Bella is Poorly ( U/D Bella has heart disease ... :(

[Jackaroonie]

Usually fluid around the heart. It's not working as well as it should but it can hopefully be helped with medication (usually diuretics to take the fluid away), other meds too probably not not sure what they are/do.

Sending vibes for your special girl, hope her condition can be managed well.

Thank you , hopefully we should find out more later and tomorrow when the bloods are back tomorrow , I'm really hoping she'll be ok , she's on metacam for her arthritis and root problems as it is but obviously she'll need other medication too

 

[Jack's-Jane]

Vet just phoned Bella is coming round from the anaesthetic , the xray showed her heart is enlarged , she also had a hook on her teeth which has been removed , blood results back tomorrow , we can bring them home later will hopefully find our more when we get to see the vet , love my girl very much xx

What could an enlarged heart be ?

It sounds as though she may have heart disease, Rexes do appear to be prone to it. The heart will be enlarged as it has been having to pump extra hard so-to-speak. There are various medications which can be given depending on exactly what type of heart problem she has. The medication wont cure the problem, but it should make her feel better within herself and buy her some extra good quality time. It is a serious condition, but the Rabbits with heart disease whom I have cared for (ALL Rexes) managed to enjoy their remaining time despite being on daily medication. I hope the same will apply for Bella

 

[Jackaroonie]

It sounds as though she may have heart disease, Rexes do appear to be prone to it. The heart will be enlarged as it has been having to pump extra hard so-to-speak. There are various medications which can be given depending on exactly what type of heart problem she has. The medication wont cure the problem, but it should make her feel better within herself and buy her some extra good quality time. It is a serious condition, but the Rabbits with heart disease whom I have cared for (ALL Rexes) managed to enjoy their remaining time despite being on daily medication. I hope the same will apply for Bella

Thank you Jane, Bella is such a strong girl and I'm really hoping she'll be able to cope and have many more days, months , years with her husbun Pickle , they're a very close pair and have only been together since June so hoping they'll have lots more time together, Bella is such a unique loving bunny , always following me and jumping on my lap , licking my clothes , fortunately she loves medicine and dives onto my lap for her metacam which she needs twice daily for her arthritis and root problems as she's a dental bunny , so do you think we'll know more about her condition when the bloods are back ? What sort of medication does /did your buns with heart disease have ? And how long did they live for after being diagnosed if you don't mind me asking ? I really don't want to loose my girl , thanks again Jane x

 

[Jack's-Jane]

Thank you Jane, Bella is such a strong girl and I'm really hoping she'll be able to cope and have many more days, months , years with her husbun Pickle , they're a very close pair and have only been together since June so hoping they'll have lots more time together, Bella is such a unique loving bunny , always following me and jumping on my lap , licking my clothes , fortunately she loves medicine and dives onto my lap for her metacam which she needs twice daily for her arthritis and root problems as she's a dental bunny , so do you think we'll know more about her condition when the bloods are back ? What sort of medication does /did your buns with heart disease have ? And how long did they live for after being diagnosed if you don't mind me asking ? I really don't want to loose my girl , thanks again Jane x

With regards to medication it really does depend on the type of heart condition diagnosed. If the Xray revealed a fluid build up around the heart then certainly a diuretic may help, but if she also has kidney problems (which can be secondary to heart disease) then diuretics have to be used with caution. Other meds which may help are ones that reduce the blood pressure, thus taking some of the workload from the heart and kidneys.

There is no one size fits all, so it will be best to wait to hear the specifics from your Vet. As to how long a Rabbit with heart disease can live, again no case will be the same. It will depend on response to medication, if there are other health problems etc. With my Rexes who had heart disease they had about a year of good quality life after starting treatment. But the condition does progress, sometimes rapidly, sometimes not.

Remember though, the Rabbit will not have any worries as long as they feel OK within themselves. Rabbits live in the moment, never stressing about what may happen tomorrow, next week or next month. My advice would be to take things one day at a time. Bella will hopefully respond well to treatment and be able to enjoy her remaining time with no worries at all.

 

[Jackaroonie]

With regards to medication it really does depend on the type of heart condition diagnosed. If the Xray revealed a fluid build up around the heart then certainly a diuretic may help, but if she also has kidney problems (which can be secondary to heart disease) then diuretics have to be used with caution. Other meds which may help are ones that reduce the blood pressure, thus taking some of the workload from the heart and kidneys.

There is no one size fits all, so it will be best to wait to hear the specifics from your Vet. As to how long a Rabbit with heart disease can live, again no case will be the same. It will depend on response to medication, if there are other health problems etc. With my Rexes who had heart disease they had about a year of good quality life after starting treatment. But the condition does progress, sometimes rapidly, sometimes not.

Remember though, the Rabbit will not have any worries as long as they feel OK within themselves. Rabbits live in the moment, never stressing about what may happen tomorrow, next week or next month. My advice would be to take things one day at a time. Bella will hopefully respond well to treatment and be able to enjoy her remaining time with no worries at all.

Thank you Jane.

Bella is home
She is already eating, pooing and weeing

Pickle & Bella

 

[susie bun]

Sending vibes for Bella. It's good you have a specialist vet, and she is clearly a happy and well-looked after rabbit. :thumb: Hope she has lots more good quality time ahead of her. xx

 

[Jackaroonie]

Sending vibes for Bella. It's good you have a specialist vet, and she is clearly a happy and well-looked after rabbit. :thumb: Hope she has lots more good quality time ahead of her. xx

thank you Susie Bun, Our vet is great, the bloods will be back tomorrow then we shall know exactly what's wrong and what medication she can have, thanks she is already eating , she's a very strong bunny

 

[Aly&Poppy<3]

Ahh, bless her and Pickle for being such a good husbun

I hope she continues to improve xx

 

[Jackaroonie]

Ahh, bless her and Pickle for being such a good husbun

I hope she continues to improve xx

thank you xx

 

[Jackaroonie]

Really sad news Bella has heart disease and problems with her other organs think it's liver forgot what vet said , there's not enough blood pumping through to them my poor girl , I feel so upset right now , we've got to go in tomorrow evening for her to be weighed and put on medication , will speak to the vet myself then for now need to spoil my girl and make her comfortable

 

[Aly&Poppy<3]

Oh no you're doing everything you can for her Jack she is a very well looked after and loved girlie, come on Bella! xxx

 

[Jackaroonie]

Oh no you're doing everything you can for her Jack she is a very well looked after and loved girlie, come on Bella! xxx

Thank you, she's doing okay has a good appetite , can't imagine life without her love her so much x

 

[susie bun]

Sorry to see the latest update. Continuing to send vibes for Bella, and thinking of you at this worrying time. She's lucky to have such a caring owner.

 

[Jack's-Jane]

I am sorry to hear the latest update It sounds exactly like what happened with some of my Rexes

I hope the medication helps Bella and that it enables her to enjoy as much time as possible.

 

[Jackaroonie]

I am sorry to hear the latest update It sounds exactly like what happened with some of my Rexes

I hope the medication helps Bella and that it enables her to enjoy as much time as possible.

oh no I'm sorry about your bunnies Jane , it's horrible not knowing how long you have left with your precious babies she's a strong Girly with a good appetite , I love her so much x

 

[Barn Yard Bunnies]

I am so sorry to hear the latest news. Really hope with medication Bella will continue for some time. Again so sorry.

 

[Jackaroonie]

I am so sorry to hear the latest news. Really hope with medication Bella will continue for some time. Again so sorry.

thank you x

 

[Lea-Anne]

So sorry it's such bad news.

Hopefully the medication can help.

 

[Jack's-Jane]

oh no I'm sorry about your bunnies Jane , it's horrible not knowing how long you have left with your precious babies she's a strong Girly with a good appetite , I love her so much x

As I said before, she is obviously feeling OK within herself and she has no idea of her problems. So she wont be afraid or anxious at all. As far as she is concerned there is no problem. Just try to take things one day at a time, spending time wondering about what will happen and when just detracts from enjoying your time with her now. I can honestly say that NONE of my Rexes with heart disease felt really ill at all. Right up until the very end they all remained content and the all continued to eat for England !!

Bella sounds as though she has every intention of becoming a world champion eater !!