Hello,
Lots of background:
Recently I was thinking back
to the days several years ago when I had a rabbit named Ashes. He was a
large gray lop (maybe part French lop) who loved my husband, food and
female bunnies (he was neutered though). He developed a severe case of
head tilt due to an inner ear bacterial infection. I felt that the vet
wasn't being aggressive enough with his treatment of Ashes. I kept doing
all types of research on the internet and on Etherbun. (I would have
been nowhere without Etherbun). I was losing sleep over his very severe
symptoms not getting any better. He wasn't eating, drinking, or
pooping. He was losing tons of weight (lucky he was a bit of a big boy
to start with). He was rolling over (like a vertigo) constantly due to
vestibular problems with the inner ear infection. He walked in constant
circles. We put him in a laundry basket walled with folded towels (which
needed constant laundering due to his incontinence.) to let him walk
around without falling over. Even holding him in my arms to stabilize
him to syringe feed him I couldn't keep him straight in any normal
position. I finally developed a particular way to hold him so I could
feed him orally through an eye dropper and tuberculin (w/o needle)
syringe because that was all he could and would take in. I started
taking Critical Care, bananas and baby food among other things and
watering them down. I added applesauce and other things to give him
extra calories and to whet the appetite (he had a sweet tooth). I was
feeding him perhaps a bit every hour or two, even all night. He and I
did develop quite a bond due to the care, support and TLC I gave him.
Luckily, the second vet doubled his dose of Baytril and gave some second
medicine (which I can't remember at this point). Luckily Ashes loved
his berry flavored Baytril after a while. I also gave him meclizine
which is called Bonine in this country. Bonine was to be used for
nausea and dizziness (like Dramamine which they told me bunnies can't
have). I received dosing info through experienced people on Etherbun.
Ashes
started to improve and it was a long road and several sets of the
antibiotics. He lived a few more years with just some residual symptoms
of the head tilt and some walking in circles. That was a small price
to pay for a few more years of a good life! The original vet was
somewhat pushing the option of euthanizing him. I just couldn't do it.
The second vet mentioned it as one option of several, but didn't push
it. She let me know of the hard road it would be should he recover. It
was worth it. When he was healthy enough and was able to stay in a
larger cage (before letting have some free run time- it still wasn't
safe enough for him), he would push the cage door open (he wasn't able
to hop through it at this point) at Baytril time. His appetite had
improved and he loved that Baytril, which smelled like Blackberry
Schnapps. He would unlatch the door with his nose and bang it open full
force to let us know it was time for that "Schnapps" as we jokingly
called his new "Schnapps" habit! Seeing that renewed life force and
gusto just warmed my heart every day.
Now to the Reiki:
I
had taken the first level of Reiki in a class through someone I know
that repeatedly encouraged me to try it. I really enjoyed it and got a
lot out of it. It was very renewing to give and receive it.
During
the time with Ashes, when he became a bit more stable, I had come
across an article on Reiki with animals. Someone on Etherbun also told
me that she had done Reiki with her head tilt bun and it seemed to
really help.
I asked my friend, who did Reiki on me, if
she had ever thought of trying it on an animal. She had heard of it,
but never thought of trying it. Although she wasn't familiar with
rabbits, I brought him in for his own session with her with me nearby
guiding the Reiki practitioner on rabbits and his illness, but
comforting and supporting him too. Since due to his anxiety from his
symptoms and being in a new place, his still somewhat rolling and
walking in circles, we decided that placing him on a Reiki table without
sides wouldn't be a good idea for several reasons. My friend placed him
on her lap with a bed-wetting mat (from nursing home bunny visits)
under him with his head towards her knees. I placed him on her and
stayed right near him for reassurance.
She said a brief
prayer and went through brief little rituals (Reiki has a Christian
basis/background but you don't need to be a Christian or religious to
benefit from it) before applying her hands to him (Reiki can have
hands-on or have there be no touch at at all-that's up to the receiver
and practitioner). Upon being placed on her lap, he didn't panic at all,
which I thought he would. He sat still for 45 minutes and looked
completely relaxed. With the headtilt symptoms, he would usually panic
and startle easy in response to touch or sound.
She
spoke to him and with me while doing the Reiki. She moved her gentle
touch over his head, neck, shoulders and the rest of his body. He just
looked so content for the entire time. Afterward, he was relaxed and
slept a while, even in the car. (I always use top loading carriers which
makes a big difference with bunnies!). Later, he seemed a bit less
symptomatic and more relaxed. He stilled walked in circles, had a tilted
head, but he seemed to eat a little more and startle a little less. He
also seemed more interested in life and receptive to care.
Reiki
doesn't produce overnight miracles, nor does it claim to cure anything.
From various things I've read, experienced and from conversations, I
personally conclude that Reiki can assist as a complementary "therapy"
that can range from helping one feel more relaxed, more balanced and
have a better sense of well being. I have seen improvement during my
life when I receive it or when I have used it on my rabbits (I'm not as
experienced or "trained" as highly as my friend) when they are sick.
I
will probably add more to this post to help educate more about Reiki
and give some links, but I'll leave it as is for now. Unfortunately I
don't have any photos of Ashes that I know of. I didn't have a digital
camera back then, otherwise I would have documented much of what he went
through.
Please share any thoughts or experiences you
have in the comments below. I really look forward to what you have to
say and seriously encourage you to share.
Thank you for spending time here and I hope you enjoyed your visit.
Hope to see you soon!
Mary Ellen
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