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Advice needed on care for ear and eye infection.

H

Honeylovesthumper

Young Bun
I have a very poorly bunny, who unfortunately hasn't got very long left due to a spinal injury. He is seeing an amazing rabbit specialist on Tuesday and saw another vet yesterday who prescribed antibiotics. As a last resort, thumper is on steroids which have weakened his immune system. He has started antibiotics as his stomach is out of whack, but I need to keep him comfortable and treat his eye and ear so he can see the specialist on Tuesday (3 days) and so i can minimise his discomfort.

How is the best way to do this? I have treated eye problems in the past with another bunny, using saline solution, chamomile tea bags etc but I this infection smells so not sure if another method is needed. I've never nursed an ear infection, does it need to be cleaned?

The eye looks bright, but has been weeping and due to spinal he is unable to keep it clean himskelf. It has that infected smell. There is no redness though. The ear has crusty looking wax at the base of the ear on the same side as the infected eye. He is also on Panacur as well as the antibiotic, steroid, small dose of loxicom at night, another painkiller throughout the day, critical care, biolapis, ranitidine and fibreplex.

any suggestions on how to keep these infections clean/controlled for the next couple of days would be gratefully received.

Many thanks
 
Hello

Did the Vet not advise you to stop the Loxicom now that a corticosteroid has been given ? Generally the two cannot be given together. Did the Vet mention that steroids can also effect the GI tract, could that be why Thumper's is 'out of whack' ?

I would not attempt to clean the ear canal as if there is already damage to the tympanic membrane (ear drum) poking anything into the ear and/or using any type of ear cleaning solution would make things worse as it could push infection into the middle ear.

Ear problems can occur if a Rabbit has any spinal/back leg problems. So that may be why your Rabbit has developed an ear infection. I think for now just keeping Thumper's eye as clear of gunk as possible by bathing it with cooled boiled water and keeping him eating and comfortable is all you can do. I really hope that the Vet you are seeing on Tuesday can be of help.
 
Hi jacks-jane,

Thanks for your reply. I will continue bathing the eye. I just wanted to make sure there was nothing else I should be doing to ease his discomfort.

Yes, the specialist vet made me aware of the contraindictions and potential problems before starting the steroids. The steroids were a last ditch attempt to give him more time as he is still enjoying most of his food and eating grass. So the vet felt the added pain relief was more important than the potential issues the combination might cause. He was much worse on the other pain killer alone. He also made me aware of the potential problems it would cause his digestive system and the lowering of his immune system. At this point we have literally tried everything since he started dragging himself around 4 months ago, ruling out EC and taking X-rays which showed it was a disc problem. I trust this vet completely and I had an 8 year old bunny with life long snuffles before this, so have seen quite a few vets. Thumper is nearly 10 so this has removed a lot of our options and unfortunately the vet thinks that when his disc ruptured it fired Calcium deposits into the muscle - it unusually exploded downwards away from the spinal chord so he wasn't paralysed, just in a great deal of pain. We are very near the end now I fear and its heartbraking, but as long as he's still enjoying his food and the vet thinks his pain is managed we keep trying to enable thumper to keep living. It's looking like that time is drawing to a close, I just wanted to make sure I was doing everything I can over this weekend to keep him comfortable until Tuesday. If the vet then sais thumpers quality of life is too low, well. I just don't want him to suffer.
 
Honeylovesthumper said:
I have a very poorly bunny, who unfortunately hasn't got very long left due to a spinal injury. He is seeing an amazing rabbit specialist on Tuesday and saw another vet yesterday who prescribed antibiotics. As a last resort, thumper is on steroids which have weakened his immune system. He has started antibiotics as his stomach is out of whack, but I need to keep him comfortable and treat his eye and ear so he can see the specialist on Tuesday (3 days) and so i can minimise his discomfort.

How is the best way to do this? I have treated eye problems in the past with another bunny, using saline solution, chamomile tea bags etc but I this infection smells so not sure if another method is needed. I've never nursed an ear infection, does it need to be cleaned?

The eye looks bright, but has been weeping and due to spinal he is unable to keep it clean himskelf. It has that infected smell. There is no redness though. The ear has crusty looking wax at the base of the ear on the same side as the infected eye. He is also on Panacur as well as the antibiotic, steroid, small dose of loxicom at night, another painkiller throughout the day, critical care, biolapis, ranitidine and fibreplex.

any suggestions on how to keep these infections clean/controlled for the next couple of days would be gratefully received.

Many thanks
Click to expand...

Hi there :wave:

When bunnies have gunky eyes, I clean them twice daily with cooled boiled water. You can add a pinch of salt to that as well if you like, and just use a soft cotton pad. Pressing *very gently* underneath the eye may help to release any infection from the tear duct itself.

I wouldn't attempt to clean your rabbit's ears, unless under vet's instruction.

Good luck for your next appointment. It's clear how much you love him :love:
 
Honeylovesthumper said:
Hi jacks-jane,

Thanks for your reply. I will continue bathing the eye. I just wanted to make sure there was nothing else I should be doing to ease his discomfort.

Yes, the specialist vet made me aware of the contraindictions and potential problems before starting the steroids. The steroids were a last ditch attempt to give him more time as he is still enjoying most of his food and eating grass. So the vet felt the added pain relief was more important than the potential issues the combination might cause. He was much worse on the other pain killer alone. He also made me aware of the potential problems it would cause his digestive system and the lowering of his immune system. At this point we have literally tried everything since he started dragging himself around 4 months ago, ruling out EC and taking X-rays which showed it was a disc problem. I trust this vet completely and I had an 8 year old bunny with life long snuffles before this, so have seen quite a few vets. Thumper is nearly 10 so this has removed a lot of our options and unfortunately the vet thinks that when his disc ruptured it fired Calcium deposits into the muscle - it unusually exploded downwards away from the spinal chord so he wasn't paralysed, just in a great deal of pain. We are very near the end now I fear and its heartbraking, but as long as he's still enjoying his food and the vet thinks his pain is managed we keep trying to enable thumper to keep living. It's looking like that time is drawing to a close, I just wanted to make sure I was doing everything I can over this weekend to keep him comfortable until Tuesday. If the vet then sais thumpers quality of life is too low, well. I just don't want him to suffer.
Click to expand...

Bless him, he is a brave old soldier isn't he. I am sure you are doing everything possible to help him and to keep him comfortable. I am equally sure that you will do whatever is best for him on Tuesday xx
 
Great! Thank you max �� That's a good tip. I won't touch his ears then, I think I'm just second guessing myself. I will bathe his eyes twice a day as you've suggested.

I am currently his worst enemy/best friend depending on whether I'm holding treats or a syringe but I just hope he knows I love him. I've been sitting in his enclosure and reading Alice in Wonderland to him to try and spend as much time loving and sitting with him as I do sticking medication in his face and washing his bottom. ��
 
Sitting with him and reading and talking to him is a lovely idea.I think often rabbits know we are helping them when we have to do washing/syringing duties.You obviously have a close bond with him meaning he forgives you easily.Sounds like hes in very good hands.

I hope the appointment on Tuesday goes well.
 
Honeylovesthumper said:
Great! Thank you max �� That's a good tip. I won't touch his ears then, I think I'm just second guessing myself. I will bathe his eyes twice a day as you've suggested.

I am currently his worst enemy/best friend depending on whether I'm holding treats or a syringe but I just hope he knows I love him. I've been sitting in his enclosure and reading Alice in Wonderland to him to try and spend as much time loving and sitting with him as I do sticking medication in his face and washing his bottom. ��
Click to expand...

That's lovely :love:

At the rescue where I volunteer we sometimes sit and read to the rabbits in their pens and they love it. They come over all curious and want to know what we're doing!

Good luck for your Tuesday appointment :wave:
 
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