Thumper Houdini was an unneutered male New Zealand. He was 5 years and eight months old, and we loved him dearly. He would nuzzle you and beg for pets, or jump into your lap for a nap. 

I didn’t see this coming at all. He’d been doing fine, and was quickly gaining weight, getting healthier every day it seemed.  Yesterday I noticed he hadn’t eaten his food as quickly as usual, but I brushed it off, as sometimes he was just too busy napping and would eat it overnight.  He was gone by morning.

There was yellow discharge around his nose and he seemed to be drooling. He had to have passed during the night. He had eaten some of his lettuce and hay but the rest remained untouched.

Could it have been old age? He wasn’t from a well-bred line. 

I miss him dearly.

Rest in peace, little guy. You’ll be missed.

Jan 2010 – Aug. 2016. 

edit: I should mention, the discharge was only there after he had passed, and was never there before…does this still mean he had an infection??