Our Middle-Aged Baby

During last weekend's grueling vet appointment, we discussed Lucy's age. When we adopted her from the shelter, they guestimated that she was right at about a year old. So, by my (albeit shaky at best) basic math skills, that means she's right at about 4 1/2 years old now. Her vet, though, said their records indicate that she's a little over 5.

That may seem like splitting hairs (or, splitting hares) but it's significant. Domesticated rabbits like Loo Loo Bean typically live up to 7-11 years. Because rabbits act a lot like human toddlers, it's easy to take it for granted that they are much, much younger than they actually are. In fact, a lot of times when I'm referring to LLB and I don't call her by name, I'll either call her a troll...or a baby. As in, "G, it's your turn to feed the baby."

But she's not a baby.

Not only is she not a baby, she's not even a sub-adult or a teenager. Loo Loo Bell is an adult. Furthermore, she's middle-aged, like her parents.

Lucy is the fourth lil rat rabbit we have owned. I need to take this time and adjust my rhetoric to admit that she's a big girl (literally - ha! - but also truthfully). We lucked out with Orca, the little geriatric bunny we had right before Loo Loo Bean, because she lived longer than anyone expected. And I should hope so because it took the two of us and an entire medical staff to manage her drugs.

But Lord help us - and I mean that - if Lucy needs meds at any point while she ages. That will kill us all. So we've cut out all treats and are starting to make more regular vet appointments now (every 6 months, minimum) to be as proactive as we can regarding her health.

So far so good. After all, time flies when nobody's having fun.