Possible EC/Nerve Damage

Hi RU, looking for some advice and guidance as per the title.

Noticed over the last few weeks Benjis mouth started slanting so booked him an appointment with the rabbit savvy vet for the Friday just gone.

She thoroughly checked him over, and tested the reflexes on his eyes..the side that was higher wasnt responding the same as the other side. She then checked his teeth well as he is a dental bun. When it was discovered his teeth were fine, she looked down his ears and discovered there was a lot of wax down it, so she got what she could out and said it could possibly be an inner ear infection.

An x-ray was recommended to check for inner ear infection, tooth roots and anything in general that could be causing the problem. She also gave him a shot of metacam, and prescribed a weeks worth of Septrin as his snuffles has been bad lately.

He went in first thing yesterday morning (with Cupcake of course) and had the x-ray and ear flush. I went in for the results yesterday afternoon and spoke to the vet. He got the x-rays up and showed me there was no sign of any tooth root problems, or any inner ear infections. He said everything looked normal :?

According to the vet, Benjis side is drooping either due to E.C, or nerve damage to the one that runs through the face, due to trauma, but he has not done anything that could have caused trauma. However, they are not sure which it is, so want to treat for E.C using a 28 day Panacur course. My other rabbit Cupcake who he lives with has also been given a 9 day dosage.

Since he has come round for the anaesthetic he seems normal-ish and is back to eating ect. However, his mouth is still slanted and his third eye seems to almost come out at times?!

I am wondering if anyone has had experience of this, and how I am meant to know if it is EC or nerve damage? And if ear infections always show up on x-rays?

Also, should I be asking for a longer antibiotic course, or any anti-inflammatory medicine such as Metacam?

Hate seeing my little boy like this

Thank you RU.

Afaik, EC itself causes nerve damage. If the problem is EC related, it may be due to lesions rather than permanent damage so if caught early the symptoms can be reversed. You could have your rabbit blood tested to find out if it is EC, though really this is just a fact finding mission especially as I would want to treat immediately anyway.

In terms of treatment I would want at least two weeks of antibiotics, or until the symptoms improve, or until the end of the panacur treatment (at which point you would want to reassess). I would give metacam (preferable to steroids imo as it does not suppress an already strained immune system). I would want to be treating your other bunny for 28days also, and the living area will need a deep clean on days 21 and 28 of the course.

Good luck <3

I would ask for Metacam too - this helps to reduce the swelling / inflammation in the brain so reduces the neurological symptoms of EC. Personally I don't think I would bother with a blood test or titre for EC Just treat what is observable.

A good clean out at days 21 and 28 are a must too :thumb:

Good luck :wave:

Is your Vet a Rabbit Specialist ? I ask as the symptoms you describe and the fact that your Rabbit has Snuffles point so strongly to the facial palsy being due to a middle ear infection. Is there any chance that the Vet has missed seeing evidence of it on the Xray films ? Sometimes a CT scan is needed

There are of course other possibilities, but in my experience ear disease is the most likely

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Differentials/facial.htm

Thank you all for the replies.

I did suggest Metacam and another week of antibiotics to the vets but he did not seem to think it would be beneficial for some reason? not sure whether this is because Ben is on and off antibiotics (normally Baytril) quite frequently, and they do not want him to become immune to them? :?

I also said does Cupcake need to be treated for longer due to living with Ben. Unfortunately the rabbit savvy vet is off for 10 days..she referred him for an x-ray and examined his ears, and the other vet carried the procedure out due to her being away..

Do you think if I rang the vets and asked them to re-check the x=ray they would? Because if it is due to a middle ear infection he does need more antibiotics!!

Just to note- Bens balance has been fine, is this normally affected with EC/middle ear infections?

Many thanks

I don't have much advice to give but I just googled- Septrin rabbit dosage. I read three posts by different people who were treating their rabbits with it and the dose was 10 days. So, it does sound like 7 days is a short amount of time for treatment with Septrin to me.

Max1 said:

I don't have much advice to give but I just googled- Septrin rabbit dosage. I read three posts by different people who were treating their rabbits with it and the dose was 10 days. So, it does sound like 7 days is a short amount of time for treatment with Septrin to me.

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Thank you for this I am going to phone the vets and ask if they can increase the Septrin course, and re-check the xrays for possible infections