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my rabbit is having fits please help

scatty87

New Kit
Hi

I'm hoping someone can help me! My rabbit has been having either fits or muscle spasms. He's been having them from about august onwards. They come at random times once a week, twice a week. His head goes to one side as if he is cleaning and he goes onto his back, sometimes rolling around and around. They do not last too long some longer than others. He has been eating as normal and contuing as normal running round in the garden going to the toilet etc. We have taken him to the vets several times and put him on antibiotics and a wormer. He has an abcess on his foot which bothers him to which we have been putting cream on which has made it smaller. None of this has made any difference to his fits/spasms. The vet is unsure what it could be and is now considering antifit medication, but we are unsure whether it is muscle spasms. The last couple of times he has been making a loud noise sounds like a cat screaming. We are waiting to hear from the vet to any other ideas but I was wondering if anyone else out there would have any ideas to what could be causing this? Has anyone experienced anything like this with their rabbit before?

if someone could help I would be so grateful he is a much loved pet and we are all so worried about him.

Thanks

Rebecca
 
Hi I'm sure someone will be along to help you soon. I can't help you specifically but this sounds like something that other members have talked about on here so someone will be able to help. It sounds like you don't have a rabbit savvy vet unfortunately though. Where abouts are you from?
 
Thank you I hope so. Im from the isle of wight. Ive tried looking for a rabbit specialist on the island but cant seem to find one.
 
I hate that screaming noise bunnies make, it's terrifying :(

I really hope your vet can run some tests for you and give you some answers x
 
I would treat with panacur or lapizole as a matter of urgency... (Can be bought from pet shops or bought online from Vets UK).

Do hope he's okay.....
 
Has you Vet run any diagnostics ? A full blood profile, skull xray/CT scan ?

Possible causes of seizures could include Encephalitozoon Cuniculi (EC) or a Brain abscess. But there are other possibilities.

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/Epilepsy_Bears.htm

Thanks for all of your concerns. No the vet hasnt taken blood she said it might not be worth doing and as for x ray basically said that they wouldnt do that for rabbits. hes still making a screaming noise when hes goes into the fits very scary. The vet is recommending antifit medication but we are unsure. We don't know if its fits or muscle spasms. As he had one today but watching him he spent a lot of the day cleaning and he does it in a way that looks really clumsy and seems to turn his body right round in awkrawd angles. We have another rabbit but when he cleans doesnt look as bad.
Has anyone had a rabbit on anitfit medication? and does it cause side affects? We dont really want to put him on that until we have fully established it is fits. I'm confused because i thought if it was a fit he would act different but when hes out of it he is scared for a bit but then goes back to normal eating as usual and hes been running round the garden as usual too. But of course we dont want to wait too long as im worried about his screams.
 
A screaming rabbit is one of the worst sounds I have ever heard. So distressing.

I have no experience with this but have you started a post for rabbit savvy vets on the IoW, or even in Soton. Your vet does not sound as if she is clued up on rabbits at all.

Fingers crossed you can get to the bottom of it. :?
 
There is Pet Doctors, which seem to have an extensive service - or is this who you are already with?
I've never used them, obviously, but was looking at their website.
 
I have had experience of this with a previous rabbit who has unfortunately now gone to the bridge - although nothing to do with the fits I might add!
He had quite a few fits over a two day period, and to be honest you have my sympathy as it scared me to death both times. I rushed him to the vets both days, although unfortunately as it is about 3 years ago I can't remember exactly what he said now, other than him talking about it possibly being an inner ear infection. He gave him some massive antibiotic injections which thankfully did the trick. I do remember however him saying that if they did continue he would have to go on antifit medication. Thankfully it did'nt come to that.
This probably has'nt really been much help, other than to say he did fully recover.
Heres to a full recovery soon.
 
Dr Ian Green of Green and Forster is an Exotics Vet, thanks tonibun. :thumb:

Hopefully you will have more luck here.
 
Thanks for your replies. Just to keep you updated. I decided to take scatty to another vets for a 2nd opinioon. I went to pet doctors and the vet there is brilliant! she seems to knpow her stuff and is very nice. We have got him on pain relief as we think fits may be caused from the abcess on his foot. We have also got him on a 28 day trial of panacur and gave him a week of anitbiotics. I came home last week to find that somwething at happened and he couldnt stand properly on his back legs and was dragging them about! was awful and thought i was going to lose him! However within a week he is almost back to hopping nroamlly! Just a little bit weak sometimes. His fits have changed. He has had a quite a few today but hes not rolling onto his back his feet come up as if sctracthing! but it l;asts seconds which is very diffrernt from previous fits. So io dont know if this is a good thing or not?
Anyway we are taking him back to vets friday for another check on his abcess on his foot. Im really hoping that its the cause of the fits. Will keep you updated
 
Hi, thanks for keeping us updated, I thought you had forgotten about us.

Thats is good that you have managed to find a good vet, believe me it makes all of the difference to both of you. Hopefully the fits can be sorted in the new future, but like you said at least bun is not shreaking anymore.

I am sure someone like JacksJane will be able to provide more of an insight to what the issue could be.

Fingers crossed. :)
 
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