first ear infection, now trouble weeing/discoloured nuts

[Anaira]

Ok, so a couple of weeks ago, my 2 year old entire male dwarf cross, got what we thought was an ear infection; thick white pus, and a head tilt. The vet couldn't see down the ear, but decided since there was no sign of a middle ear infection, to give him drops called Canaural. They didn't do anything(he was on them for a week), there was still thick pus coming out, and his mouth was kinda twisted. No apparent trouble eating.

They then put him on vibravet paste(doxy), and his head tilt has improved; the pus may be less, but is slightly blood streaked. When I took him back, the vet I usually see was away, so I got stuck with one whom everyone agrees should have retired long ago. He basically said, everythings fine, he's improved, and the 'blood isn't neccessarily a bad thing; it could mean the bloods starting to return to the area'. Okay then. He kinda brushed aside my mentioning I had heard him making funny grunting/honking sounds with his breathing. Also the fact the eye on the same side as the affected ear seems a little weepy.

Now I realize why he was grunting; he's straining as he tries to urinate, and when I try to 'investigate'(for lack of a better word) down there, he goes kinda limp and rigid at the same time, with his pupils dilated. Obviously tender. It's hard to see, because he curls his back legs over, and I don't want to hurt him too much, but his nuts seem discoloured,(bluey/black) and, well, flabby almost. I can't see Louise(my vet) until tomorrow afternoon, so I've decided to wait until then.

Anyone have any idea what's wrong? My family don't like my rabbits, so they're urging me to have him pts, saying he's in kidney failure. Is there any chance the ear and slightly wheezy breathing is connected to whatever is wrong inside him? Should we xray him? Richard(old vet) claimed there were few ABs rabbits can have, which is why he kept him on doxy(which I know isn't very good with ears, or UTIs, if it is a UTI).

I'm sorry, I'm not very good at explaining things, but I hope I've made sense. :expressionless

 

[Maureen Las]

Poor bunny sounds like he is suffering.

I am not sure what you are describing but this probably is a systemic illness meaning that the infections are occuring because of a problem weakening the immune system in the entire body
maybe someting like- ecuniculi ( a protzoan parasite)but that is a guess.
You need to see a vet that really knows rabbits well
also sounds like he couldhad a stroke ??

Idon't know if all of this is possibly ecuniculi , however,I will give you some links to read



http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=14471&forum_id=10

there is a newer treatment with a drugmade originally for a viral disease of horses but it has been found to be efffective in treating rabbits with ecuniculi ; it is called Marquis/Ponazuril

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=14471&forum_id=10

Even with this parasite antibiotics are used... and actually there are many drugs effectively used by vets who have a true knowledge of rabbit medicine ; many of theseantibiotics are used together

Some of these drugs are :
oral azithromycin (Zithromax)

injectable bicillin ( a combination of a fast and slower acting penicillin) that can be bought in the refrigerated section of farm and feed stores

Zeniquen an oral drug in the enrofloxicin family


oral chlorampenical ..an old drug that is very effective because it crosses the blood /brain barrier

http://www.medirabbit.com/Safe_medication/Antibiotics/Safe_antibiotics.htm

it is important that your rabbit be seen as soon as possible not only to diagnose, and order antibiotics but also to get adequate pain medication for him

Any of these vets near Wellington??



http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=59565&forum_id=9

 

[Anaira]

Reading links now. Thankee so much!

I dunno about a stroke though; he moves about fine, and eats and drinks. When I said he 'curled' his feet over, I didn't mean they were always like that; I meant he did it trying to keep my hands away, as such, when I was trying to check his bits. Sorry if it gave the wrong impression. Unless it was something else I mentioned?

I already checked the list, Kelburn's too far away for me. I don't drive, so it depends on my dad, who would be far happier if both rabbits died. There is another vet I know of, who's slightly closer, but mum's already said it's ridiculous to travel that far.


reading now.

 

[Anaira]

Also, if it is E.C, what does that mean for the rats who share the room with him?

And the cats and dogs who are in the room a lot, and the cavies in the room next door, etc.

 

[Maureen Las]

It seldom causes any clinical symptoms or disease in other animals ; I have NEVER heard of another species contracting the symptoms of this parasite from a rabbit but I have heard of rabbits living in the same area as the infected rabbit contracting it.

Iwouldn't worry at all about your other pets


http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-2/e-cuniculi.html

 

[Pipp]

I don't like that the vet gave him the drops without being able to see if the eardrum was intact, but I don't know.

I know the best treatment on this board and others for head abscesses/infections in North America has been injected penicillin (bicillin or PenG) in combination with an oral drug like Zithromax or Chloramphenicol.

If the Doxy seemed to work, maybe something rabbit-safe (many are only safe when injected) from the same tetracycline family is in order, maybe AngieLuv or TonysHuman will know more about that, but whatever drugs they use, the rabbit has to stay on them for a very long time and you have to be diligent with the dosing. He needs it regularly until well after all the symptoms have cleared up, and that could be months.

Drops have never seemed very effective.

As AngieLuv said, it could be that he is immune-compromised and that caused the ear infection, but the overall stress I think could have made him susceptible to other infections, especially if the drops were ineffective. (And they may well have been totally useless if he didn't culture the ear).

The wheezy breathing is very likely connected to the ear issue, and indeed both may be caused or at least connected by an infected tooth root, which is a very common problem. The inner ear, tear ducts and nasal passages can all suffer from the same infection.

If you can't afford xrays and a culture, I'd still have him examined by a rabbit-savvy vet and try an injectable/oral antibiotic combo ASAP. Hopefully that will at least get it all under control.

Poor bunny. So many problems for such a young guy.


sas

 

[Anaira]

Sweet, thanks Angieluv. Just keep an eye on my other boy, Reuben then?

Thanks Pipp. I did indeed wonder if the tooth/nasal/ear thing could be connected, especially from the funny way he was holding his mouth; I think Louise may have thought that, too, as she did a quick feel, but everything seemed fine; he wasn't tender or anything.

She was very dubious about giving the drops, told me to stop if any symptoms came, etc., but yes, I realize now I should have asked she make sure the eardrum was intact.

I forgot to mention, when Richard prescribed the doxy, he whipped out his favorite anti-inflammitary injection he *always* gives; I can't persuade him not to. I asked the name once, but I've forgotten it. He says it should work for about two days or so, and I can't persuade him that it doesn't work like that for rats, but I didn't know how long steriods stay in rabbits' systems for, so I figured it wouldn't hurt anything except my bank account(as that's all it is, I'm sure; a price booster). It did seem to produce results; head tilt was way better, and hasn't really gone back to where it was. I really can't see the point of just one dosage of medication though? :/



I should be able to afford xray and culture; it will eat a huge amount into my savings though. Here's hoping none of the other furkids get sick!


Oh, and I have printed out the entire page angie linked to, on rabbit medication. Richard refuses to listen to advice from anywhere, even if its stuff another vet has told me, but Louise will look at stuff I print.


If he gets an xray, does he need an anaesthetic? What should be used? I know Isoflurane is the safest for rats, I take its the same for rabbits? I know injectables aren't safe. Can rabbits vomit/should he be fasted or not? Pretty sure he shouldn't be?


Yeah, I'm too lazy to go hunting up this stuff for myself. My besetting sin. I'd rather pick you guys' brains.

I'm a bit calmer now, I never realize at the time how freaked out over something I can be.

Thanks guys!

 

[tonyshuman]

I'm so sorry that you don't have a better vet you can get to. The one you're going to sounds a bit more than not savvy.

I would get her on a strong antibiotic ASAP, like a combination of Pen G injectible and chloramphenicol or zithromax oral. That may help with both the ear and the urinary issues. A pain medicine is crucial here, and don't use a NSAID like metacam or ibuprofen--those can be hard on the kidneys. A narcotic would be good like tramadol or buprenoprhine. I think all you can do is get an x-ray to look at the extent of the damage, look for tooth root issues, give strong antibiotics and pain meds, and avoid any immunosuppressants (like steroids).

Isofluorane is fine for rabbits. They do do injectible anesthetics too sometimes but he won't have to be out for too long to get x-rays so that probably won't be needed.

Zithromax (azithromycin) is similar to doxycycline.