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URGENT:( please help

emnash

emnash

New Kit
Hello everybody.
I'm new to this website and in desperate need of some advice/help.

My partner was just about to put our rabbits into their run yesterday afternoon when he noticed something wasn't quite right with one of them. He picked him up and put him in the run when he was having, which looked like, a fit. He shouted for me to come over and I was in shock at what I was seeing. He was trying to run in a tight circle but kept falling over, while his head was jerking to the right. I quickly picked him up to try and calm him down when I noticed his eyes darting side to side. I honestly thought I was going to lose him right there and then. My partner rang the emergancy vets as it was a sunday and we headed there straight away.

The vet checked him over and couldn't see or find anything except that his right ear seemed abit swolled at the bottom so she couldn't see any further. She suggested that we get an X-ray done but I really can't afford it right now. I feel terrible and I'm so worried about him. Instead she gave us 2 type of anti biotics, Pancur and Baytril and to see how he goes. When we got home I made up a bed for him next to ours so I can keep an eye on him. We put some water in a bowl so it would be easier for him to drink, which he did a few times. He also ate a small amount of hay. This morning I woke up and he wouldn't eat or drink but his eyes had stop moving and he seemed alot calmer than the night before. I rang the vets and they said to pick up some sachets of food and force feed him as he needs to keep his digestive system moving.

I just feel a little bit helpless right now and I don't know whether I could be doing anymore to help him get better. Has anyone else ever had this with their bunnies? Ive been reading a few things up online and there's alot of things about brain problems so I'm very confused.

Kind regards.
 
emnash said:
Hello everybody.
I'm new to this website and in desperate need of some advice/help.

My partner was just about to put our rabbits into their run yesterday afternoon when he noticed something wasn't quite right with one of them. He picked him up and put him in the run when he was having, which looked like, a fit. He shouted for me to come over and I was in shock at what I was seeing. He was trying to run in a tight circle but kept falling over, while his head was jerking to the right. I quickly picked him up to try and calm him down when I noticed his eyes darting side to side. I honestly thought I was going to lose him right there and then. My partner rang the emergancy vets as it was a sunday and we headed there straight away.

The vet checked him over and couldn't see or find anything except that his right ear seemed abit swolled at the bottom so she couldn't see any further. She suggested that we get an X-ray done but I really can't afford it right now. I feel terrible and I'm so worried about him. Instead she gave us 2 type of anti biotics, Pancur and Baytril and to see how he goes. When we got home I made up a bed for him next to ours so I can keep an eye on him. We put some water in a bowl so it would be easier for him to drink, which he did a few times. He also ate a small amount of hay. This morning I woke up and he wouldn't eat or drink but his eyes had stop moving and he seemed alot calmer than the night before. I rang the vets and they said to pick up some sachets of food and force feed him as he needs to keep his digestive system moving.

I just feel a little bit helpless right now and I don't know whether I could be doing anymore to help him get better. Has anyone else ever had this with their bunnies? Ive been reading a few things up online and there's alot of things about brain problems so I'm very confused.

Kind regards.
Click to expand...

I'm so sorry this has happened to your bunny. You must be very worried.

Your vet was right to prescribe the antibiotic baytril, as there may be an ear infection causing him to lose his balance. Panacur is an effective treatment against the parasite E.C. (Encephalitozoon cuniculi) and needs to be administered for at least 28 days to correspond to the life cycle of the parasite. E.C. can cause the symptoms you describe, as well as an ear infection.

Only one addition I would say at this stage, and that's Metcam. It's a non steroidal anti inflammatory, which can reduce inflammation in the brain (if that's the cause of the problems) and so lessen any damage.

I think you are doing wonderfully well. Keep going. Keeping the eating up is essential, as your vet has told you.

If there is a way you can keep both bunnies together, that may be less stressful for the poorly one (especially if you think he's feeling a bit better)
 
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Yes, the most common issues to give the symptoms you describe are an inner ear infection and EC.

It's really important you keep him eating whilst the drugs have a chance to work. When rabbits feel unwell they can stop eating and that makes their guts slow down which is very serious.

I'd try offering lots of different foods by hand and see what he'll take, things like dandelion are good, bits of his favourite hay, dry food, other fresh veggies, fresh herbs. Adding a little unsweetened apple juice to the water may encourage drinking - giving him a bowl was a great idea too.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum.Im sorry that your bunny is poorly.It sounds like your vet is treating your bunny for an illness called e cunniculi.The Panacur treatment is, I assume, a course of 28 days?E cunniculi is a microscopic parasite and the long course ensures all the stages of development of the parasite are killed.Your vet might also be wondering if its an ear infection.The Panacur is usually affective at treating e cunniculi.By keeping an eye on him and syringe feeding him and giving him the support you obviously are doing, you are certainly helping him.Keep tempting him with his favourite foods and ensure he drinks and passes urine and poos.
I would speak to your vet concerning the xray.Some vets will let you pay in instalments if you cant afford it all at once.
 
Thank you very much for replying to my post.

My vet actually advised me to keep my poorly rabbit seperate (he lives in a shed with two other rabbits) because his weird behaviour might cause them to fight. Do you think that is right or should I put him back with them? I don't want to stress him out anymore than he already is. He seems pretty calm at the moment and he just had abit of water which I'm very happy about. Luckily I'm off work until Saturday so I can stay with him and make sure he's okay.

How do I get Metcam? Do I just go back to the vets and ask?

I cant even look at him without getting upset, his neck looks very uncomfortable and I feel so helpless for him.
Also I was wondering is this contagious? I don't know what I'd do if my other bunnies had the same!

Thank you again.
 
Thank you for replying to my post.

He is much calmer now and he just drank some water which I'm very happy about.
I haven't tried feeding him any vegetables yet so I will give that a go.
 
You have some excellent advice from everyone. Hang in there, keep him eating and make sure he can get to water. Treatment is often for several weeks or more, but you should see some improvement in the first couple of weeks.

I would ask for some pain relief / anti-inflammatory such as metacam. An ear infection is going to be painful, and if it is the EC parasite, you need it to reduce the inflammation caused by the parasite and causes a lot of the symptoms. A rabbit in pain will often not eat properly and it is vital to keep food going in to keep the guts moving.

I'm not sure what advantage an x-ray would be at the moment - maybe your vet could explain what they might find and how it would affect the treatment. The treatment you are getting is standard for the symptoms you describe (ie antibiotics for an ear infection and panacur for 28 days for EC (usually with an anti-inflammatory)).

There are lots of links on here if you need to look at how other people managed in similar situations.

Treatment for the EC parasite: this is a common parasite and it is usual to treat all rabbits in the same environment for the full 28 days. Panacur 10% liquid (sold for dogs) is the cheapest way to do it, using 1ml syringes to dose. Dose is weight dependent. You can buy it without a prescription and online is often cheaper (eg VetUK). I can't remember the dose rate - hopefully someone else can fill in the blanks. There is also a need to do a full clean out and bleach everything on days 21 and 28 (I think - again, can someone else confirm?) so that the lifecycle of the parasite is interrupted.
 
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Just to echo the above posts

2 probably causes

either inner ear infection or EC.

Given that the vet thinks there is a bulge at the ear I would guess inner ear infection - this will be very very hard to shift without specialist antibiotics - and an xray (or even CT scan) is essential to discover the extent of the infection.

Usually one would tailor the antibiotics to the type of infection (some are baytril resistant and will need one of the other range of abx or injectible penicillins NOT oral penicillin) - needing a sample of pus preferably taken before the bun has started abx - but in your case it was an emergency.

Sounds like your vet was on top of it - but you will have to take their lead in getting the necessary xrays or blood tests and pus tests on order for the vet to carry out their work effectively for the best outcome for your bun.

In this situation I would start to look at ways of getting some money together - can you ebay some things for example? Or save money in the short term by giving up something? Or try and ask the vet if you can pay in instalments?
 
PS Metacam essential for whichever the cause is - if EC metacam essential for getting down the inflammation, if inner ear infection it WILL be painful so again metacam - go back to vets and ask. Bit concerned they didnt give this.
 
Okay I will definatley ask about the metacam.
I'm abit worried about going back to work on Saturday because he will have to go back into the shed with the others. Do you think he will be okay?

On the bottle of the Panacur it says:
Give 0.4mls 1 times daily for 28 days and repeat fortnightly until 12 weeks.
Should I be treating the others aswell?!
 
emnash said:
Thank you very much for replying to my post.

My vet actually advised me to keep my poorly rabbit seperate (he lives in a shed with two other rabbits) because his weird behaviour might cause them to fight. Do you think that is right or should I put him back with them? I don't want to stress him out anymore than he already is. He seems pretty calm at the moment and he just had abit of water which I'm very happy about. Luckily I'm off work until Saturday so I can stay with him and make sure he's okay.

How do I get Metcam? Do I just go back to the vets and ask?

I cant even look at him without getting upset, his neck looks very uncomfortable and I feel so helpless for him.
Also I was wondering is this contagious? I don't know what I'd do if my other bunnies had the same!

Thank you again.
Click to expand...

Yes, certainly get back to the vet and ask for Metcam. This is essential pain relief, and if in pain, a bunny won't eat.

If it's the parasite EC, results can be dramatic (in a good way), or things can take a bit of time. I have experienced both. If it's an ear infection, your vet will really need to help as soon as possible to control both the infection and the pain, as Parsnipbun said.

I didn't realise your bunnies lived outside. I think so you can keep an eye on him, it's probably best to keep him with you for the time being - it's warmer and you can keep an eye on him. That's what I would do.

You are doing very well - if your vet thinks it could be EC, it's essential that all your bunnies are treated with Panacur (it's not expensive, and shouldn't be even from the vet) at the same time. That's good practice anyway, as you don't want to risk passing it back and forth ...
 
emnash, you are doing everything possible to help your bunny. This will be a very stressful time for you and your bunny, but please be patient. I have nursed many bunnies who have EC and made full or almost full recoveries. Every bunny is different, so sorry for the cliché ...time is a healer......hang on in there. Support and advice is a plenty here on RU, and I hate to say it, but many vets insinuate that ' It is only a rabbit!!!!' Forget that.........He is your friend and no doubt you will endeavour to do your very best for him.
 
Yes I would definitely treat all of them.Some vets don't advise this but it can be passed on to other rabbits so its a very good idea.Ditto everyone also with Metacam.Your bunny will feel so much better with that on board what ever the cause
 
The others have given you excellent advice, especially regarding obtaining Medicam for inflammation, antibiotics for potential ear infection, and treating all bunnies with Panacur if your vet suspects EC. Keep your bunny eating and drinking too. Fluids are especially helpful for helping his system flush out any toxins or the byproducts from the medications.
Over many years from owning rabbits, I have seen the head tilt/balance problemsfalling over/circling/eye movement multiple times. Most of the time the bunny recovered, although there may be some residual head tilt.
Sometimes my vets did blood work/X-rays. At other times they did not put the pet through the stress since the treatment was unlikely to change significantly.
 
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