8week old holland lop head tilt
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Well there's no substitute for a professional diagnosis. i don't think your rabbit should wait til next week. She needs medication. In the meantime make her environment as safe and padded as possible. So she shouldn't be able to jump up anywhere or fall and hurt herself, as her balance may be impaired. Could your vet let you pay in instalments?
I live in the country, most practitioners won't even see rabbits out here, I took her to a vet an hour away yesterday, they said it looks as if she has had a stroke, and that she most likely will not make it, they said the only thing they can treat her for is ear mites, even though her ears are spotless, but she is fine as long as she is not handled she runs around just fine, eats, grooms her sisters, drinks from the water bottles, even plays in the tube, she has finished her treatment for ear mites, it has made no difference, when she is handled, her neck turns more, and she spends about 2 minutes rolling over herself before returning to normal functionality, also I've noticed her head straightens out a little when she eats, I was very disappointed that after a 200$ vet visit and an hour long drive I could not receive any further help, I am very gentle with my rabbits, she has 2 litter mates in the pen with her, could one of them have caused her stroke?
Stroke is not the main cause of head tilt. There are many other (and more likely) causes. It is possible yours had a stroke but I would not assume the vet is correct given the complexity of this condition. Here is an article on head tilt that will better show how complicated this can be:
http://www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html
Most concerning, however, is the rolling you describe. The continuous rolling like that is usually indicative of central vestibular disease (as opposed to peripheral). It does get complicated but the following info is what I found when I had a rabbit with this:
Head tilt/torticollis (sudden onset)
Loss of balance.
o In severe cases the rabbit rolls and spins continuously.
o Head tilt, loss of balance and falling are seen with both central and peripheral vestibular disease, while rolling indicates central disease.
Some differences in clinical signs may indicate central disease:
o Head tilt, loss of balance and falling are seen with both central and peripheral vestibular disease, while rolling indicates central disease. (B600.12.w12)
o Horizontal or rotatory nystagmus may be seen with peripheral or central disease but vertical or positional nystagmus indicates central vestibular disease. (B600.12.w12)
o Depression is more likely with central vestibular disease. (B600.12.w12)
o Cerebellar signs (intention tremor) may be present with central vestibular disease. (B600.12.w12)
o Hemiparesis and ipsilateral postural reaction deficit may be present with central vestibular disease. (B600.12.w12)
o Horner's syndrome or facial nerve paralysis may be present associated with peripheral disease. (B601.11.w11)
Prognosis depends on the severity of clinical signs and whether or not the condition is progressive. (B600.12.w12)
o Signs may improve over a few weeks. (B601.11.w11)
o Many rabbits with mild head tilt may lead a relatively normal life. (B600.12.w12)
Euthanasia is an appropriate treatment for severely-affected rabbits (e.g. with rolling). (B601.11.w11, J60.6.w2)
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/HeadTiltVestibularRabbit.htm
And here was further info I had found (I think from same source as above)
BRAIN STEM DISEASE - Disease at the brain stem, specifically the vestibular nuclei, can cause similar signs as seen with inner ear disease. Because the vestibular nuclei are deep in the brain, it is likely that disease affecting this area will also affect surrounding brain tissue. Therefore, additional neurologic signs may be present such as loss of appetite, mental dullness, paralysis and sudden death. If the disease is also affecting the cerebellum additional signs such as seizures can be seen.
Peripheral vestibular disease carries a good to guarded prognosis for clinical recovery. There is often a residual head tilt, but the rabbit can learn to reestablish balance and live a relatively normal life.
Central vestibular disease is less common, and also includes head tilt, positional nystagmus, circling and loss of balance. Because the brain is involved, there may often be other signs such as loss of appetite, mental dullness, other areas of weakness, gait abnormalities, seizures or sudden death.
Rabbits with central vestibular disease may also have histories of other signs compatible with central disease, potential exposure to toxins, parasites, or trauma.
Central vestibular disease may be caused by a variety of conditions including bacterial infections, E. cuniculi, parasites and trauma, and carries a guarded to poor prognosis for recovery.
http://www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html
Most concerning, however, is the rolling you describe. The continuous rolling like that is usually indicative of central vestibular disease (as opposed to peripheral). It does get complicated but the following info is what I found when I had a rabbit with this:
Head tilt/torticollis (sudden onset)
Loss of balance.
o In severe cases the rabbit rolls and spins continuously.
o Head tilt, loss of balance and falling are seen with both central and peripheral vestibular disease, while rolling indicates central disease.
Some differences in clinical signs may indicate central disease:
o Head tilt, loss of balance and falling are seen with both central and peripheral vestibular disease, while rolling indicates central disease. (B600.12.w12)
o Horizontal or rotatory nystagmus may be seen with peripheral or central disease but vertical or positional nystagmus indicates central vestibular disease. (B600.12.w12)
o Depression is more likely with central vestibular disease. (B600.12.w12)
o Cerebellar signs (intention tremor) may be present with central vestibular disease. (B600.12.w12)
o Hemiparesis and ipsilateral postural reaction deficit may be present with central vestibular disease. (B600.12.w12)
o Horner's syndrome or facial nerve paralysis may be present associated with peripheral disease. (B601.11.w11)
Prognosis depends on the severity of clinical signs and whether or not the condition is progressive. (B600.12.w12)
o Signs may improve over a few weeks. (B601.11.w11)
o Many rabbits with mild head tilt may lead a relatively normal life. (B600.12.w12)
Euthanasia is an appropriate treatment for severely-affected rabbits (e.g. with rolling). (B601.11.w11, J60.6.w2)
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/HeadTiltVestibularRabbit.htm
And here was further info I had found (I think from same source as above)
BRAIN STEM DISEASE - Disease at the brain stem, specifically the vestibular nuclei, can cause similar signs as seen with inner ear disease. Because the vestibular nuclei are deep in the brain, it is likely that disease affecting this area will also affect surrounding brain tissue. Therefore, additional neurologic signs may be present such as loss of appetite, mental dullness, paralysis and sudden death. If the disease is also affecting the cerebellum additional signs such as seizures can be seen.
Peripheral vestibular disease carries a good to guarded prognosis for clinical recovery. There is often a residual head tilt, but the rabbit can learn to reestablish balance and live a relatively normal life.
Central vestibular disease is less common, and also includes head tilt, positional nystagmus, circling and loss of balance. Because the brain is involved, there may often be other signs such as loss of appetite, mental dullness, other areas of weakness, gait abnormalities, seizures or sudden death.
Rabbits with central vestibular disease may also have histories of other signs compatible with central disease, potential exposure to toxins, parasites, or trauma.
Central vestibular disease may be caused by a variety of conditions including bacterial infections, E. cuniculi, parasites and trauma, and carries a guarded to poor prognosis for recovery.
ladysown
Well-Known Member
it's more likely the head tilt is caused by e.cunniculi. You'll need meds to treat that. A rabbit savvy vet would be your best bet OR do some research and go back to the vet for a better/more definitive diagnosis. OR contact a rabbit rescue to see if they can help.
Everything you said I have read on the Internet, I have actually already visited that website, well I am 20 years old and have a minimum wage job, I get paid barely 300 dollars every two weeks, so it will be another two weeks before I have the money again, but my issue with this is that she has shows NO SYMPTOMS other than her head being tilted and rolling after being put back down, she hasn't been showing any more symptoms since I first have seen her head tilted almost a week ago, she's absolutely fine as long as no one try's to pick her up, she will let you pet her, I don't understand I spend a minimum of 2 hours a day with my rabbits, I have 5 rabbits, and each night they sleep inside in air conditioning/heat so long as the weather permits it, they all get time outside in play pens in the grass, they have a room completely dedicated to them, where I make cardboard castles for them, various tubes, tents, and toys, they always have access to coastal and Timothy hay, 16% rabbit pellet and they have multiple water bottles, the same kind they have drank out of since they were able to drink water, I got all three from my mothers pair of breeding holland lops she has at her house, I am there daily to feed and water her animals, I am so confused, one morning I came in and her head was tilted when I try to handle her since then she twirls up but then calms down shortly after being put down
My rabbit had an ear infection which led to her head moving side to side as well as her eyes. She was put on oral antibiotics and antibiotic ear drops and apart from dizziness and poor appetite she managed ok, and within a few weeks she was 100% back to normal. The stroke diagnosis doesn't seem right to me, but I'm not a veterinarian. I agree though with others who have said try to find a rabbit specialist or at least a second opinion. I hope your bunny gets the treatment he needs 
The reason this happens is that your rabbit likely has either an ear infection or e. cuniculi causing vestibular disease, which affects the balance and so will cause dizziness. So picking up your rabbit intensifies the dizzy feeling, which can really disorient them until they get their feet back on the ground. I would suggest trying to minimize picking your rabbit up as much as possible to avoid this dizziness from happening, and when you do have to pick up, hold your bun close to your body.
Stroke in such a young rabbit is really not very likely. Like others have said, it's most likely either e. cuniculi or an inner ear infection, and personally I would go ahead and treat for these possibilities. The other most common cause is head trauma if there is any chance an injury occurred. You can't do much if it was a stroke, but if it happens to be either an inner ear infection or EC, then best to start treatment right away so there is some chance of recovery and to help minimize the chances of permanent cell damage occurring.
Usually when vets can't narrow it down to either EC or ear infection, they will treat for both with an antibiotic to cover possible ear infection, the antiparasitic fenbendazole(20mg/kg once a day for 30 days) for possible e. cuniculi, and meloxicam(0.3-0.6mg/kg) to help reduce inflammation causing symptoms, and for pain relief.
http://www.disabledrabbits.com/head-tilt.html
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/tilt.html
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/HeadTiltVestibularRabbit.htm
Since your vet has already seen your rabbit, you could just call and request an oral antibiotic such as sulfatrim, or if it seems like an ear infection is the likely cause if your rabbit is showing signs of ear irritation such as scratching a lot at the ears, lots of head shaking, abnormal lump at the base of the ears, bad smell coming from the ears, then injectable pen g procaine/benzathine might be a consideration as it's found to be good at treating abscesses and head infections. The vet can prescribe it or it's cheaper to get from the farm supply. I personally would only go with pen g if I felt like ear infection was the likely cause. (Pen g should only ever be given by injection, any leakage at the injection needs to be cleaned off thoroughly to make sure the rabbit doesn't ingest any of it orally through grooming it off, and the rabbit should be getting grass hay as well to minimize the risks of gut upset. Probiotics may also help. Though pen g is usually well tolerated by injection, there is always some risk that it can cause dysbiosis and diarrhea, which would be considered an emergency.)
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Otit/otitis.htm
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Bacterial/BacterialOtitisMediaInterna.htm
http://people.umass.edu/~jwmoore/bicillin/bicillin.htm
The fenbendazole to treat EC is available online or at most farm stores, as Safegaurd liquid goat wormer. That's where I would get it as it's usually cheaper than getting from the vet.
http://www.kingswoodvets.co.uk/rabbit-e-cuniculi-illness/4586826046
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/Encephalitozoonosis.htm
Meloxicam is prescription, so you could also put in a request with the vet for this as well. It is expensive, especially if you buy it from the vet(usually mark up 3x). I would get it online or get it from a compounding pharmacy(request no artificial sweeteners, no xylitol). There are other otc anti inflammatories that are considered rabbit safe though may cause gastric problems, but meloxicam is the safest one to use with rabbits and is what most rabbit vets will prescribe.
http://www.medirabbit.com/Safe_medication/Analgesics/safe_analgesics.htm
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/List_Vols/Lagomorphs/List_Lagomorph_Drugs.htm#Painkillers
So if in a similar situation to yours, I would want to treat for inner ear infection and EC just in case that is what is causing the head tilt.
Do you know what medication the drops were? Did the vet prescribe any other meds?
