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Set up & care for a poorly bun

carysannie29

Young Bun
Hi everyone,

Yesterday I found one of my rescue buns stuck in the tunnel between the shed and run - long story short, it seems she has a middle ear infection. She's got a very pronounced head tilt and has real trouble moving around. It's so horrible to watch! We've got antibiotics today and have ordered some Panacur which I'll be collecting tomorrow.

I really just wanted to ask about other aspects of her care. I've set up a dog crate in the conservatory which is a cool room. Newspaper on the bottom with a towel/vet bed on top. Lots of hay in one corner, a bowl and a bottle of water. She has been eating hay and veggies and I've seen her drink some water from the bowl. I really just want to know if this is the best set up and if there's anything else I can do? I've brought my other bun inside as they're so bonded I can't leave them apart.

I really hope the meds start working soon - she's normally so active and full of life it's hard to see her struggling so much :(

Thanks!
 
Hi everyone,

Yesterday I found one of my rescue buns stuck in the tunnel between the shed and run - long story short, it seems she has a middle ear infection. She's got a very pronounced head tilt and has real trouble moving around. It's so horrible to watch! We've got antibiotics today and have ordered some Panacur which I'll be collecting tomorrow.

I really just wanted to ask about other aspects of her care. I've set up a dog crate in the conservatory which is a cool room. Newspaper on the bottom with a towel/vet bed on top. Lots of hay in one corner, a bowl and a bottle of water. She has been eating hay and veggies and I've seen her drink some water from the bowl. I really just want to know if this is the best set up and if there's anything else I can do? I've brought my other bun inside as they're so bonded I can't leave them apart.

I really hope the meds start working soon - she's normally so active and full of life it's hard to see her struggling so much :(

Thanks!

Poor Bunster :cry:

With regards to the crate, I'd pad the sides of it out with something like rolled up towels. Then if she falls over/starts rolling due to her loss of balance she wont get a leg stuck between the cage bars. Also, I'd put the hay in a cardboard tube or something. Sometimes Rabbits with poor balance can get hay tangled up around their hind legs.

Did the Vet also prescribe a non steroidal anti-inflammatory such as Metacam ? It is inflammation within the CNS that causes clinical symptoms -ie head tilt/loss of balance. So it is important to try to reduce the amount of inflammation. If Metacam was not prescibe maybe the Vet administered a corticosteroid injection instead ?

She may need help keeping herself clean, sometimes litter tray habits can be lost and/or the Rabbit may not be able to eat their cecotrophs when they have any sort of vestibular problems.

These links may be useful to take a look at :

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/head_tilt.htm

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Otit/otitis.htm

http://www.gwexotics.com/wccms-resources/a/5/0/e/77554b90-a660-11e0-a685-0050568626ea.pdf

http://www.disabledrabbits.com/head-tilt.html

I hope that your Rabbit will make a good recovery xx
 
Hi everyone,

Yesterday I found one of my rescue buns stuck in the tunnel between the shed and run - long story short, it seems she has a middle ear infection. She's got a very pronounced head tilt and has real trouble moving around. It's so horrible to watch! We've got antibiotics today and have ordered some Panacur which I'll be collecting tomorrow.

I really just wanted to ask about other aspects of her care. I've set up a dog crate in the conservatory which is a cool room. Newspaper on the bottom with a towel/vet bed on top. Lots of hay in one corner, a bowl and a bottle of water. She has been eating hay and veggies and I've seen her drink some water from the bowl. I really just want to know if this is the best set up and if there's anything else I can do? I've brought my other bun inside as they're so bonded I can't leave them apart.

I really hope the meds start working soon - she's normally so active and full of life it's hard to see her struggling so much :(

Thanks!

Oh your poor little one, and what a shock for you!

I think you've done absolutely the right thing. If the vet has diagnosed a middle ear infection, I'm guessing that the Panacur is just as a 'preventative' to cover all bases?

Has your little one been prescribed Metacam? Not only is it a very good painkller, but it's like Ibuprofen for rabbits and takes away inflammation - really essential in cases of head tilt, whether diagnosed as ear infection or due to E.C.

What I have done when I have little ones with head tilt, and if they are rolling significantly, is to put 'cot bumpers' around the side of a cage. This can be anything from towels to quilted covers - the cot bumpers are useful in that they actually tie onto the cage sides.

Good luck xx
 
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