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EC - recovery?

Squizz

Squizz

Alpha Buck
Hi, just wondered if anyone had experience with EC recovery rates. I know every case is different etc but my Martha seems so bad with it I don't know if she'll get better. I guess I'm just hoping someone will have had an equally bad case where the bun pulled it though.

She has had 2 steroid injections now (3rd will be tomorrow) and Panacur daily since she fell ill (Tuesday). Since the 2nd steroid her front leg bends, previously it was locked in position, so that has been a slight improvement. Other than that she is laying on her side unable to sit up or move around at all. We are syringe feeding her, occasionally she makes the effort to reach for food herself -normally only for a raisin though!

Has anyone had an EC case this bad where the rabbit made a recovery? and how long should we leave her with no signs of improvement? To have her PTS would be awful and we want to give her the most chance ever, but don't want to prolong suffering if there is no hope.

Your thoughts would be appreciated x
 
My E.c bun Tippex Porkychicken was suddenly and completely paralysed from the neck down, one Sunday (it's always the weekend, isn't it). The emergency vet wanted to put her to sleep but luckily I insisted on taking her to a rabbit specialist. She was giving a steroid injection, panacur, fluids, potassium and supportive treatment. After about 4 days she was sitting up and the next day she was hopping about and back to normal. Eighteen months on she is still fine and races about the garden or flops out in the shade like any other bun.
I hope your bun recovers as well xx
 
louise and Gus said:
How is she doing now?
Click to expand...

She had her third steroid injection about 2 hours ago. She is about the same though. She getting about a bit on the rug, by scrabbling round, but only really going in a circle.

She seems quite bright, she has been licking us, but not making any effort to get food herself (unless it is a raisin which I don't want her to have too many of)

The vet today said to give her two week from this injection and if she wasn't getting better to think about what would be the kind thing to do. Horrible times.
 
Oscar has finished his months course of Lapizole and metacam and I never thought he'd make it through! He went through a really bad week where he could only roll he couldn't stay up on his feet at all and was getting really stressed. My mum was rabbit sitting and was giving him water every two hours as there was a risk that he would fall into a water bowl and drown. My mum took him to her vets that then put him on baytril too and swapped him over to the Lapizole from the Pancur. After a couple of days there was an improvement slightly more co-ordinated etc. Now is almost fully back to normal with just a bit of head tilt (only looking inquisative) he won't go up onto his hind legs though as that makes him fall over. I have also just bonded him back with his girlfriend Pippa and he's very happy again now.

None of the vets mentioned steriods so i'm afraid i've not had any experience with that.

Keep going with the treatment you suddenly start to see improvements :) Although there will be ups and downs.

When Oscar was trying to find his feet he would circle before exploring almost to look around him before he'd go forward as his head was so twisted.
He doesn't do that anymore :)

Good luck and I hope your bunny is better soon x
 
you can't give steroids and metacam together so probably why it was not mentioned. Steroids are useful in very bad cases but like all things it can take time to mend. She may never get back full function or she may recover very quickly. I think the 2 week time frame the vet has given you is a good indicator or when you should expect to see most of the improvement that will happen. Even if she is not 100% many buns can cope very well with being disabled. If she's not 100% better have a chat to Hugo's there who's on the forum and cares for many disabled buns. She may be able to give you some hints and tips that you can try to make his life easier.
 
Aimee84 said:
Oscar has finished his months course of Lapizole and metacam and I never thought he'd make it through! He went through a really bad week where he could only roll he couldn't stay up on his feet at all and was getting really stressed. My mum was rabbit sitting and was giving him water every two hours as there was a risk that he would fall into a water bowl and drown. My mum took him to her vets that then put him on baytril too and swapped him over to the Lapizole from the Pancur. After a couple of days there was an improvement slightly more co-ordinated etc. Now is almost fully back to normal with just a bit of head tilt (only looking inquisative) he won't go up onto his hind legs though as that makes him fall over. I have also just bonded him back with his girlfriend Pippa and he's very happy again now.

None of the vets mentioned steriods so i'm afraid i've not had any experience with that.

Keep going with the treatment you suddenly start to see improvements :) Although there will be ups and downs.

When Oscar was trying to find his feet he would circle before exploring almost to look around him before he'd go forward as his head was so twisted.
He doesn't do that anymore :)

Good luck and I hope your bunny is better soon x
Click to expand...

Thanks for your kind words and for telling me a success story - makes me feel better!
 
ecudc said:
you can't give steroids and metacam together so probably why it was not mentioned. Steroids are useful in very bad cases but like all things it can take time to mend. She may never get back full function or she may recover very quickly. I think the 2 week time frame the vet has given you is a good indicator or when you should expect to see most of the improvement that will happen. Even if she is not 100% many buns can cope very well with being disabled. If she's not 100% better have a chat to Hugo's there who's on the forum and cares for many disabled buns. She may be able to give you some hints and tips that you can try to make his life easier.
Click to expand...

Thanks. She is now on metacam (after having the 3 steroid injections) she is a lot improved, she has reached for food today, but there is still a long way to go. I'm not giving up whilst she's not giving up though!
 
I have had a bun very ill with EC and make a really good recovery *(although be left with head tilt)
My Kermit was like your bun, just lying down, couldnt stand up etc etc....i had to feed him and hold water up to him to drink.
It honestly took weeks and weeks for him to be able to stand and walk about himself, and he walked in a circle for ages until he learned how to walk again.
If your bun is eating and drinking then you shouldnt give up.
Vibes that your baby gets better soon x
 
Kermit said:
I have had a bun very ill with EC and make a really good recovery *(although be left with head tilt)
My Kermit was like your bun, just lying down, couldnt stand up etc etc....i had to feed him and hold water up to him to drink.
It honestly took weeks and weeks for him to be able to stand and walk about himself, and he walked in a circle for ages until he learned how to walk again.
If your bun is eating and drinking then you shouldnt give up.
Vibes that your baby gets better soon x
Click to expand...

Thank you! x
 
Hi squizz,

One step at a time and at least this is a step in the right direction.

Send lots of vibes for Martha and you xx
 
What is EC? Is it some kind of paralasis that can be treated? I think what lilbun did in the second post is fantastic and I hope your bun gets better soon. All the best.
 
louise and Gus said:
How is Martha doing? Hope there has been improvement
Click to expand...

Hi - thanks for asking, I keep meaning to come on here and update, but haven't got round to it!

She is a lot better thank you. It is a slow process but every day we can see some improvement. She can now sit up without support and manages a few steps before falling over.

My husband made her a little pen, which is a long tunnel so she can lean on either side for support. I think that has been a big help in her recovery. She has been able to sit up, and "walk" up and down this pen. But she was very attached to it, if you took her out to change the bedding she was in a panic to get back in - but a breakthrough today - she walked out of the pen when we came in with food....and then later on I found her in her cage!! she had hopped over there - a couple of metres and then managed to jump in the cage - I was so shocked she could do that! This time last week I still thought we might lose her

so hopefully she will make a full recovery :love:
 
That sounds really promising, really she seems just like what my boy was like with the panicking....he was fine in his own wee space, but take him out of it and he basically hyper ventilated and i had to put him back, it took him a while to get used to the living room again, and even after that he wouldnt go out of the room. I once tried to take him into another room and he freaked right out.
I think it might be to do with the EC attacking the brain.

Anyways, your bun seems to be heading in the right direction....albeit baby steps, she is still getting there!
 
Hi Buster had EC,

He still has a slight tilt and he struggles when you pick him up he rolls which is the reason for his latest injury.

I hope your bun gets better x x
 
thanks.

It is such a nasty illness & last week I really couldn't imagine how she'd recover she was so bad. I'm just so pleased she has kept fighting!
 
Simon said:
What is EC? Is it some kind of paralasis that can be treated? I think what lilbun did in the second post is fantastic and I hope your bun gets better soon. All the best.
Click to expand...

Thanks Simon.
The only thing i did really was refuse to have her put down without some kind of diagnosis. She wasn't in any apparent pain or distress otherwise it would have been harder and I would have had to have done what I felt was best for her.
I am lucky that she responded as well as she did to treatment and that I knew of a great exotics specialist xx
 
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