Heathcliffe's Death

Whilst browsing through one of our earlier websites as the 4th anniversary of losing our beloved Heathcliffe approaches, we found some of his old web-pages so have included them on this site in his memory.

Heathcliffe was the most special bunny you could ever hope to meet and, although he died several years ago, he is not forgotten - and never will be.....

(Please note: The photos were taken in the early days of digital cameras and don't really do justice to the boy!)

Heathcliffe was our free-range house-rabbit who had 24/7 access to every area of our home but always insisted his litter tray was kept in the garage. When he became ill and blind, he couldn't see his way around the house or steps so he remained in the garage where he seemed to be most comfortable and seemed to feel most secure. He had piles of blankets, VetBed and many comforts (including his favourite doormats!) but always chose the bare concrete floor to rest on.

We have detailed Heathcliffe's illness here and included some photographs which illustrate his deterioration prior to his death.

They might be upsetting to his fans and families. Although there is nothing gory, please be warned in advance.

Heathcliffe has been slightly under the weather for a while during his moult - which always affects him this way, but he's been active, eating and drinking normally. He's also had slightly runny eyes which is normal for him and always clears within 3 days of using gentamycin.

However, on Saturday morning he didn't come bounding over to me for fuss as usual and when I checked him over, I discovered both of his eyes were completely clouded over, he was a bit wobbly on his left hip and depressed. I took him outside and he was wobbling and sniffing his way along. When he came to the steps it was clear he was blind.

He's been examined by the vet who said he was "extremely pessimistic" and was obviously trying to prepare me for the worst.

He said he'd never come across symptoms such as Heathcliffe's and for them to occur so rapidly is a mystery.

On the examination table, poor Heathy-Boy lay there with his hind legs splayed (they're not as bad as this at home on a less slippery surface) and his chin flat on the table looking thoroughly miserable.

The vet looked into both of his eyes but said they were so bad he couldn't tell if he had cataracts or whether the cloudiness was humor. Either way, he confirmed Heathcliffe is completely blind. He was also extremely stressed and frightened. His temperature is very high.

For his symptoms to have appeared so rapidly, the vet thinks he might have meningitis - but he's not sure as he's never seen anything like this in a bunny. He doesn't think it is E. Cuniculi especially as Heathcliffe is a full-time house-bun and doesn't mix with the others, but I think he's stumped by these sudden symptoms.

I took him along to be weighed - with him almost falling out of his pet carrier (a bad sign that I even had to have him in one). As I thought, he has lost some weight (although his belly is quite plump and he's eating well - but not as much as I would like and much is hand-fed).

Tuesday His temperature has fallen to its normal level but his hind legs are wobbly and he's eating less. He can't see his food bowl so I'm having to hand-feed him. He gets quite stressed by noise and is frightened by unfamiliar environments.

The Vet was still dismissive of E. Cuniculi. He took some stool samples but these didn't show anything abnormal. However, his case has been discussed with the second partner, and researched later in the surgery. E Cuniculi was again mentioned as a possible diagnosis and Albendazole has been put on order.

Wednesday Overnight, Heathcliffe collapsed several times and we feared the worst. However, after a rest he would then struggle onto his front paws and shuffle around dragging his hind limbs behind him. A few hours later, he would collapse again. We were at his side until 7am - just incase.....

Late morning, Heathcliffe was tottering around now on **4** feet, although still a little wobbly. However, by late afternoon after his vet appointment, he was curled up in a heap again.

At the surgery, the vet felt his hind legs were stronger but noted that his temperature has risen again by 0.5 deg C. He was given another shot of Baytril and bundled back into his pet carrier. He wasn't as stressed this time - but the vet saw him at his best. Shortly after returning, he flopped again after his first dose of Valbazen/albendazole. He's been given a dosage of 1ml daily of 10% based on a body weight of 4kg (actually 4.7kg now).

9pm Heathcliffe hasn't been able to stand for several hours and is trying to drag his heavy body around using his front paws. His frustration is very clear and we feel 'The Time' has come and are planning for tomorrow's vet visit to be the final one...

He's been made comfortable and safe in his Cat-Loo with all his favourite food treats and we're checking him every half hour throughout the day and night, bathing him regularly and spending as much time as possible with him knowing that each hour is precious now.

His head is rolling, he can't balance and it's very upsetting to see him like this. It's difficult to know what's best for him and we're provisionally booking the last appointment on Friday evening to be a one-way trip - ie giving him another 36 hours. This will be heart-breaking.....

Thursday 26 July - 3.45pm: Heathcliffe has had his (probably) last-but-one appointment by the vet. The vet confirmed he is much weaker than yesterday and that his temperature is falling. This is a sign he is fading.

I've brought him home, given him a drink and fed him all his favourite veggies and treats. He's settled in his Cat-Loo again and the hope is he'll simply fall asleep permanently. If not, then euthanasia has been discussed with the vet for tomorrow, but I'd prefer not to take this route, if it can possibly be avoided.

Friday 27 July 3pm: Heathcliffe is deteriorating rapidly. His breathing is regular but quite heavy and he is visibly weakening. He was still eating at 5.30am but this morning was worse and I felt a puzzling tender lump on his lower-right abdomen which I'd never felt previously.

His head was lifted to enable him to drink from his bowl, was hand-fed his favourite veg and treats, then he was made comfortable again in his Cat Loo tray and left to rest quietly.

He is to be euthanased very shortly rather than prolong this any further. Afterwards, there will be a Post Mortem to determine whether he has been suffering from E. Cuniculi in the hope that we can learn from this. Then, he will be buried in the garden.

He's been our best-ever bunny with such great character and personality and will be very sadly missed.

4.04pm: Heathcliffe has just died quietly and peacefully at home, with his head gently cradled by his heart-broken mum.

He was no 'ordinary' bunny and we are setting up 'Tribute' pages linked to his own pages on this site.

Initially, this page was intended to provide an insight into E. Cuniculi which was Heathcliffe's suspected illness. However, this has not been the case following his very surprising PM results....

Heathy-Boy didn't have E. Cuniculi at all but died from ''extensive fibrinous and purulent peritonitis cause by a perforated lesion of 4cm diameter at the tip of his caecum. It had a thickened wall and a caseous core''.

This is not what I nor the vets were expecting. It could have been caused by the rupture of an internal abscess or maybe Heathcliffe ate something sharp. This would probably have been lingering for some time and while he was thought to be marginally under the weather which we attributed to his moult, he was slowly dying from peritonitis.

His paralysis would probably have been caused by general and gradual organ failure which would have also lead to his eye problems.

He had no abdominal tenderness until late morning when a large mass could be felt in the area of the caecum.

We would like to thank everyone who has made a suggestion or shared their experiences at this worrying time. The response from readers of this site has been quite over-whelming - and we never realised so many people read these pages every day! Heathcliffe would also like to express his thanks and gratitude and sent a weak wave before his death.

Thanks also for the messages sent direct to Heathcliffe.....

Hello Heathy-boy; Mummy has been keeping everyone updated as to your
condition and I know she is very worried about you. You are a very special
bunny to a lot of people, your handsome and special nature has won its way
into many hearts. Things are very hard for you at the moment but please
don't give up <special hugs>. P also wants to send his love and if you
are well enough would very much like to meet you. Mummy is beside herself
with worry, try not to give her too many scares ;-) We are all hoping and
praying that you will soon be feeling better, hopefully the new medicine
will do the trick. Take care handsome, Lots of Love, XXXX

Heathcliffe asked for this dictated message to be added on Monday morning (23 July):

"To my many fans and admirers.... <sniff!> Sadly I can no longer write my own messages in response to my increasing fan mail as I <sniff!> have lost my eyesight. My mummy <sob!> doesn't know quite what's happened to me but both of my eyes have <sniff!> clouded over and <gulp> my left hip is a little weak. I'm eating and drinking well, but am very sad and miserable (and so's my mummy). This has happened quite suddenly and I'm being carried to the V.E.T. this afternoon for a diagnosis. My mind is not affected but I'm not quite "with it" to use my mummy's words <sniff!>."

Further pages have been devoted to his daughters: Berry, Bilberry, Legacy, Legacy's Daughter, Nicolette and grand-daughters: Cloudberry, grandson: Nuts, great-grand-daughter: Mayflower... and many more of his offspring.

May 2002: Legacy's page now includes some of Heathcliffe's French Lop descendents since, by an unexpected twist of fate, one of his grandsons has been returned and we are now able to continue our Heathy-Boy's line. Of course, these bunnies won't be Heathcliffe but they'll be the next best thing and he'll be able to 'live on' through future generations.

28 July 2002: Heathcliffe's grandson is now a proven buck - one of his (many!) girlfriends is pregnant with his young family who are due on 2 August. We're counting down the days...!

February 2003: Heathcliffe's memory will shortly live on indoors - his great-great-granddaughter is to become our new French Lop house-bunny.

July 2005: Whilst preparing for the 4th anniversary of losing Heathy-Boy, we found his old web pages and felt the time was right to add them back onto our website.