Temporary head tilt?

[Stephanie H]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum, I found it by googling my rabbit's symptoms and it looks like a very informative place! Anyways, today I noticed my bunny Chewie laying down with his eyes scrolling to the left. His head would turn too but he would center it again. I took him out and he went in circles some but also moved around like normal sometimes and is fine in his cage. He is 7 and a half years old, dwarf netherland. He eats pellets, hay, and sometimes broccoli. Luckily I work at a vet hospital, so I took him right in. He hopped around like normal there but the Dr. said his eye reflexes are bad and his right ear canal seems sensitive. He said he thinks his vision isn't great. He said there is probably either an issue with his inner ear or his brain, so he prescribed antibiotics and an antiinflammatory. What's weird is, when I got home, he was fine! I hadn't even given the meds yet. I texted the Dr. and he said to still give the meds ASAP. What do you guys think?

(sorry it posted twice somehow I don't know how to delete it)

 

[MiniLopHop]

I would give the medications to make sure he is not fighting an ear infection. You might also want to talk to your vet about treating with Panacur in addition. I think EC is a very under trated issue that can cause problems as bunnies age. It is much easier to treat early than waiting until more damage has occured. Treating head tilt can be a very long process with two hopps forward and one hop back. ray:

 

[MiniLopHop]

Here is a link to my Becky's fight with head tilt.

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=72721&forum_id=16&page=1

After months she still gets tilted when tired or stressed but she is doing much better. They only treated her ears in the beginning as well.

 

[Stephanie H]

Hey! Yes I read about your Becky, you're an amazing bunny momma! I googled Panacur and found this, I didn't know it's over the counter but if so does this seem good and for a good price??

http://www.petdrugs.com/cats/product/Panacur+Rabbit+Worming+Paste/502/

Also I'm asssuming it's a good sign that he's stopped showing signs, although I have noticed for awhile that his eyes seem slightly couldy, like a blue grey, instead of black. Apparently EC can cause cataracts too, and the vet did say Chewie's eeys sight isn't great :/ (Last night he can still run and seem to see pretty well, maybe just not up close?)

 

[Stephanie H]

Also he's been pretty sheltered, so I'm not sure where he could have picked up the parasite. When I lived at my mom's house he never went outside. We used a cage from our previous rabbit after she died, and my sister has a rabbit as well, but we kept them seperate. He had snuffles. Other than that, he's run around at my dad's appartment and the house I'm living in now. There are no dogs or cats or bunnys. I did take chewie outside for a few minutes about a week ago. I'd bought him a leash and though he'd enjoy the grass. Could he get the parasite from wildlife? We have bunnies in the area but I haven't seen any in our yard, it's pretty well sealed up so our turtles don't escape

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

Stephanie H wrote:

Also he's been pretty sheltered, so I'm not sure where he could have picked up the parasite.

It's very possible for him to have E. Cuniculi as most bunnies have been exposed at some point in their life. Alot of times they get it from their mom actually if she was carrying it. It just doesn't always show with symptoms.

 

[HEM]

We are sending get well wishes to Chewie!!!

 

[Pipp]

The bunny needs major antibiotics, probably two different kinds, to nip this in the bud. Make sure the other med isn't a steroid, hopefully it's a non-steroid like Metacam.


sas :clover:

 

[Stephanie H]

... it is a steroid, why is that bad?

 

[Stephanie H]

Hey all, thanks for the good wishes. Chewie seems to be doing well, no more head tilt, but a little lethargic. He seems to like the meds though because I feed him after. Now I can just stick the syringes in the cage and he'll drink from them, and then go sit expectantly near his food dish lol.

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

Be sure to keep up with the meds well after the symptoms are gone to be sure you got it all! Otherwise, it may come back stronger than the first time.