EC Help - hind leg weakness

[Mrsrachelgrace]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for advice about helping my rabbit with possible ec infection.

Benji had what I think was a fit a fit a couple of months ago. emergency vet gave him antibiotics and put him and his hutch mate on panacur for 9 days. No fits since then so I thought he was all sorted

A couple of days ago I noticed he was hoppy strangely and wasn't picking up his back feet properly. Took him straight to the vet, who said he was hopping fine (it was subtle at that point, but I could see it!) and that I shouldn't give him and more panacur until it had been 3 months.

I ignored the vet and have been giving them both panacur for the last few days, but I think it's getting worse :'(. I'm going to do 28 day courses. It turns out the vet told us the wrong dosage last time and we'd only been giving them half what they needed.

Is there any point in taking him back to the vet? Is there anything they can give him besides panacur?

Thank you.

 

[HiddlesKenway]

Try going to another vet? Get a second opinion. If you can see a change in how he's moving then their is a change, if anyone knows your bunnies well enough to notice it's you.

 

[JBun]

Your rabbit should have been on 20mg/kg of fenbendazole for 4 weeks, the first time he showed symptoms. 9 days is only used as a preventative treatment, and even then it's better to do a 28 day course if you are going to do it. I'm not sure that I would feel comfortable with a vet that didn't have this basic knowledge about treatment for a very common rabbit illness. If you want to list your general location, we may be able to help you find a different vet.

Seeing a different vet is probably a good idea. This may be EC related, but you will still want the vet to rule out other possibilities as well. If EC is still suspected as the cause, you will also want to get your bun on the anti inflammatory meloxicam, as long as your bun doesn't have any kidney problems. The EC spores cause inflammation and cell damage. The inflammation contributes to the EC symptoms, which can sometimes result in permanent damage if it is severe and left to go on too long. You really want to help bring that inflammation down. With your bun having hind limb weakness, you will also need to ensure your bun is still peeing alright and that his bottom is staying dry as well.
http://www.woodward-vets.co.uk/information/Encephalitozoon%20cuniculi.pdf
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/paresis.html

 

[Mrsrachelgrace]

Thanks for the replies. My old vet was the only one near me that was open on Sundays so I went back today to ask for anti inflammatories. He gave me metacam so hopefully that will help. If not I'll try and get him to a different vet this week. I'm in chester, uk.

Is there anything else I can do for him?

 

[JBun]

Just keep up with the meds. I would still suggest seeing a different vet if you can, as there may be other supportive treatment your bun needs, or EC could be the wrong diagnosis and you will want to make sure you are treating for the right thing. You have an excellent rabbit vet not too far from you. Her name is Molly Varga in Holmes Chapel.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheshire-Pet-Medical-Centre/190736740956353

 

[Kylz69]

Mine had metacam when went all floppy bunny with EC
I found he relapsed on panacur also, went to a specialist and spent heaps of money to rule out anything else

He has EC, I know what it looks like and early caught with metacam he rallied.
He has been fine for 6mo now after 2 floppy episodes (one lasted 5 days) within a 5 week period