Hi. My daughters bunny has just returned from the vets after her neutering to be told she has a very severe heart murmur. The vet has suggested an ultrasound (£350 ish) to try and discover where the problem lies. Daughter is keen to go ahead as she obvs loves her rabbit very much. However we feel that perhaps there is little can be done, so is a great deal of money with mo guarantees. Any thoughts? Vet thinks my daughters rabbit may only live another year or two at the most. So sad x
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severe heart murmur in 8mth old female mini lop
- Thread starter Happyme
- Start date
sorry to hear this, the ultrasound would confirm it and then bunny put on lifelong medication, are the vets rabbit savvy? is the rabbit in good condition weight wise etc? when my bun was younger about 10months, she was found to have a heart murmur, we had been away, she had lost weight so we saw a rabbit specialist in that area ie cardio, he said she was very underweight see how she was in next few months, and if same go ahead with scans, she gained weight had check up and heart murmur had gone
jack jane may be able to offer more advice hopefully she will see this thread
jack jane may be able to offer more advice hopefully she will see this thread
parsnipbun
Wise Old Thumper
Our 8 year old bun had a heart murmur. She had medicines from the exotics vet and it has really helped a lot
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Yes, minilop1 is correct in that an U/S of the heart is part of the diagnostic work up for Heart problems.Blood tests, an ECG and an echo-cardiogram are also usually needed. Is your Daughter's Rabbit Insured ? If not, then of course the financial aspect of any diagnostics is going to be a big consideration. Very few of us have a bottomless pit of funds, however much we may wish to be able to say that 'cost doesn't matter'. For most of us it does.
By establishing the exact problem causing the heart murmur, which is often a faulty heart valve, then there are some types of medication that can help control the symptoms and support the heart function. But of course drugs would not 'cure' the primary condition. They may buy the Rabbit more time though, time that is of good quality.
If a referral to a Specialist is an option then this may be the way forward in order to obtain as much detail as possible as to exactly what is wrong. Then treatment options are better tailored to those specific issues.
If a lot of diagnostics is not an option for you then your Vet may consider treating your Daughter's Rabbit with a drug that helps support the heart muscle- reducing the workload of the heart ie reducing the blood pressure and volume load on the heart. Thus possibly reducing the rate of deterioration.
The one thing to keep in mind is that as long as a Rabbit feels well within themselves, which in my experience almost all Rabbits with heart problems do, right up to the very end ; then the Rabbit is completely happy and unaware of any problem at all. They do not worry about anything other than how they feel at any given moment, they dont have any anxieties about how a Heart problem may effect them in the next hour, let alone the next year.
Quality of life is what matters to the Rabbit, not quantity. Of course we all want our Rabbits for be with us for many years. But in a few cases this is not to be, but we can make sure that every day they are with us is filled with lots of excellent care and love. I am sure that both you and your Daughter will make sure that is the case.
bunny momma
Wise Old Thumper
This is some great information, so I can only add my well wishes for you, your daugher, and your mini-rex.
MightyMax
Banned
Hi there :wave:
I do understand your reservation about expensive diagnostics, especially when to be honest it may not change the outcome of treatment options. The vet obviously can tell a lot from sounding the rabbit's heart, and will possibly be willing to treat without any further intervention?
There are excellent drugs to manage the condition, Fortekor being one, and I would suggest that you begin treatment right away and monitor progress rather than go through diagnostics which will not affect treatment outcome.
Best of luck!
Thank you all very much, some fab advice 
. No, her mini lop is sadly not insured. We will look into the medication you have mentioned. Wispa is a healthy weight at the moment and appears every bit as healthy as her brother (Buttons) , who looks after her so very well haha!
Many thanks. Great forum xxx
By the way, the vet is a rabbit specialist, so yes is definitely rabbit savvy.
. No, her mini lop is sadly not insured. We will look into the medication you have mentioned. Wispa is a healthy weight at the moment and appears every bit as healthy as her brother (Buttons) , who looks after her so very well haha! Many thanks. Great forum xxx
By the way, the vet is a rabbit specialist, so yes is definitely rabbit savvy.
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