Hi Alfie,
I am very concerned not only about your bun's condition but I amconfused about the diagnosis. First, there is absolutely noclinical evidence at all that ECis primarytohead tilt. The real deal is that EC compromises theimmune system and allows opportunistic bacteria...particularlypasteurella...to gain a foot hold. Pasteurella is what hasbeen called "snuffles" for years (a term I hate). I amconcerned how a diagnosis of EC has been made on what appears to be afirst visit. While the only way to confirm an EC infection ispost mortem, there is a test called a titer that will show theantibodies to EC. That test cannotproduceresultsin one visit at a clinic. In the US, thereareonly a couple of labs capable of doing thistest. There is some interpretation involved that does havesome wiggle room. You are looking at rising values andfalling values and such things. Nearly every domestic rabbithas been exposed to EC...usually from it's mother. Thedisease is contagious while the spores are shedding (it is alsozoonotic). That happens in the kidneys. Renalsupport is essential. With EC, the first signs many noticeare "lazy" back legs. One will appear to drag intermittentlyand continue to get worse. Then the rabbit will usually godown on one side. There is usually some improvement as therabbit's immune system mounts a counter attack. Urinaryincontinance is usually present due to the spores in thekidneys. We have had a bun that the pupils of her eyesstartedfilling with crystals caused by ECand shewas becoming blind beforerenal failure took her (she was ourfirst rescue and the namesake of our rescue). She kept a wetrear all the time and we had to bathe her often. But EC is awasting disease and will eventually win the fight usually due to renalfailure.
While I am not here to contest your doctor's diagnosis, I would highlysuggest a second opinion. I am assuming your bun either livesoutside or visits outside regularly. With added heat of theweather and the fact that rabbit's ears are hot and moist to beginwith, I am always concered with the possibility for the growth ofbacteria, yeast or both in those ears (lops are very prone to this dueto the restricted air flow in the ear canals). Something assimple as mites can cause tilt. I would really like to see atleast a cytology on any debris in the ears...and if bacteria is found,a full culture and sensitivity should be performed. And if itis a bacterial infection as I suspect, it should be attacked with thebig guns on multiple fronts. Caught and treated early, tiltcorrection is possible. If the infection perforates the eardrum or enters the brain, things don't go so well.
What drug did your vet put him on? The latest and greatest ofthe treatments for ECare with the "bendazoles"....and Panacuris the one most commonly used by vets today. It has to beadministered every day for at least 60 days. There is someuse of a horse drug called Marquis that is showing promise but very fewvets have actually attempted treatment with thisdrug. It is used to fight EPM in horses....aclosely related disease to EC. I am putting a link to anarticle written by one of the top rabbit vets in the country.It is written more in a technical form but it simple enough for usregular people to understand the primary message. And I wouldreally like to revisit those ears and take a
verycloselook. Not saying that the tilt might not be secondary toEC...but I would like a more thorough diagnosis if this were my rabbit.
http://www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html
Best wishes to your bun. And keepme updated. I would like to follow this one closely.
Randy
