we walked into the vet’s office, Dottie essentially said, “bye, Weber - see ya, wouldn’t want to be ya.” So, she’s always kinda whistled and looked the other way when I’ve taken him with me. She is concerned, but she’s scared she’ll be taken to the vet, so she just kinda sulks. Last night, she stuck her head in his cardboard cotton tail cottage looking for him. I know animals feel the same range of emotions we do, they just don’t express them the same way. I think Digit will be moderately sad, but Dottie will likely be grieving for her bunny for some time.

Thank you all for your prayers and kind words for the past few weeks that this blog has been up.

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20th Dec, 2006

Surgery is over, prognosis is grave

Weber did not do well during surgery, his heart began to slow down and they had to give him drugs to get it back up. His surgery has been over for over an hour and he hasn’t woken up. Dr. Chen said that unless he wakes up soon, she does not expect him to be live through the next 24 hours. Please continue to pray for my baby.

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20th Dec, 2006

Weber is in surgery…

I spoke with Dr. Chen about 1.5 hours ago. They had Weber in pre-sedation and were planning on operating in the following 30 minutes. They said the surgery could be an hour or an hour & a half long. Dr. Suzanne Hunter is the surgeon. Please pray for Weber and the doctors and anesthesiologists attending him.

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19th Dec, 2006

Weber is in Houston - Surgery Wednesday (tentative)

In the parking lot of GCVS. Due to the wide angle, it looks like Weber is about to slide off the roof of my Beetle - he isn’t. This is just before we went in.

I dropped Weber off with Dr. Sue Chen at GCVS about 2 hours ago and my heart is still palpatating. This (above) could be (I hope not) the last photo of Weber alive. They are doing some bloodwork today and they will be evaluating him this evening and tomorrow morning. They do their life-threatening surgeries in the morning, hence he will likely be operated on first thing in the morning. I gave them a downpayment of $1600 based on the $2000 estimate. The rest will be due when I pick him up. It could be as much as $2800 if they decide to do another CT-Scan.

The office manager told me that two people have called GCVS about donating for Weber, but they have apparently redirected those people to contact me… so no monies have arrived there. As long as it’s not too creepy late when I get back to Denton, I will check my mail for the first time in a month to see if anyone has sent anything to GCVS and update the donation thermometer as appropriate.

I have had spotty Internet access for the past week or so, which is why there have hardly been any updates. I have cable Internet at home - but it’s been up and down for the past week. My apologies if I missed a communique with any of you.

I am typing this on my iBook at the Genius Bar at the Apple Store Woodlands, about 15 minutes north of GCVS. If Weber survives the surgery tomorrow, it will still be a long road ahead with perhaps life-long visits for teeth trimmings. I am hoping he’s one of the ones whose teeth suddenly stop growing in response to there being no corresponding jaw below. I’ve actually been hoping for a medical miracle - that the doctors will look in there and say a miracle has occurred - that he is healed and jaw removal is not neccessary - but in case that is not God’s will, I’m prepared to do what I need to do to continue caring for him as long as he’s happy.

Some of you know via MySpace, and private e-mails that I freaked out a bit when I saw diarrhea Monday morning. Hundreds of tiny black gooey poopies about the size of sesame seeds. Dr. Chen informed me that from my description, this is not diarrhea, but instead they are the cecotrophs he normally eats one at a time straight from the tap as it were. Because he is such a neat-freak, I never see them, so I had no idea they looked like this. Dr. Chen said that either I just happened to catch him before he had dined on his cecotrophs or it could be he didn’t feel well enough to eat them - which is still a tad better than it being diarrhea.

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13th Dec, 2006

Weber’s status…

The doctors in Houston cannot take Weber until this coming Wednesday (one week from this writing) - I may end up taking him Tuesday so they can do the surgery first thing in the morning on Wednesday. Weber had a good evening - the swelling was down and he was actually a little playful. He was not good this morning, though. As much as I dread to put this in writing, I have been riding the fence on having him put to sleep. I just don’t want him in agony if they can’t see him for a week - and then there’s the after-care that sounds like it could be easy (if we’re lucky) or a nightmare. Dr. Chen was pretty frank with me during our phone conversation yesterday. I’m just worn out from this whole ordeal and cannot think straight to make a decision. I love my bunny, but I just don’t know right now. As with any surgery, there are no guarantees - but the doctors just won’t know until the procedure is over with. Please pray for my cottonball.

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12th Dec, 2006

Another $10 rolls in…

Today, I received a $5 donation. I got $3 in referral fees from stuff folks had purchased on Amazon via my links and a couple of my photos were downloaded at iStockphoto for another $2.

Note - if you did order something from Amazon via my links - it takes a few days for the orders to even show up where I login to Amazon and it’s not until the items ship that it shows what my referral earnings are… as soon as I see something new, I’ll update the thermometer.

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11th Dec, 2006

Weber takes a turn for the worst…

As I reported earlier, Weber will hop a bit, then lay down to recuperate. Yesterday, when I came home from my weekend job, I saw Weber laying in his cage, with his face hanging in his water bowl. I’ve seen this before, during one of the episodes when the wound from his previous surgeries ‘healed’ to the point of closing and the pus started backing up. The pressure makes him drool, and being the neat freak that he is, he doesn’t want to get anything (including himself) wet, so he hangs his little chin over the water dish to keep from drooling on the floor.

His face has ballooned. I will try to take a photo when I get home. I called GCVS this morning to see when they could see him. Now that the swelling is back, I don’t think he has long. Once he stops eating, it’s so hard to get him eating again. He is still eating, but I recognize this trend, and it won’t be for long. The surgeon that would typically do this radical partial jaw removal surgery was in today, but is out for the rest of the week. The other surgeon there that has rabbit experience has never done such a radical procedure on a rabbit. Dr. Chen will be having a meeting with that surgeon tomorrow to see if she is comfortable doing the surgery - they will go over his CT scans, etc. and call me back in the morning.

I’m having to borrow money from a friend that doesn’t really have a lot to spare. If you know anyone who needs to take a large tax-deduction this year, anyone can give a substantial gift and write it off, even if it’s not to a non-profit. Obviously, check w/ your accountant before messing up your return… I was an art major, not an accounting major. If it wasn’t for Turbo Tax software, I don’t know how I’d ever get my own taxes done! If you know anyone who needs to write off a substantial sum, now would certainly be a good time. I’m already neck-deep in debt and doing my best with two jobs and eBay auctions to pay off everything I already owe - now having to owe a friend who doesn’t really have the $ to spare is just gut-wrenching. I have to admit, I was kinda fantasizing that someone like Oprah would show up and foot the bill - but the reality sank in last night when I was trying to give Weber his medicine and he fought and flinched… I cannot wait for a sugar-daddy to swoop in and save the day.

I had taken him off the metronidozole a couple of weeks ago because there is a toxicity problem with it and he was acting plain weird. I took him off of it and he was better in 2 days… but now I am thinking I took him off for too long. He has continued to receive his chloramphenecol, though. I put him back on the metronidozole last Thursday when the doctor stated his wound was still stinky after just 1 day since his last wound flushing. I’ve been giving him .4mL twice daily since then.

Even if someone plops the money in my lap as a gift, I am so worried that the surgeon that would normally do this surgery will be out this week. If you’re a person of prayer, please pray for my little Weber. Now couldn’t be a better time for a miracle.

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7th Dec, 2006

Name the Peachpit Press Visual Quickstart Guide Bunny!

In my opinion, the Visual Quickstart Guides by Peachpit Press are the absolutely best technical reference books on the market right now. Their indexes are thorough, and you never have to read a title cover-to-cover - you can quickly & easily look up what you need, and read it in small chunks and you’re done and back to your project. I was fond of the bunny-emblazoned books long before I had a bunny of my own. Now, Peachpit Press is giving away a tech library and an 80 GB iPod! in their bunny naming contest!

If you have a bunny of your own - by all means, enter the contest and enter the name of your own bunny! But - if you don’t, it would be awesome if a bunch of folks happened to suggest Weber the Wonder Bunny as the name for their mascot. Since I am a Web designer, I have digital names for my pets. My dogs are Digit and DotCom (she also answers to Dottie), and of course, there is Weber - named for the Internet bun he is. The deadline for the contest is December 15, so HURRY and good luck!

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7th Dec, 2006

Have you bought stuff on Amazon using my link?

If so, please let me know. I had a coworker use my link to buy something for her husband - and another friend of mine bought some gift certificates and gifts for friends via my link on Amazon - but it’s been 3 days and it’s not showing up… I should have at least a few $ earned for Weber via my Amazon Associates account from the 2 people who I know ordered stuff. Ugh! I posted to Amazon’s Associates Discussion Forum to ask how long it takes for the $ to show up. They said it would show up the next day - but that has come and gone and still nothing. I’d like to know if Amazon is short-changing folks who are driving traffic to their site… if so, I will find another affiliate! Please let me know if you’ve used this link - even if my ‘cut’ would only be a few cents - it does add up. Since my friend spent about $100 on Amazon, I should have gotten $4… but my total there is still $0.

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7th Dec, 2006

Donations to Gulf Coast Avian & Exotics!

Their cards and site say Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, but they answer the phone as Gulf Coast Avian & Exotics. This is the center where I have taken Weber for his CT-Scan and his last surgery. I inadvertently left my cell phone in my car today, so I missed the call when Dr. Chen (from GCVS) called to talk to me about someone calling w/ a donation for Weber. They wanted to talk to me about the logistics of this. When I called back, I had to leave her a voice mail because she was gone for the day - so hopefully, I will know more later.

I am humbled that someone has called them in regard for a donation for him. My guess is that they want to know what they’re supposed to do w/ the money if Weber dies before the surgery. For now, my stance is that if this happens, they can use the money to pay for another person’s sick bunny who cannot afford to pay… and have a basic bunny fund for that purpose as long as people want to keep donating. GCVS is the last hope for many exotics in Texas. They take referrals only and they’re always packed (at least the last few times I was there).

I would ask that once I know what GCVS wants to do on handling donations, that please do not donate just $1 to them. You can send me $1 - that’s fine - but unless it’s at least $50, please do not call them. Walking into GCVS is like walking into a hospital emergency room that has just handled an overturned school bus - no one sits - the receptionists are always on their feet, answering calls and having people fill out forms, etc. I do not want to be a burden to them by someone occupying their time on the phone to give them 50 cents. I hope this doesn’t sound crass. I am thrilled for every penny someone sends on Weber’s behalf - but until further notice, please keep in mind that GCVS is a business and they cannot field calls for $1 a pop. Honestly, I don’t care if they have a dart board w/ my photo on it - but I don’t want Weber to be a source of annoyance for them.

I just picked up Weber from the vet in Corinth (about 10 miles south of me, between my house and work). I told the staff there that I had gotten a voicemail from Dr. Chen about someone wanting to donate directly to GCVS, and they cheered. One of the staff had a son in ICU for several months and they received many donations. She said they set up a donation fund at the bank for her son - so this might be what we do for Weber and GCVS - I have NO CLUE. I’ve never been in a situation like this in my life.

I do not know if GCVS can even take credit card info over the phone or not. I know that when I paid them last time w/ my credit card, I had to sign - so not sure if they can just take the # or not. Some businesses can, some can’t.

If you or someone you know is an attorney that needs to do some pro bono work and can give me some advice on how to do this, please let me know. I want everything to be beyond reproach.

To whoever did call GCVS, God bless you. I cannot believe how awesome you guys are, every single one of you who keeps e-mailing, encouraging and sending money. I am humbled beyond words.

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6th Dec, 2006

$10 from the UK, Hero Dog & Smelly Pus

Weber worships at the altar of his favorite dog, DotCom (aka Dottie)

How’s that for a headline? I was so delighted today to get a $10 donation from someone in the UK. Weber is truly an international bunny! Hugs & kisses to all those who have sent $ and who are praying for Weber.

This is totally off topic, but I read such an awesome story about a hero dog in Tennessee, I had to share it. Just click on this sentence to open the story in a new window.

Weber went to the vet yesterday for his wound flush and pen shot. I had to drop him off and I picked him up after work. The doctor was busy with another client, so one of the receptionists/techs gave me a synopsis. She is often the one who holds him while the doctor is flushing out his wound. She said that the pus and wound were particularly foul-smelling and that the doctor had commented to her that she didn’t know how much longer Weber was going to be able to go on w/o the surgery.

The past few days, he has hopped a bit, then he lays down to pant. This has happened after every surgery when the wound is closing up and the bacteria blooms. I am so discouraged. He goes in tomorrow and hopefully it will be a better report. We didn’t go on Saturday because I work at a retail store on the weekends. We have a lot of seasonal people, and quite frankly, I don’t trust some of them as to how they might pet/handle Weber in the office while I’m out on the sales floor… plus the poor guy has to hold in his pee all day long in the carrier. I discussed this w/ the vet and she agreed that it’s best not to stress Weber out so we’ve been skipping Saturday wound cleanings. I can’t do a MWF rotation, because both of my trusted bunny vets have Wednesdays off and both are off on Sundays. *sigh*. I have tried flushing the wound myself, but it is in such a precarious position, it’s impossible for me to do this w/o help - and I am the only one in my house that has opposable thumbs!

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3rd Dec, 2006

Bald spots!

When I took Weber in for his wound flushing and pen shot on Friday (Weber and I were iced in on Thursday), I pointed out a bald spot on Weber’s neck - behind his head. He has always been a tad thin in the hair dept. in this area, but now he has a bald spot the size of a quarter. When Dr. Eddy picked him up out of his carrier, I saw his right hind leg had a huge bald spot the size of my fist on it. Dr. Eddy turned off the lights and pulled out a fluourescent light to see if anything ‘lit up’ - perhaps indicating ringworm. Nada.

His skin looks perfect, though, so if it is a form of ringworm that doesn’t show up under blacklight, it’s in its early stages, because there is no flaky skin and no scabs, for now. His skin is an adorable pale pink, and smooth as a baby’s bottom.

Has anyone else w/ a rex had this crop up? The vet was stumped and was going to call the Houston vets (Dr. Chen & Dr. Antinoff) to see if they had any ideas.

Of course, I would love Weber if he was bald everywhere, but it sure would make me sad. He is so incredibly beautiful… and if you’ve ever petted a rex, you know how luxuriously soft their fur is. Weber’s fur is also the whitest white I have ever seen in real bonafide fur. It’s hard to believe he’s real. When my neighbor’s kids came over to see him when I first got him, they were proclaiming how he looked like a toy… and he does.

If anyone has any hints on the baldness, please let me know. I haven’t changed anything in his bedding or diet and his medication has been consistent for the past few months, so nothing new environmentally that I’m aware of.

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3rd Dec, 2006

Another $5 today…

Someone anonymously donated $5 today. I cannot tell you how encouraging it is to see even $1 added. It really warms my heart that strangers would be so generous. I am not getting e-mail when I get a donation. I just check at the end of the day in the Amazon & PayPal accounts and login to see if there is any activity - so the progress thermometer is not a ‘real time’ measure - I have to update some code to generate a new graphic. The flash thermometer I used before was buggy - sometimes it would say “GOAL!” for no reason. I found this new one generated by a freeware code at http://xdal.org/thermometer/ if you need one for your own site. Many thanks to the anonymous donor!

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28th Nov, 2006

shaggy coat, vibrating mandible

Weber’s coat has been shaggy lately. Any Rex owners have this happen? I will try to get some photos tonight, but as he is white, I’m not sure how well it will show up in a photo… plus I have got some kinda of bug that’s going around and I took a Benedryl, so no telling how long I will be vertical tonight. I don’t know if it’s just because he hasn’t been grooming as much or if all this medication is affecting his coat. Any ideas?

He’s also doing this thing with his lower jaw - I don’t know if he’s sucking on a tooth (kinda like when you have your wisdom teeth pulled) or what is going on. It’s intermittent, and I don’t have a clue as to when to anticipate it. His lower jaw kinda vibrates. I don’t mean normal “I’m so happy” teeth grinding - this is kinda over the top. Anyone experience this w/ their bun?

Help others find this article:

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26th Nov, 2006

New articles added

I’m trying to provide useful information to anyone who might find this site just looking for general rabbit care information. I have posted an article on proper bedding for your rabbit(s) and on Litter training your bunny. More articles will be coming soon. If you have any questions or ideas for Weber’s blog, please let me know.

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26th Nov, 2006

3 days, 3 donations - WOW!

I am so amazed by the generosity of people who I have never even met! I got a donation today all the way from France. The Internet is amazing, but the caring hearts of other people are far more amazing to me. Please spread the word. No donation is too small. Just 2000 people sending in $1 would cover his upcoming surgery - and anything above that, I’d hope to set up a grant for two local vets and for another bunny owner who is in the same financial jam I am in, who needs to pay for vet bills. If anyone reading this happens to be an attorney that needs to do some pro-bono work, I could use some help setting up a non-profit so that donations from folks in the US would be tax-deductable. Again, thanks to those who have already been so kind to me and my sweet bunny. If you were here in Denton, I would give you a big hug.

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22nd Nov, 2006

Another day, another vet visit…

Weber had his penicillin shot yesterday. I dropped him off at the vet this morning on the way to work and after work, I went back to pick him up. I had to go to the restroom and since Weber & I are such frequent flyers at Corinth Animal Hospital, I know the path to the staff toity all too well. When I left the restroom, I looked at the bank of animal cages and saw Weber there - in one of his meditative trances. Rabbits do this… often. I walked up to the cage and put my face up against the bars. All of a sudden, he snapped out of his trance and his nose started wiggling like crazy, “Hey, I know you!”

Dr. Eddy had been too busy to flush out his wound, so she did it while they were closing down for the evening. It had been longer than normal since his last wound flush and it was particularly foul smelling today. It kinda smells like the worst breath you’ve ever smelled, but coming out of this hole under his chin. He was such a good patient today. He’s a much better patient than I am, I can tell you.

He was in a really good mood the other night night. Dottie (his dog) kissed him and he danced afterwards… and he seemed to be in a really good mood in the car on the way home. After I get him in the car, I open the top off his carrier so he doesn’t feel trapped. He kept sticking his head out and looked around, then kinda zipped back-n-forth in his carrier. He is a character.

Someone asked me how much $ I’ve gotten donated so far. The answer is sadly $0. When I get donations, I will post the amounts.

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19th Nov, 2006

Weber’s daily regimen and other fun news…

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, I take Weber in to see the vet. She removes the scab on Weber’s surgery wound and flushes out the foul-smelling pus. Twice a day, I hold Weber while administering his oral medications. These will vary. Twice a day, he gets Chloramphenicol (1.0mL per dose) - this has been formulated at the pharmacy to taste like Pina Colada so it’s more palatable to him. This is refrigerated when not in use. The refills are $58 a pop - I have to get a refill every 3 weeks. As I hold him, I can smell that pus - and it’s getting stinker. As the hole closes, less oxygen gets to the wound and the prevotella bacteria in there just thrives. I’ve been searching online for other blogging links to help get the word out concerning Weber. I just really feel the window of opportunity in getting this thing licked closing quickly.

I was giving Weber Metronidozole twice a day (.3mL per dose) as well. While they formulated this to also taste like pina collada, it tastes like medicine (yes, I’ve tried it) and it is bitter. It has some problems w/ toxicity. Weber started acting not quite like himself and I took him off of the doses for a few days and he seems to be more Weber-like. When he is pokey, I assume he is having problems - so I give him .25mL of Metacam for pain. I can only give this once per day maximum, as more than that will cause ulcers in his tummy - and like most ailments ala rabbit - this would be fatal.

Sometimes I feel like it would be easier to care for a unicorn or a panda!

I got injured at work today and got sent home early. I was getting something from a shelf when a coworker barged in the room - the door flew open so fast, I couldn’t get out of the way and the door handle corner went right into my backbone. I cannot describe the jolt of pain. I was just recouperating from hurting my back 3 days earlier from trying to move something that I wasn’t strong enough to move - so now I have two kinds of pain in the same area. Before the mishap today, I was really getting better - and I could bend down or forward with no problem - now I cannot bend at all - so giving Weber his medicine is going to be oh, so much fun tonight. Not only am I in pain, but I spent about $10 in gas round trip to work and home and probably didn’t even earn that much today because it happened so early in the work day. It’s like I’m giving off a gravitational force field of bad mojo this year.

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Posted by: weber
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General Information

16th Nov, 2006

About the Bunny Fund

The Bunny Fund was created to raise funds for surgery needed for my rabbit, Weber. He was adopted from an animal shelter in Denton, Texas (where we live) at approximately 4 months of age in May of 2002. In June of 2006, I noticed his head was slightly tilted and upon touching him, I found that he was drooling. The vet initially suspected a spike had grown from his tooth. While he was under anesthesia, the doctor found his teeth to be in perfect condition. She probed his cheek with a syringe and pulled out pus. The pus had a strong odor, suggesting it was anaerobic, ie - it thrived in a zero-oxygen environment. This meant it was nearly impossible to grow a culture from this bacteria to find out what it was.

Since that initial surgery, Weber has undergone 8 surgeries. The most extreme was on September 27, when I took him to Gulf Coast Veterinary Services in Houston. A small portion of the bone in his jaw was removed, the wound cleaned out and he was given a clean bill of health. Just 2 weeks later, during the course of flushing out his open wound, smelly pus was found in the wound once again. On November 2nd, Weber & I took another all-day round trip to Houston for a CT-scan. The scan revealed that the cause of the infection is actually dental. While his teeth look great when you look in his mouth, the CT-scan revealed significant damage to his jaw.

The only way to remove the infection is to remove most of his lower right jaw. The vet has assured me that he can have an excellent quality of life, even with this radical surgery. The only thing I lack are the funds for the surgery.

Why don’t you pay for it yourself?

In July of 2005, I got laid off from work. I was unemployed for 6 months and until I got another job, I quickly exhausted my savings. I now make less than half of my previous income, but still have the bills from when I was making more. I have cashed in my retirement to pay bills, including about $6,000 on surgeries and medications for Weber. I have sold most things of value on eBay and there are no funds left. I have no friends or family of means that I can borrow from.

Why on earth would you spend this much on a rabbit?

Well, he’s not just any rabbit - he’s my rabbit. I have thought about the money I’ve wasted in my lifetime on things that didn’t matter. While I have been soda-free for the past 2 years, I figured that at the rate I drank carbonated beverages, I have spent over $30,000 in sodas in the past 35 years. I peed it away, it didn’t make me healthier and it didn’t love me back. Weber is very loving and comical. No one was more surprised than I was that a rabbit was intelligent. I’m a dog person. I saw him in the local dog pound and just thought he was gorgeous. I had no idea he had a personality. He is funny, smart and playful with his two dogs. Just looking at him frolick has added years to my life… and he is worth every penny I’ve spent, and more.

How long do rabbits even live?

An indoor rabbit with the proper diet (which he receives) can live into their teens. Weber is not even 5 years old yet. He is still a young rabbit. If he was elderly, I would not be putting him through all these vet visits. He is going to the vet now every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for penicillin shots and to get his wound flushed out until I can get he money for the surgery he needs to have down in Houston.

Is he in pain?

Weber does get uncomfortable once in a while when the abscess flares up. This is obvious because instead of leaping in the air and playing with his toys, he becomes less active. When he isn’t as playful, he gets pain medication and he does very well. I would not allow my bunny to suffer just so I could have him longer. I waited too long with my first dog - I will never make that mistake again. If Weber gets to a point in which he is consistently miserable, I am prepared to do the right thing.

What will you do with any monies that exceed the cost of surgery and follow-up visits?

I would like to create grants for the local vets that have been so good to Weber and to me. If there is some overwhelming amount over the cost of his medical care and grants for these vets, I would also like to set up a fund for people in situations like mine - where they need money for treatment for their rabbit but cannot afford it.

How does anyone know that you won’t just use the money to travel to Hawaii?

I plan on documenting everything on this site. I will be scanning my vet bills into PDF files for people to download and I will be reporting any funds I receive to the IRS.

Can I write off a donation as a tax-deduction?

Not yet. To set up a non-profit requires money I do not have. I found a site online that would appear to help people set up a non-profit ‘cheaply’ - but it costs over $500 - and it’s money I just don’t have. If anyone out there would like to set one up, I do have friends that would be willing to be the executives (non-profits require 3, from what I’ve read online).

Can I give my money to the vet instead of to you?

Yes! I am not doing this to get rich. I am trying to raise funds to get life-saving surgery for my rabbit and that is all. If some wealthy benefactor wants to also pay off my car or house, I will be pleased - but seriously - I just want my baby to be well. You can learn more about the veterinary center I’ve been taking him to in Houston at http://www.gcvs.com and you can contact them and prepay a portion of the bill to them on behalf of Weber.

This site sure is fancy-shmancy - how much money are you blowing on this venture?

I am using WordPress which is free and I’m getting free hosting. The cost of this site is $0.

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Posted by: weber
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bunnyfund.org

Please, do not send any donations anymore

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Weber has been buried

Weber has passed away

Surgery is over, prognosis is grave

Weber is in surgery…

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Weber’s status…

Another $10 rolls in…

Weber takes a turn for the worst…

Name the Peachpit Press Visual Quickstart Guide Bunny!

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Another $5 today…

shaggy coat, vibrating mandible

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3 days, 3 donations - WOW!

Another day, another vet visit…

Weber’s daily regimen and other fun news…

About the Bunny Fund

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