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    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

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Sick Rabbit-URGENT

Javik

New Kit
My Holland lop is suddenly tilting his head slightly to the left and he is also losing his balance and has a runny nose. He is not rolling around or falling down though. Right now, his left ear is warmer than it should be, so I think it is most likely an ear infection. So far I have treated the ear with mineral oil. Is there anyway to treat this at home? I just don't have the money for a vet right now, and I feel horrible. Thanks for ANY help.
 
My Holland lop is suddenly tilting his head slightly to the left and he is also losing his balance and has a runny nose. He is not rolling around or falling down though. Right now, his left ear is warmer than it should be, so I think it is most likely an ear infection. So far I have treated the ear with mineral oil. Is there anyway to treat this at home? I just don't have the money for a vet right now, and I feel horrible. Thanks for ANY help.

No i'm sorry your bunny needs to see a vet urgently, he will need strong antibiotics and a high dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relief. Only a vet can assess whether this is an outer or inner ear infection - either way it will need antibiotic treatment and pain relief. Not treating it could put your bun at risk of GI stasis from pain alone and the ear infection spreading to the brain. :(
I'm really sorry but your bun needs a vet tonight! Good luck :)

p.s. there is also the possibility of E.C involvement (although with a hot ear it seems an infection is more likely), either way, EC also needs quick treatment with fenbendazole and NSAID's again.
 
No he MUST see a vet. Ear infections are horribly painful and can become serious if left untreated. If you mess about with it at home you are likely to make it worse, not better.
I hope the vet is able to make him feel better xx
 
My Holland lop is suddenly tilting his head slightly to the left and he is also losing his balance and has a runny nose. He is not rolling around or falling down though. Right now, his left ear is warmer than it should be, so I think it is most likely an ear infection. So far I have treated the ear with mineral oil. Is there anyway to treat this at home? I just don't have the money for a vet right now, and I feel horrible. Thanks for ANY help.

PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANYTHING MORE INTO THE EAR CANAL


If his eardrum has perforated doing so could cause life threatening problems.

There is no 'home treatment' I am affraid. Your Rabbit needs Veterinary attention. He probably needs antibiotics and anti-inflammatory pain relief.
The Vet may also consider EC to be a possibility

Are you in the UK ?
 

PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANYTHING MORE INTO THE EAR CANAL


If his eardrum has perforated doing so could cause life threatening problems.

There is no 'home treatment' I am affraid. Your Rabbit needs Veterinary attention. He probably needs antibiotics and anti-inflammatory pain relief.
The Vet may also consider EC to be a possibility

Are you in the UK ?

No, I'm in California, do you have any kind of general estimate on how much the treatment would cost?
 
Do you qualify for care credit? Or maybe talk to your vet and organise a payment plan?

You need to get this rabbit to the vet ASAP. Like now.

The amount it costs will depend on the vet you see so we can't really estimate unfortunately.
 
Ok, I'll go the vet and see what the quote is, until then can he be with other rabbits? Or will it spread to them?
 
Ok, I'll go the vet and see what the quote is, until then can he be with other rabbits? Or will it spread to them?

Is he already with other Rabbits ? If so then dont seperate them. That will be too stressful for him and any cross infection will probably already have happened if its going to.
Dont introduce him to any new Rabbits though and dont mate him up if you are breeding from him.
 
Is he already with other Rabbits ? If so then dont seperate them. That will be too stressful for him and any cross infection will probably already have happened if its going to.
Dont introduce him to any new Rabbits though and dont mate him up if you are breeding from him.

No, I would never breed them. And ok, I'll let him be with his bonded partner.
 
There is a website called Bunspace.com that has lots of USA buns, the site is rather different to this one with less specialist knowledge generally available BUT it does has a special group that help with funding for buns that need a vet. Worth trying.
 
Please get her seen ASAP. I understand financially it can be hard but when you took her on you also took on the responsibility of doing the right thing for her and meeting all her needs. Her need is to see a vet today. Now. If you are unable to do that then maybe try and find a rescue today who can take her and give her the treatment she needs.
 
Ok, so his condition has improved, he has regained his balance and is hopping around just as he used to, his ear is also no longer hot. His head is still tilted, but the vet and I think that he may have had a stroke which is what caused the head tilt. The vet is running some tests, but do you guys know of any clear symptoms of a stroke?
 
Please take note, I am not saying this to scare you but my rabbit had a head tilt and then suddley one day took a turn for the worse, she got a bit better but then declined again. In the end I lost my rabbit as she died of what the vets think was E.C. we gave her every chance, but I honestly didn't think that when my rabbit first started having a head tilt that I would loose her.

I hope you find out what is wrong and can treat it.

Sarah x
 
Have they cultured the ear to rule out ear infection? You can have ear infections even if there is nothing visible to the naked eye.
 
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