Vets don't know exactly what is wrong with Leo. Please Help

Leo, my netherland dwarf cross, is breathing from his mouth. Depending on how stressed he is to how wide his mouth is open. Also its not all of the time. When he does this he lifts his head up very high in the air.

His head tilt issue he got from EC two years ago has gotten worse, which it does when he is ill or stressed.

He is eating, drinking, pooping (smaller pellets than usual) but is less active than usual. He just sits.

He kind of hiccups/coughs/sneezes, not constantly, but it is worrying.

No nasal or eye discharge.

Vets dont know what it is but have put him on a course of anti biotics, which haven't helped (it has been a week tomorrow). I took him straight back on Friday and saturday for anti biotic and anti inflamatory injections which seem to help him a little. They gave me oral anti biotics batryl to give 1.3ml a day. He still doesn't seem to be getting better so I took him back to the vets.

They gave him the same two injections and prescribed loxicom for dogs to give 0.5ml a day along with the batryl.

They said if he is no better by next week it will be time to "call it a day".

I requested futher investigation but they said they are not exotic specialists.

Any advice or suggestions welcome, I need an exotic specialist in the Castle Bromwich/Erdington/Sutton Coldfield/Solihul area please.

I am not prepared to put him down.

Thank you.

Hi I am a vet nurse

Hi there I am a vet nurse.
Have they xrayed his chest? Sounds like he may have a chest problem / infection of maybe even a chest tumour?

How old is he? Was his temperature normal?

Lydia

They took his temperature on Friday last week and it was slightly above average.

I requested an x ray but they are not comfortable doing it as they said they wouldn't be able to analyse it properly as he is "so small".

I would like to get a second opinion and willing to pay for x ray / blood works or whatever.

They said to me that it doesn't matter what it is that the treatment will be the same i.e. chest infection/abcess/cold.

I cant help, sorry but just wanted to say good luck..

Fee x

Start a new thread for specialist in your area in the title. People will let you know then. Good luck.

I have a fantastic specialist in Maidstone who saved Doughnut's life but unfortunately it's too far for you.

I have booked an appointment with Damson House Vets on Fatfluffs recommendation for tomorrow at 4:45pm.
http://www.solihullvet.co.uk/index.html

This is still quite a way, a half hour drive, but they must be good if Fatfluff use them and I need the best right now.

I still cannot believe the vet said to call it a day if he doesn't improve

Fee said:

I cant help, sorry but just wanted to say good luck..

Fee x

Click to expand...

Thank you thats really sweet

will update you all tomorrow evening

paws crossed

Once you go to a specialist you should notice a big difference. I would have thought the vets would have referred you on to a specialist as that's what my vets do.

Fingers cross your little rabbit improves quickly. You are doing all you can. Good luck

Marie Kubiak is an exotics specialist - very highly regarded - at Manor Vets, Birmingham.

Here's a link of people recommended

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...bbit-Savvy-Vets-throughout-the-UK-Please-List

Is the one your going to a specialist? If not I would go to Babsie's recommendation. Not really worth going to a better vet as you have more chance of getting it all sorted with a specialist. They prescribe different medicines that normal vets don't.

UsagiYojimbo said:

I still cannot believe the vet said to call it a day if he doesn't improve

Click to expand...

Even if they don't know aything about exotics they should be more sympathetic then that and I'd expect them to at least recommend you elsewhere :shock: I can't help I'm afraid, but I'd imagine that a specialist should be able to help Leo a lot, sending love and vibes

i think your right getting a second opinion. hopefully it can get sorted. all the best!:wave:

Sometimes the long drives are well worth it!
I hope all goes well
I have an EC recovered bun who hiccups and ghid made me wonder if there could be some form of brain or nerve damage going on with your bun?
Anyway looks lkke you are all set for tomorrow so best of luck to getting some answers, and someone who can look at a chest x-ray if needs be xx

Just wanted to wish you and Leo well and hope that you can find a vet who can help him. xxx

Good luck with the new vet :wave:

Babsie said:

Marie Kubiak is an exotics specialist - very highly regarded - at Manor Vets, Birmingham.

Click to expand...

I was going to say Marie too.

Good luck at the vets.

Any news on Leo I hope he's getting better

My first guess would be a heart condition, as it sounds similar to my BB.

She's on heart meds and doing fine, so I hope they can sort out Leo for you. Good luck x

The vet was fab she really took her time with us (about 45mins!) and did a thorough examination.
Had an x ray done, which it turns out didn't show anything up, no chest infection, no tumor, and no abscess or ulcers. He also had a shot of penicillin and an anti inflammatory. From the x ray it doesn't appear to be heart problems but more tests and x rays will need doing to find out what is wrong with him.

Leo is better in himself since having had a shot of penicillin, so we are hoping he is on the mend. He is still having his spluttering breathing issue but isn't holding his head high and mouth open as much at all (only when he gets stressed out). He will be 3 in April, which is still young, yet this is his second serious illness (1st was EC) he has had in his life which is heartbreaking. We are worming him as his head tilt has gotten worse since he became ill and we are also giving him an anti inflammatory

Being as there is no sign of infection we have stopped the baytril. Will be calling the vets on Wednesday with an update, hopefully with the news that he is getting better.

Otherwise he will be sedated to have more thorough x rays

Whilst I was there I had Jemima (French Lop) with me too and she examined her too; she is about 700g over weight (5.2kg needs to be 4.5kg) so she is on a hay only diet and I am giving Leo pellets without her knowing, although he is not too bothered with them at the moment.

Both eating lots of hay and drinking lots of water so that is a good sign.

BB Mommy said:

My first guess would be a heart condition, as it sounds similar to my BB.

She's on heart meds and doing fine, so I hope they can sort out Leo for you. Good luck x

Click to expand...

The vet believes it may be but needs more tests done to determine this