Hi,
The most likely issue here is a vestibular issue....sounds like he has vertigo. Rabbits can't see directly in front of them so they can't focus on a fixed point for orientation sowhen they get an ear problem....they will either be very unstable in the hind quarter (usually the rear legs will bespread wide apart and feet turned outward)or theyspin violently. While EC is always a possiblity, with the symptons mentioned and it appears the rabbit has been in a plane...ears. With EC, it's not usually something that appears all at once. We have had numerous rabbits here with EC...and the onset of paresis from EC was not something that happened that quickly but presented over an extended period of time. There is also the possibility that he has suffered some type of injury...maybe to the head and/or spine that is causing the concern.Was Thumpy with your wife the entire trip or wasdid he travelwith the cargo? Isit possible that a ramp worker may have fed him something that could cause a problem without knowing it might harm him? And stress of the trip may be adding to it. And the upset GI is another sign ofa vestibular issue. Rabbits do get nausea just like people do..they just don't regurgitate (usually). Look at his eyes carefully. Do they move back and forth rapidly? You might have to look very closely for any little tick. If so, that is a condition called nystagmus and means he is searching for up and down orientation.
This is something that should be seen by a rabbit savvy vet ASAP...and it appears your wife's intentions is to do that. In the mean time, as others have mentioned....good husbandry is essential. Hydration is always important. Any of the infant type rehydrating fluid will work....here is the US it is called Pedialyte. Administering fluids sub-q would be much better but that is probably not an option at this time. Wet leafy greens also help with hydration. If it is vestibular or possibly neurological, see how he does in the dark. Rabbits with vestibular issues usually do better posture wise when they are in the dark. Some rabbits respond well to a drug called meclizine....it's the active ingredient in products made for human motion sickness. In a simple explanation...it buffers the reaction between the ears and the eyes and can sometimes improvethe vertigo.
I would say that right now, there are still a lot of questions and few answers. Based on my experience....I would be looking at something vestibular to start my diagnosis and eliminate the ears before I moved on to other things. Several possibilities here but I would think that the ears are the most likely source of the problem.
Randy
