What to do about Henry

You all know he has this heart condition and that it's terminal. Well he is definitely losing weight and his appetite is in decline BUT (don't you just love a BUT?), though he sleeps A LOT he does have his moments still, like this morning he was determined to Help me clean out his litter tray ... sod him! And he also took a violent dislike to my brand new Sketchers and attacked and attacked them, lunging, growling and scragging the laces. He is also in full moult, a right little fur machine in overdrive.
It's his weight and appetite that is worrying me.... Any advice? I've started resorting to muesli mix!

He sounds fine except for his appetite lovey, Have you tried him with treats he would not normally have like grapes? I know they are high in sugar but something like this just might get him eating well again. Sorry I am not much help but I am sure our friends on here will be able to give good advice Love to you both.

Hugs
JO xx

He's eating fenugreek crunchers, carrot tops, F L Parsley okay and his wild forage which is mainly grass, dandelion, plantain and Hawthorne tips (if I can find good ones). I got him some dried beetroot yesterday that he likes and I've ordered some more but he loses interest so quickly that he may have gone off them before the next lot arrives.
It's just part of his illness and to be expected as his condition progresses. But I would love to get him back to eating a decent amount to keep his strength up.
Don't worry folks, he's not in pain and not wasting away... he's still relaxed and still has the occasion mad half hour.

Have you tried recycling through the previous stuff he's rejected in case he gets a wee notion for it again.

Xxx

I still keep offering him the SS4+ that he used to love and he does eat some hay but not enough to shout about. And I keep putting down dried herbs, plantain, dandelions etc.
All the veg he refuses... well, the local wildies thing everyday is Christmas.

Please don't mind me asking. Is he on any pain relief?
If his condition worsened and he isn't feeling comfortable than it may just be his way of letting you know.
Vernon will start to wee outside his litter tray if he has a pesky tooth.

He's not taking any meds at all. I discussed this with his vet at the outset and they with Richard Saunders and we all agreed that because Henry has such problems with meds it was better not to offer them as the stress could be more harmful to him than not taking anything. And the meds that were available were cat/dog meds that were meat flavoured ... not his thing. He is not in pain, he is perfectly relaxed. It's just that he's slowing down in every way. He sleeps longer, eats less but he is still pooping okay, peeing okay and he still has his moments.
I know I'm trying to do the impossible and ward off the inevitable ... his time is running out fast now.

When Paris was dropping weight due to terminal cancer i gave her porridge oats and it helped build & maintain her weight

Maybe give him fruit sweeter the better, or soak the stuff in Ella's kitchen baby food try tempt him.
Know their not supposed to get fruit but I don't think it would be bad in this situation.

Xxx

Yes, oats sounds like a good idea. I'd have thought of that myself if I'd had some in (I can't eat them). I'll get some next shop.
Fruit, a part from apple and dried apricot, goes straight through Henners, he's a two veg and no meat bun with apples for afters!

Barley rings are meant to be good for weight gain, my guys love them. I have a massive bag (15kg!) and will happily send you some if you like?

I hope he starts eating properly again soon love. Have you tried carrot tops, I have never known a bunny to refuse them?

Please keep us posted.

Hugs
Jo xx

Unfortunately loss of appetite is part of what happens with an enlarged heart. It is one of the many problems that accompanies the progression of the disease. He as barley rings but after two days lost interest. He does love carrot tops but again he eats a couple then abandons them. Since his diagnosis I've been offering him foods that are supposed to be good for him like hawthorn which is supposed to be good for the heart, dandelion to help his kidney/bladder function and lots of grass (he's only picking at hay these days so grass is important). Dandelions he loves and does still gobble up, grass he is getting picky about.
I'm afraid his condition as progressed to the stage where anorexia is looming.
He was diagnosed on 1st March and the prognosis was weeks, maybe months. He's into his seventh month now and Richard Saunders said it is an exceptional case that lives to a year from the date of diagnosis.
But, he does still have his moments. Last night he ran across the room with a binky mid way. He is still quite alert late at night, say from 11pm to 10am next morning. He will toss his bell toy around, go investigating ... do most rabbity things but only for a couple of minutes before tiring and taking a ten minute nap.
He's slowing down and his picky eating and weight loss is another symptom.

I am so sorry Woodwench love but it sounds as if he is still enjoying his life even if he tires quickly. Binkying is a great sign if happiness and I look forward to hearing about many more.

Hugs
Jo xx

My offer to send you some fibafirst to try him with still stands

Thanks Thumper, I've tried FF... he was given a couple of fiba first sticks a few weeks ago. He carried one around for a couple of minutes looking for all the world like a dog with a bone looking for a spot to bury it! Finally he went to the fire grate (no fire, empty fire basket) and dropped it in the fire basket. He hopped off with an air of "Job well done!". He never offered to retrieve it and the second stick went untouched, unsniffed and ignored until I got tired of treading on it and collected up the bits and reunited them with the other stick.
He does have Protexin Profibre and at least five different hays which he occasionally picks at.
I discussed his appetite with the vet yesterday and he said I might be providing him with too many commercial foods and to try and wean him back on to his old diet of SS4+ with a scoop of Protexin Profibre and as much wild forage as I can get along with his favourite veggies and to avoid anything that could cause gas. The main problem is that his heart is beating slower which slows down every other bodily function ... coaxing him with new food stuffs every day won't help, it might actually make things worse as he needs a regular diet that is less likely to upset his tum.
He's been having a good spell this week so far, full of the devil every morning. This morning I was wanting to get on and go shopping so he decided to help with litter tray cleaning again. It's a job usually done in about five minutes, this morning it took almost fifteen minutes and then I had to leave the tray in the middle of the utility room, with him in it pooping for England! Then he decided to to go in the broom corner and drag out his favourite broom... he brought the whole lot down and scooted like a scalded cat. When I got home from shopping that broom was in the passage between the dining and sitting room. He hauled it across the utility room and the dining room and into the passage where he decided to take a rest and chew off 80% of the bristles!
I'm so happy when he's enjoying himself (I think).

That's so funny he was like a dog with a bone! So cute My two love them! I just feed them as a treat. Usually to distract them from destroying something.

I'm glad he's having a good week. His adventures made me smile

I love reading about his antics too, he is just so gorgeous.

Hugs
Jo xx

Yes, Jo, I think he's gorgeous too; by far the handsomest buck I've had and seen.... and the old saying, "Handsome is as Handsome does! really applies to Henry... he's handsome in EVERY way...

Ha ha, my mother used to quote me that when I said a man was good looking. She told me at quite a young age that the handsome ones do not make the best boyfriends and boy, did I found that to be true. Not with bunnies though, they are gorgeous inside and out and Henry is exceptionally handsome.

Hugs
Jo xx

jolovesbunnies wrote:Ha ha, my mother used to quote me that when I said a man was good looking.  She told me at quite a young age that the handsome ones do not make the best boyfriends and boy, did I found that to be true.  Not with bunnies though, they are gorgeous inside and out and Henry is exceptionally handsome.

Hugs
Jo xx

You clearly havnt met my soundwave he is anything but gorgeous on the inside, if he was a person he'd be one of those clowns that hide under your bed and murder you in your sleep.
Xxxx

Oh .... Soundwave's a Bonster!

He is that lol
Xxx

Ha ha Gemma love, like the clown in "It" you mean lol!!

Hugs
Jo xx

Exactly Jo that's him and he being a wee sod this week think he can tell I'm no well and is taking the pee out of me

Xxx