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Enlarged heart - advice?

N

nessar

Warren Veteran
My vet called me earlier with results of Barney's most recent xrays. He has an enlarged heart. Barney has also had a slow heart rate + extra heart sound before picked up by listening with a stethoscope, although the subsequent ECG they did showed no big abnormalities in rhythm etc but did indicate a bigger heart (now confirmed by the xray). The vet said any treatment would be based on dog & cat studies as much hasn't been done in rabbits. He said the heart problem could make Barney lethargic and affect his breathing, and that there is a risk of fluid in the lungs in the future.

The next step is to do a scan of the heart as this will determine if and how he will be treated. We also discussed a possible referral to John Chitty, an exotics specialist.

Barney is elderly and also has chronic mild snuffles, back problems (Osteomyelitis), arthritis, ear infections and a slow digestive system resulting in weightloss. He's currently on tramadol, metacam, bisolvon, metaclopramide and zantac daily.

Does anyone have any experience/advice they could share?
 
Last edited:
nessar said:
My vet called me earlier with results of Barney's most recent xrays. He has an enlarged heart. Barney has also had a slow heart rate + extra heart sound before picked up by listening with a stethoscope, although the subsequent ECG they did showed no big abnormalities in rhythm etc but did indicate a bigger heart (now confirmed by the xray). The vet said any treatment would be based on dog & cat studies as much hasn't been done in rabbits. He said the heart problem could make Barney lethargic and affect his breathing, and that there is a risk of fluid in the lungs in the future.

The next step is to do a scan of the heart as this will determine if and how he will be treated. We also discussed a possible referral to John Chitty, an exotics specialist.

Barney is elderly and also has chronic mild snuffles, back problems (Osteomyelitis), arthritis, ear infections and a slow digestive system resulting in weightloss. He's currently on tramadol, metacam, bisolvon, metaclopramide and zantac daily.

Does anyone have any experience/advice they could share?
Click to expand...

Yes lots of experience, unfortunately :cry:

However, I would say there are some good meds (entirely dependent on the findings) to keep things working and in shape. The meds shouldn't interfere with the others he's taking. I won't go into the names of drugs here, as there is a choice and perhaps more than one would be appropriate.

If he hasn't fluid atm then it's good he doesn't have to go down the furosemide route. I would hold off that for as long as possible - or only use it intermittently when needed. Again this is through my own experiences.

Certainly an expert in cardiac conditions would be useful not only in determining the drug, but crucially, the dosage.

Good luck with Barney xx
 
nessar said:
My vet called me earlier with results of Barney's most recent xrays. He has an enlarged heart. Barney has also had a slow heart rate + extra heart sound before picked up by listening with a stethoscope, although the subsequent ECG they did showed no big abnormalities in rhythm etc but did indicate a bigger heart (now confirmed by the xray). The vet said any treatment would be based on dog & cat studies as much hasn't been done in rabbits. He said the heart problem could make Barney lethargic and affect his breathing, and that there is a risk of fluid in the lungs in the future.

The next step is to do a scan of the heart as this will determine if and how he will be treated. We also discussed a possible referral to John Chitty, an exotics specialist.

Barney is elderly and also has chronic mild snuffles, back problems (Osteomyelitis), arthritis, ear infections and a slow digestive system resulting in weightloss. He's currently on tramadol, metacam, bisolvon, metaclopramide and zantac daily.

Does anyone have any experience/advice they could share?
Click to expand...

I have had quite a few Rabbits who developed various forms of Heart Disease. I'll PM you details later today, it might not be til this evening though.

John Chitty is good with Heart issues so I'd get a referral to him if it would be doable.
 
Hello, I'm sorry Barney is poorly and has now been diagnosed with an enlarged heart. I had a bunny, Opera aged 5 years, with the same problem. She had a horrible cough for several years and the vets we had at the time kept diagnosing a chest infection. When the cough just continued and rattled around the house.....I changed vets. The new vets suggested a chest e xray. Poor love had an enlarged heart with fluid around it. This had also caused her eyes to bulge. The new vet treated her with Fortekor. (Half tablet a day) She was successfully treated for 5 years and was able to run up and down stairs and had a new lease of life. Sadly she was pts aged over 10 years. I wish you good luck with Barney. Remember, there is always hope. xxxx
 
Hi everyone sorry for the delay, I've been busy with Barney and work. It's good to know that there is treatment available.

I have spoken to John Chitty and have arranged a consultation with him for Friday.

My main concern is Barney's quality of life, as he has so much to deal with already. He does appear to have gone downhill a bit over the last few weeks - he seems quieter and keeps catching his back legs when he tries to jump into/out of things. He's also needing almost daily bum-washes as he's lost his litter training and keeps sitting in it. This may be to do with the colder weather though - I'm moving him indoors tomorrow.
 
nessar said:
Hi everyone sorry for the delay, I've been busy with Barney and work. It's good to know that there is treatment available.

I have spoken to John Chitty and have arranged a consultation with him for Friday.

My main concern is Barney's quality of life, as he has so much to deal with already. He does appear to have gone downhill a bit over the last few weeks - he seems quieter and keeps catching his back legs when he tries to jump into/out of things. He's also needing almost daily bum-washes as he's lost his litter training and keeps sitting in it. This may be to do with the colder weather though - I'm moving him indoors tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Thank you for updating. I hope Barney's move indoors goes smoothly!

Please report back on his appointment with John. Good luck for that! xx
 
Hello Nessar. I wondered how things were with you and Barney.
Look forward to reading about your appointment. Lots of good luck and healing vibes for you both. xxxxx
 
Last edited:
nessar said:
Hi everyone sorry for the delay, I've been busy with Barney and work. It's good to know that there is treatment available.

I have spoken to John Chitty and have arranged a consultation with him for Friday.

My main concern is Barney's quality of life, as he has so much to deal with already. He does appear to have gone downhill a bit over the last few weeks - he seems quieter and keeps catching his back legs when he tries to jump into/out of things. He's also needing almost daily bum-washes as he's lost his litter training and keeps sitting in it. This may be to do with the colder weather though - I'm moving him indoors tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your PM and I am glad you will be consulting GC. I am sure that you will do whatever is in Barney's best interests given his already complex medical issues.

Good luck xx
 
I went to see John and he did an ECG and blood tests.

Got the results back last week and his heart is no worse than the last ECG which is good. He was saying that he may do a heart scan now, but I'm waiting to hear from him about this. Barney will have to be sedated for it.

The blood tests showed signs of chronic illness, but that's not surprising considering Barney's been ill for years. But otherwise he said they were good, his organs are doing surprisingly well considering how ill he is.

He changed Barney's metacam dose from a 25kg dog dose once a day to a 15kg dog dose twice a day and wanted to see what difference it made to his quietness/mobility problems. I haven't noticed any major difference, but he isn't any worse.
 
I've been wondering how Barney was getting on. I hope things go well for him. Opera lived indoors and was always a novelty for new visitors who were surprised it was a shiny black rabbit lying in the hall and who wouldn't move so had to be stepped over. The Fortekor really helped her and stopped the cough. Although, her eyes still had a slight bulge.
 
nessar said:
I went to see John and he did an ECG and blood tests.

Got the results back last week and his heart is no worse than the last ECG which is good. He was saying that he may do a heart scan now, but I'm waiting to hear from him about this. Barney will have to be sedated for it.

The blood tests showed signs of chronic illness, but that's not surprising considering Barney's been ill for years. But otherwise he said they were good, his organs are doing surprisingly well considering how ill he is.

He changed Barney's metacam dose from a 25kg dog dose once a day to a 15kg dog dose twice a day and wanted to see what difference it made to his quietness/mobility problems. I haven't noticed any major difference, but he isn't any worse.
Click to expand...

Well it sounds as though Barney is relatively stable at the moment. I hope this will continue for him xx
 
nessar said:
I went to see John and he did an ECG and blood tests.

Got the results back last week and his heart is no worse than the last ECG which is good. He was saying that he may do a heart scan now, but I'm waiting to hear from him about this. Barney will have to be sedated for it.

The blood tests showed signs of chronic illness, but that's not surprising considering Barney's been ill for years. But otherwise he said they were good, his organs are doing surprisingly well considering how ill he is.

He changed Barney's metacam dose from a 25kg dog dose once a day to a 15kg dog dose twice a day and wanted to see what difference it made to his quietness/mobility problems. I haven't noticed any major difference, but he isn't any worse.
Click to expand...

This is good to hear! It sounds like he is stable for the time being. You still have possible drug options up your sleeve if the scan proves them to be necessary.
 
Glad to hear it is good news and Barney is stable. Sounds like you are doing everything possible to help him. x
 
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