• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

We’re losing Caramel :(

Natalie

Warren Scout
She ate and behaved absolutely as normal yesterday morning, but yesterday late afternoon she was really picky with her food and her behaviour was different. I wasn’t happy so I took her to the vet. She was checked over, tummy good, pooping good, heart okay, so the vet put it down to maybe a fright she’d had. We were sent home with some Recovery to make up for her to make sure she kept her digestive system going in case she refused to eat.

We didn’t have much success with syringe feeding the Recovery, but she did eat some carrot tops that evening. I slept on the floor with her until somewhere between 1 and 2 in the morning when her little whiskers tickled my face and woke me up. I then went to bed.

In the morning I picked some dandelions for her which she ate, but she wasn’t eating her pellets and her behaviour was still off. So I decided to take her back to the vets. We managed to get an appointment with the rabbit savvy vet in the practice and she’s lovely.

It was at that appointment that BAM, from a normal heart rate the evening before, Caramel’s heart rate had dropped to 80 (should be 230 apparently).

Needless to say they wanted to keep her in and run some tests. She’s had everything. ECGs, ultrasounds, blood tests and x-rays, plus a cannula in her ear to maintain her fluids. They even contacted a rabbit specialist place to discuss her symptoms.

End result though is that she’s got a very serious heart problem which the vet did explain but I’d have no chance to repeat. There’s nothing they can do for her. So we’re just waiting for them to call us so that we can go and pick her up and bring her home.

We just have to keep her as calm, contented and stress free as possible for as long as her little heart can support her.

We asked about the need for any possible pain management, but they didn’t think she was in pain. Certainly whilst she was here before we took her to vets this morning, she did seem very relaxed.

My heart is very heavy tonight. I knew when we took her on that she was elderly, probably 10, and that we might not have her for long. I wanted to make sure that she felt loved and cared for and that she DID matter. I have spent so many really happy and peaceful hours just being with her and stroking her and watching her adorable and funny antics. So I sincerely hope that I did at least achieve my goal. Maybe she will potter on for some time yet, who knows, but I know that it’s been a real blessing to have her as part of our family.

Don’t think I can wait any longer for the vet to get back to us, they said they wanted to do another ultrasound scan, I’m going to ring them, am so keen to get her home.
 
She ate and behaved absolutely as normal yesterday morning, but yesterday late afternoon she was really picky with her food and her behaviour was different. I wasn’t happy so I took her to the vet. She was checked over, tummy good, pooping good, heart okay, so the vet put it down to maybe a fright she’d had. We were sent home with some Recovery to make up for her to make sure she kept her digestive system going in case she refused to eat.

We didn’t have much success with syringe feeding the Recovery, but she did eat some carrot tops that evening. I slept on the floor with her until somewhere between 1 and 2 in the morning when her little whiskers tickled my face and woke me up. I then went to bed.

In the morning I picked some dandelions for her which she ate, but she wasn’t eating her pellets and her behaviour was still off. So I decided to take her back to the vets. We managed to get an appointment with the rabbit savvy vet in the practice and she’s lovely.

It was at that appointment that BAM, from a normal heart rate the evening before, Caramel’s heart rate had dropped to 80 (should be 230 apparently).

Needless to say they wanted to keep her in and run some tests. She’s had everything. ECGs, ultrasounds, blood tests and x-rays, plus a cannula in her ear to maintain her fluids. They even contacted a rabbit specialist place to discuss her symptoms.

End result though is that she’s got a very serious heart problem which the vet did explain but I’d have no chance to repeat. There’s nothing they can do for her. So we’re just waiting for them to call us so that we can go and pick her up and bring her home.

We just have to keep her as calm, contented and stress free as possible for as long as her little heart can support her.

We asked about the need for any possible pain management, but they didn’t think she was in pain. Certainly whilst she was here before we took her to vets this morning, she did seem very relaxed.

My heart is very heavy tonight. I knew when we took her on that she was elderly, probably 10, and that we might not have her for long. I wanted to make sure that she felt loved and cared for and that she DID matter. I have spent so many really happy and peaceful hours just being with her and stroking her and watching her adorable and funny antics. So I sincerely hope that I did at least achieve my goal. Maybe she will potter on for some time yet, who knows, but I know that it’s been a real blessing to have her as part of our family.

Don’t think I can wait any longer for the vet to get back to us, they said they wanted to do another ultrasound scan, I’m going to ring them, am so keen to get her home.

Oh I am sorry to hear this sad news :cry: Did the Specialist mention anything about starting her on medication to support her heart ? Depending on the precise nature of the heart problem there are various drugs which, whilst they wont cure her, may buy her some additional time and enable her to feel better within herself.
 
Oh no, not Caramel :( I am so sorry. Sending lots of hugs for you and lots of vibes for Caramel.
 
She ate and behaved absolutely as normal yesterday morning, but yesterday late afternoon she was really picky with her food and her behaviour was different. I wasn’t happy so I took her to the vet. She was checked over, tummy good, pooping good, heart okay, so the vet put it down to maybe a fright she’d had. We were sent home with some Recovery to make up for her to make sure she kept her digestive system going in case she refused to eat.

We didn’t have much success with syringe feeding the Recovery, but she did eat some carrot tops that evening. I slept on the floor with her until somewhere between 1 and 2 in the morning when her little whiskers tickled my face and woke me up. I then went to bed.

In the morning I picked some dandelions for her which she ate, but she wasn’t eating her pellets and her behaviour was still off. So I decided to take her back to the vets. We managed to get an appointment with the rabbit savvy vet in the practice and she’s lovely.

It was at that appointment that BAM, from a normal heart rate the evening before, Caramel’s heart rate had dropped to 80 (should be 230 apparently).

Needless to say they wanted to keep her in and run some tests. She’s had everything. ECGs, ultrasounds, blood tests and x-rays, plus a cannula in her ear to maintain her fluids. They even contacted a rabbit specialist place to discuss her symptoms.

End result though is that she’s got a very serious heart problem which the vet did explain but I’d have no chance to repeat. There’s nothing they can do for her. So we’re just waiting for them to call us so that we can go and pick her up and bring her home.

We just have to keep her as calm, contented and stress free as possible for as long as her little heart can support her.

We asked about the need for any possible pain management, but they didn’t think she was in pain. Certainly whilst she was here before we took her to vets this morning, she did seem very relaxed.

My heart is very heavy tonight. I knew when we took her on that she was elderly, probably 10, and that we might not have her for long. I wanted to make sure that she felt loved and cared for and that she DID matter. I have spent so many really happy and peaceful hours just being with her and stroking her and watching her adorable and funny antics. So I sincerely hope that I did at least achieve my goal. Maybe she will potter on for some time yet, who knows, but I know that it’s been a real blessing to have her as part of our family.

Don’t think I can wait any longer for the vet to get back to us, they said they wanted to do another ultrasound scan, I’m going to ring them, am so keen to get her home.


Hi Natalie

I am so sorry to read about Caramel. You must be devastated by that news :(

Sadly I have a lot of experience of heart issues and if you ever feel I can help, please feel free to PM me.

There are medications that rabbits can have which help enormously with improving the output from the heart, depending on what the condition is.

Sending you love and hugs xx
 
I will ask about heart meds. I phoned. The vet was busy so they said he’d call back (different vet from this morning, they took Caramel by their ambulance to the vet branch with the better ECG equipment), anyway, he STILL hasn’t called back! I just want to go and get her and bring her home. Am getting so agitated.
 
I will ask about heart meds. I phoned. The vet was busy so they said he’d call back (different vet from this morning, they took Caramel by their ambulance to the vet branch with the better ECG equipment), anyway, he STILL hasn’t called back! I just want to go and get her and bring her home. Am getting so agitated.


What time do they close?

I really hope you can speak with someone. You need details etc, and also Caramel home, if possible x
 
I’ve got a bunny with congestive heart failure, he was put on meds’ in Dec 2015 and given months to live, still here now. He’s underweight and has some other issues too, but heart disease isn’t always imminently terminal. The vet should at least be starting on heart meds to see if she improves?
 
We’re back! First thing Caramel did when I let her out of the carrier was to stomp her foot :) Still the same madam I’ve come to love so much :love:

The final ultra sound scan did show enlargement of the heart so Caramel has got medication to help ease the pressure on her heart which will hopefully help a bit. The medication is Frusol.

I picked some dandelions for her before we left to go and collect her, I left them in water to keep them nice. Just a small portion. She ate most of them when she got home. So some good signs I think.

I’ll be ringing the vets again on Monday just to give them an update on her progress. The vet asked me to do that. Also our vets were in touch with specialists in Birmingham and the specialists were in agreement with everything our vets did and apparently didn’t think that they could offer anything in addition.

Thank you all for your kind words :)
 
I'm glad you're now home with Caramel :D I'm also pleased that you have some medication for her and that your vet has discussed Caramel's case with a specialist.

Sending loads of vibes for her. She is a special little lady :love: I hope you manage to get some rest tonight.
 
We’re back! First thing Caramel did when I let her out of the carrier was to stomp her foot :) Still the same madam I’ve come to love so much :love:

The final ultra sound scan did show enlargement of the heart so Caramel has got medication to help ease the pressure on her heart which will hopefully help a bit. The medication is Frusol.

I picked some dandelions for her before we left to go and collect her, I left them in water to keep them nice. Just a small portion. She ate most of them when she got home. So some good signs I think.

I’ll be ringing the vets again on Monday just to give them an update on her progress. The vet asked me to do that. Also our vets were in touch with specialists in Birmingham and the specialists were in agreement with everything our vets did and apparently didn’t think that they could offer anything in addition.

Thank you all for your kind words :)


Great, I am glad she is home and on the diuretic (Frusol). This should ease the burden on her heart. Sometimes vets also put rabbits on an ACE inhibitor, Fortekor, which can work well if indicated.

So glad she is still herself with her attitude :D
 
I’ve got a bunny with congestive heart failure, he was put on meds’ in Dec 2015 and given months to live, still here now. He’s underweight and has some other issues too, but heart disease isn’t always imminently terminal. The vet should at least be starting on heart meds to see if she improves?

Ah, lovely to hear your bunny is defeating the odds, long may it continue :) I think seeing how Caramel has been since we got home, so typically Caramel lol, it’s given me hope.
 
I'm glad they've been able to provide some supportive medication and they done everything the specialist would have done too.

It can be terrifying getting that diagnosis. (Not long ago Daphne went into stasis and developed a 3rd grade heart murmur. Thankfully once on antibiotics and feeling better the murmur dropped to grade 1).

Lots of gentle vibes for her and you too xx

Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk
 
:( I have a real soft spot for your caramel. I'm so sorry to hear of her heart problem - your vets seem on the ball. Vibes for both of you xx
 
We’re back! First thing Caramel did when I let her out of the carrier was to stomp her foot :) Still the same madam I’ve come to love so much :love:

The final ultra sound scan did show enlargement of the heart so Caramel has got medication to help ease the pressure on her heart which will hopefully help a bit. The medication is Frusol.

I picked some dandelions for her before we left to go and collect her, I left them in water to keep them nice. Just a small portion. She ate most of them when she got home. So some good signs I think.

I’ll be ringing the vets again on Monday just to give them an update on her progress. The vet asked me to do that. Also our vets were in touch with specialists in Birmingham and the specialists were in agreement with everything our vets did and apparently didn’t think that they could offer anything in addition.

Thank you all for your kind words :)

The Frusol is a diuretic and beneficial effects should become evident quite quickly. I hope that Caramel will remain as comfortable as possible for as long as possible xx
 
Back
Top