E.cuniculi in a baby rex

[Luca and Valentina]

I've had a mini lop, Luca for about 18 months and he's fine, he was neutered a few weeks ago and the vet says he's perfectly healthy.

Just over a week ago I went to a rescue shelter and got a white rex that's just over 5 months old to bond with him, she's called Vaneltina. I took her to the vets the next day to give her a check over before I started bonding them as I didn't want her to pass anything on to him that she might have caught at the shelter, as she was in a big pen with loads of other bunnies.

This morning I was hoovering next to the hutch (they're indoor bunnies) and she freaked out, she was running in circles up and down the hutch stairs and round all the levels (it's three tiers) and she's never reacted to hoovering before at all.

I stopped hoovering and knelt down, and she had lay down stretched out fitting. I was terrified so I picked her up and she was lethargic, so I popped her on the carpet to see how she was, and her front leg didn't seem to work. I picked her up and her head was tilting to the side as I was gently swaying her, so I took her straight to the vet.

The vet has diagnosed e.cuniculi and gave me 9 days of Panacur for both but I'm terrified. I spoke to the shelter this morning and he said when he picked her up as a baby with the rest of the litter, one of the white ones was fitting but there were four and he didn't know which, and the vet had put it down to not having enough milk from her mum.

I've googled it but there doesn't seem to be much info around. Once I've completed the 9 days of Panacur will I need to keep giving them both a 9 day course every few months? I read on one post that I should get a 28 day dose initially.

I'm completely heartbroken for her and for the relationship she'd been developing with Luca. Will she be ok???

 

[jemm]

Yeah more than 9 days!!

 

[jemm]

Get hold of "mushroom" think they are dealing with EC at the moment should give you some advice

 

[Luca and Valentina]

Thanks Jemm, I've messaged Mushroom after reading their posts. I've also ordered more Panacur to make it up to a 28 day dose for both bunnies. I'm so scared she won't make it Do I need to bleach their hutches out too?

 

[Mushroom]

Hey! I am about to reply to your PM but hang tight because there are a lot of knowledgeable members on this forum and they helped me a lot with Mushroom.

For now, you can read through my initial post with mushroom:
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f27/encephalitozoon-cuniculi-gi-stasis-76336/


Here are links on this forum's EC library
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f22/e-cuniculi-encephalitozoon-12817/

The first post are all links to articles and information about EC and go through them if you can! The second post are members posts about personal experiences with EC.

 

[JBun]

How did the vet conclude her symptoms were from e. cuniculi? Was a blood test taken? Is there any possibility that the symptoms you were seeing were from a possible head trauma when she was freaking out in her hutch? Was she showing any symptoms before you saw her freak out?

If it is indeed e. cuniculi, then yes, a course of at least 28 days is recommended. If there aren't any signs of kidney problems, metacam is also recommended to help bring down the inflammation caused by erupting EC spores, that cause the symptoms of EC that are seen. In very severe cases steroids are sometimes used, but that is only as a last resort as it lowers the immune system of the rabbit. Depending on how bad it gets, it may become difficult for her to eat and drink on her own, so you may need to syringe feed her at that point. It might be helpful to ask your vet about having some Oxbow Critical Care food mix, or other recovery food for rabbits, on hand in case you end up needing it. If the head tilt gets to where she is rolling, it can help to keep her in a confined area with rolled up towels, or something to support her on each side so that she is less likely to roll. It can also make them dizzy and disoriented to be picked up sometimes. If she reacts badly when picked up, then it is best to keep her on the ground and minimize picking up as much as possible.

Here is some further reading on EC:
http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/ecuniculi.htm
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/paresis.html
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/tilt.html
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Neurology_main.htm