E.Cunniculi

[Joy2006]

Hi Everyone.I'm not sure if there's a threadabout this but if there was...it was long ago,I looked.Myrabbit,Anastasia,has E.cunniculi.It started with believe it ornot...Cataracts!!Well so my Vet says.She is now paralized in thebackend and has jerky muscle movements when she struggles to eat anddrink.She is on Metcam and Prednisolone.Her titers in her bloodworkwere high.I have another bunny who I checked out for this,Sydney.Healso has high titers but is not as bad as Ana.I just dont see hergetting any better,not sure when you say enough is enough.Sheeats,drinks and snuggles.She responds to my touch and voice.But itseems being completely blind and paralized is so hard.Not sure if it'sharder on me (seeing her this way) or her.She is a Holland lop and is6,almost 7 yrs. old.She recently has been peeing on herself and I gaveher alittle bath last night.She spends alot of time on her left sideand grabs hay and grooms herself in this position.I sit her up to eatand hold her till she's steady.I just dont know if i'm prolonging hersuffering or if it's just me who is upset.I'll try to send a pic ofher,her cataracts make her look like she has full moons in her eyes.Butshe is still beautiful.Whoever can just help me in a direction withthis I would truly appreciate.I'm lost...I just dont know.....ty,Joy

 

[naturestee]

I'm so sorry you're going through this! :hug2:

Has she been treated with Fenbendazole, Pyrimethamine, or anotheranti-protozoal drug? These help kill off E. cuniculi.

This article lists several different treatments for EC. Maybe it you could suggest them to your vet.
http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/treatment.shtml

There's also a lot of info and more links to articles in these threads in Rabbit Health Resources:
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=11840&forum_id=10
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=14471&forum_id=10

As for caring for her, what is her living arealike? This article gives lots of great ideas on howto care for rabbits who are paralyzed or have head tilt.
http://www.mohrskc.org/hrswebpg19.html

And are you doing dry baths? They're easy and less stressful.
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/buttbath.html

I hope that helps a little bit. There are also some membershere who are dealing with head tilt. You already know Gabbyand her Brice. M.E.'s rabbit Peanut has head tilt, althoughthe cause isn't clear. They might be able to give you someadvice.

 

[Joy2006]

Thanks for replying.When Sydney was diagnosed(he was first w/ symptoms)all the bunnies went onfenbendazole.My bunny Vets are in my opinion lazy.It's a Vet Hospitalwith over 10 exotic drs. I only trust one.I'm looking into finding agreat Vet who doesn't brush off issues my bunnies have.I never gave adry bath,I have heard of them.Let me try to just quickly explain whathappened with my Charlie.I got him to the Vet relatively early withkidney failure.He was ok...just drinking alot.Well the newbie Vet thereREFUSED to do blood-work or anything.A more veteran vet came on and inthe morning did the b.w. well his blood -work was ALL abnormal and afew days later ,after pain meds. sub-cu fluids and snuggling he passedaway.I miss him so much.Some Vets just aren't good at all.Back toAna....So you think there's hope?Because she just seems to be wiltingaway.I am bringing her in to see the Dr. I like.He has not seen her inabout 3 1/2 weeks...she's so much worse.She is in a large cageindoors.....we had to take out her litter box (she wasn't using itanymore) and I put a piece of tight bound carpet remenant down.Shehasn't chewed it,but licks it sometimes.I don't want her on a non-wirecage...because i'm afraid she'll get really messy.She has no break-downon her body but she is getting thin.She eats like a horse and drinkswell.I dont know what else to say...i'll look at all the links...ThankYou!