Sudden breathing issues

After taking my rabbit to the vet yesterday evening regarding a slight head tilt, he began to exhibit other symptoms that grew increasingly worse into the night.

-Breathing heavily though his nose, akin to a wheezing sort of sound.
-Made grunting sounds as he moved, as if he were in discomfort.
-Reluctance to move, hunched over position.
-Eating small amounts but visibly uncomfortable when swallowing.
-Leaving runny stools.
-Capable of moving around, seems alert on some occasions, lethargic (laying down, hunched over) on others.
-He's currently molting (may be an issue?)

After taking him to the vet again, who examined his throat and listened to his lungs with a stethoscope, and assured me his digestive system and gut were fine, although he couldn't diagnose the cause of my rabbit's breathing problem, and gave me an antibiotic for throat/chest infections in order to try and clear it up.

He said I could choose to have the rabbit hospitalised so they could run tests that may determine the problem, but unfortunately the costs are far too high for me to afford. I am currently unemployed and have already had to spend £100 on 2 consolations, an injection to keep his gut moving, the antibiotics for the head tilting issue, and another for the breathing. I simply cannot afford any more vet bills and am concerned for my rabbit's welfare.

Has anyone any idea what this problem is, and if the antibiotics will clear it up?

Is he on a course of panacur? I think you need to change your vet as they don't seem very clued up on bunnies.
He needs to see another vet and unfortunately it will cost you more. He needs a course of panacur and a painkiller, the heavy breathing could be because he is in intense pain.
Where do you live? Try posting up in rabbit chat for a rabbit savvy vet in your area. I hope you find one soon as it sounds like he is very unwell.

Vegan_Bunny said:

Is he on a course of panacur? I think you need to change your vet as they don't seem very clued up on bunnies.
He needs to see another vet and unfortunately it will cost you more. He needs a course of panacur and a painkiller, the heavy breathing could be because he is in intense pain.
Where do you live? Try posting up in rabbit chat for a rabbit savvy vet in your area. I hope you find one soon as it sounds like he is very unwell.

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He supplied me with a course of Panacur wormer, yes.
For his breathing issue, he supplied me with a vial of Baytril, of which I've been advised to give to my rabbit twice daily. Does that sound about right?

As for where I live, it is Spalding in the UK. I visited my local medivet.

Hi

I disagree re him needing Panacur as it sounds as though your Vet is correct in diagnosing a bacterial infection which is effecting your Rabbit's middle ear as well as his/her Respiratory tract. Antibiotics are certainly needed and it is good that they have been started. However, it is absolutely essential that your Rabbit has a full course of antibiotic treatment, not just a one off injection. Has the Vet given you a course of antibiotics to administer ?

Were you told about the importance of cleaning and bleach cleaning days while on the Panacur?

Presumably the vet suspects EC to be the cause of the head tilt?

Did he investigate the possibility of an ear infection?

Just seen Jane has posted, she's most experienced and I would take her advise.

Jack's-Jane said:

Hi

I disagree re him needing Panacur as it sounds as though your Vet is correct in diagnosing a bacterial infection which is effecting your Rabbit's middle ear as well as his/her Respiratory tract. Antibiotics are certainly needed and it is good that they have been started. However, it is absolutely essential that your Rabbit has a full course of antibiotic treatment, not just a one off injection. Has the Vet given you a course of antibiotics to administer ?

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Op said a vial of Baytril has been given for twice daily administration.

Jack's-Jane said:

However, it is absolutely essential that your Rabbit has a full course of antibiotic treatment, not just a one off injection. Has the Vet given you a course of antibiotics to administer ?

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Posted just a short few minutes before you did, but yes, he supplied me Baytril antibiotics. The previous evening, when visiting with the head tilt problem, he gave my rabbit an injection to help keep his gut moving too.

Dustyrabbit said:

Were you told about the importance of cleaning and bleach cleaning days while on the Panacur?

Presumably the vet suspects EC to be the cause of the head tilt?

Did he investigate the possibility of an ear infection?

Click to expand...

Could you elaborate on your first point? I'm having an absent minded moment here and am sure I'm missing the obvious, but I'm confused as to what 'cleaning and bleach cleaning days' refer to? As in, cleaning his cage? (Appologies if I come off as a little slow here!)

Yes, he investigated the possibility of ear infection. Checked inside his ears with a light, took some ear wax samples and looked at them under a microscope and checked for ear mites. Nothing came up, but he gave me the Panacur medicine just to be certain.

Roulette said:

Posted just a short few minutes before you did, but yes, he supplied me Baytril antibiotics. The previous evening, when visiting with the head tilt problem, he gave my rabbit an injection to help keep his gut moving too.


Could you elaborate on your first point? I'm having an absent minded moment here and am sure I'm missing the obvious, but I'm confused as to what 'cleaning and bleach cleaning days' refer to? As in, cleaning his cage? (Appologies if I come off as a little slow here!)

Yes, he investigated the possibility of ear infection. Checked inside his ears with a light, took some ear wax samples and looked at them under a microscope and checked for ear mites. Nothing came up, but he gave me the Panacur medicine just to be certain.

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a *middle ear* infection cannot always be obvious just from looking into the ear canals. A skull xray is required to diagnose it. Head tilt is a symptom of middle ear infection as well as EC (Panacur has been given to cover EC). Given the combination of both ear and respiratory tract involvement it would seem that a bacterial infection is the primary issue.

Has the Vet also prescribed a non steroidal anti inflammatory eg Metacam. NSAIDs are another important part of the treatment of head tilt, whether the cause of the tilt is EC or bacterial infection.

Ah I'm glad your vet did give you the panacur. From what you have said it actually does sound like your vet is ok :thumb:

Does he have any discharge from his nose or is it just the heavy breathing?
When you mentioned the runny poo were these maybe uneaten cecals?

I would be concerned about runny poo but if it is a bacterial infection then perhaps it's affecting everything, not just his breathing and ears. Jack's Jane has much much more experience than most people so hopefully she can suggest something about this.