My poor boy is dying

I came home today to find my 1 year old French lop lying on the floor unable to move with his head twisted. I've taken him to the vet who says it's a brain parasite and she's never seen one this bad. If he try's to move he rolls over and over.

The vet gave him pancur and something to get his gut working and has sent us home with critical care to see if there's any improvement by tomorrow.

I can't see how there can be, I'm in bits watching him. He's had a little bit of the paste but no bowel movements or pee in at least 4 hours.

I had some metacam left over from my does spay so I've given him a dose of that incase he's in pain but he must be so frightened.

Any advice on how to help him? He's in a box with a towel but he keeps rolling about. The vet said to feed him every 2 hours through the night, is this right? Is there any way to help get him pooing?

Thanks

It could be the EC parasite, which is what the vet was talking about, it could have caused a seizure which is why he has gone so downhill. The EC parasite is a nightmare. You can ask the vet to test for the parasite to confirm this.

To treat they need a 28 day course of Panacur, you'd need a couple of tubes for a French Lop. But it depends how far down the line he's gone.

That sounds like it, she said it was more then likely the parasite but couldn't rule out a tumour. It came on so fast, he was fine this morning.

I've just checked on him and he's chattering his teeth which he never does. He also won't swallow when I've tried to give him water. He can't move at all unless he rolls, his heads wedged back and he doesn't seem to be opening/closing his eyes. The pain killers don't seem to have made much difference.

I'm so sorry. Poor li'l bun. Maybe you need an emergency vet?

I've just fed him again and he was quite keen to eat but rolling lots in between taking some food. Tbh he's no worse/better then when I took him to the vets. I'm not planning on going to bed tonight though so if he gets any worse I'll ring them.

This sounds like EC (although there is an option on inner ear infection).

The good news is that even from such a dreadful acute attack rabbits do frequently recover completely - BUT IT TAKES TIME. Sometimes weks, sometimes months.

He will need good nursing, syringe feeding, help with keeping his eyes moist, specially adapted cage, and also vets will usually give panacur, PLUS metacam, plus often an antibiotic in case of secndary infection.

they often also give eye treatment so for example a lubricant, and antu-nausea pills to help with the dizziness (although rabbits cannot vomit).

We have had two whose heads were so twisted round they were jammed against their shoulders, but after several weeks they were walking and eating normally again, and now you could not even tell they had had it.

Please do not give up on your bun whilst they are still trying to eat and drink.

They also can get worse before getting better - he may be worse tmw nd the next day and the next - but he will hopefully get gradually gradually better on the treatments and with your help.

Whereabouts are you? and how rabbit knowledgeable is your vet?

I am sorry ur poor wee bun is unwell. Try not to panic as I know it looks quite distressing . It sounds like head tilt caused by EC and with love care and the correct meds he can recover. Join the Help for head tilt hoppers facebook page as there are lots of buns with the same condition currently and those that have recovered. Sending vibes for ur wee baby x

It does sound like e. cunniculi based on the symptoms & how quickly it came on. Wet (ie moistened with water) fresh herbs, forage & leafy veg will be good to add water (whatever he is used to). My bunny had to be hand fed from a water bottle when she had this but would eat stuff positioned right in front of her. He needs to do 28 days or more of panacur (discussed with vet 1st obviously) but also be on metacam (I'd discuss with vet even though you have it in) which reduces the swelling that is attacking his brain & causing the dizziness & rolling. E.C. is really common, more rabbits than not (domestically in UK) are thought to be postive but most don't experience this reaction. The fact that he is having an EC attack (for want of better word) means the infection would be high. They omit EC spores in urine so best to get your girl bunny treated with panacur anyway.

When it is this severe some bunnies don't recover but many, many do. Sometimes it takes a hell of a lot of time & hands on care. Some bunnies recover really quickly.

My heart sank when I read your first post but I was so pleased to hear he is eating for himself. Several people on here went to a lecture on E.C. by a leading rabbit specialist & she felt the time to let go would be when bunny refuses food.

I know this is devastating to watch your bunny go through as it is so stressful. Hoping for a good outcome

parsnipbun said:

This sounds like EC (although there is an option on inner ear infection).

The good news is that even from such a dreadful acute attack rabbits do frequently recover completely - BUT IT TAKES TIME. Sometimes weks, sometimes months.

He will need good nursing, syringe feeding, help with keeping his eyes moist, specially adapted cage, and also vets will usually give panacur, PLUS metacam, plus often an antibiotic in case of secndary infection.

they often also give eye treatment so for example a lubricant, and antu-nausea pills to help with the dizziness (although rabbits cannot vomit).

We have had two whose heads were so twisted round they were jammed against their shoulders, but after several weeks they were walking and eating normally again, and now you could not even tell they had had it.

Please do not give up on your bun whilst they are still trying to eat and drink.

They also can get worse before getting better - he may be worse tmw nd the next day and the next - but he will hopefully get gradually gradually better on the treatments and with your help.

Whereabouts are you? and how rabbit knowledgeable is your vet?

Click to expand...

This is really great advice :thumb:

Get some more Metacam from your vet, as it brings the swelling down in the brain if it's EC, and if it's an inner ear infection it helps control the pain.

In the meantime, here's some reading on the subject of E.C. (the parasite) and inner ear infection, plus other diagnoses for head tilt:

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-8/head-tilt.html

http://www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

Wishing you loads of luck! Don't give up on your boy. He's too young!

i cannot offer any advice but wanted to send lots of vibes for your boy. you must be so worried.

Totally agree with Parsnipbun. If it is EC, the standard treatment is 28 days of panacur (cheaper and easier to dose using the 10% liquid for cats & dogs), plus an anti-inflammatory (eg Metacam) to reduce the symptoms and damage caused by the parasite. They are often prescribed an antibiotic (eg Baytril) in case there is an ear infection which can also affect balance.

I had a rabbit in exactly the same condition. She came in to go to bed, hopped through the lounge normally and by the time she got to the kitchen, she couldn't stand and had severe head tilt (fixed round to her shoulder) and flickering eyes. A few months later, she had a minor head tilt and was bouncing around in her run again, although she remained on metacam for about a year.

It takes time and dedication, but a full (or nearly full) recovery is very possible. Don't give up. Keep feeding her, keep her clean, dry and comfortable. It may be a couple of weeks before there is any improvement, and there may be a few setbacks and a few rounds of treatment.

If you syringe feed her the recovery food in the right amount for her weight, she will start to poo again. Gut stimulants may help in the meantime, but you need to get enough food (and water) into her if she can't feed herself. The powder can be easier to syringe if you mix it with some pureed veg-based baby food.

There are a few people on here who have been through this. Just ask if you need any info.

Thanks so much for all the advice. He's had a wee but still no poo. There is no change in the tilt/paralysis either. His eyes are closed, I'm not sure if he can open them or see. He's taking about a quarter or a syringe of critical care every hour or so but he's not particularly eating it more swallowing. I tried him with his favourite herbs and some greens but he won't eat them.

This sounds like an awful question but how will I nurse him back to health and feed him every couple of hours when I'm at work full time? I'm out 8-5 all week!
How soon should I see some signs of improvement? I'm going back to the vets this morning and I'll get more metacam. I'm going to give him a half dose morning and night. Will he need another injection of the gut stuff?

His wife has pancur but only for 9 days.

I'm in north east uk, vet said she was more rabbit knowledgable then the other one who would just give steroids but I'm seeing him today.

I have no personal experience of EC but you have received good advice on here already.

Can you share what dosage of metacam (cat or dog) your vet has prescribed and the weight of your rabbit. Some vets tend to give a lower dose as they are not aware that guidelines have increased dosages for rabbits. This may need to be reviewed.

Panacur should also be given for 28 days and also ask about an antibiotic.

Hopefully once the meds get into him he will start to eat for himself a bit more.

If you are uncertain of your vet, start a thread in rabbit chat for "Rabbit savvy vet needed in X area" or do a search to see if anyone else has asked. Don't be frightened of going to another vet (I have had to do it before today)

He's had a poo!!!!!

:thumb:

The vet didn't give him any pain relief, I had some so I've dosed him myself. He's had .3 per kg but I gave him it in one dose.

It's great that he's had a poo.

I don't have an answer to your question of how to nurse him when you work full-time as it's something I have struggled with in the past as I live alone and have no family.

When I was in hospital last year and had six bunnies, including one who had recently had her leg amputated, they were fostered out to RU members who amazingly offered to care for them without charging me (my finances are dire, partly due to Cherry's leg amputation). I've also helped by popping in to give meds for a sick bunny local to me while their owner was at work.

Are there any RU members near you who can help? I am too far away, sadly.

My buns also stayed at the vet for five days when I was unable to nurse them - expensive but necessary as I physically couldn't do it due to my health.

Working full-time is a nightmare when you have a sick pet. I empathise with you and wish I lived nearer.

Where abouts in the North East are you? I know of an excellent rabbit savvy vet in Sunderland and I think there is one in Newcastle too. Let me know if you need details.
I've nursed a rabbit through severe EC and it is awful to see. Sending lots of vibes for your boy.

There are some useful links in post no. 12 on metacam dosage so maybe check these with your vet. It is not just used for pain but also as an anti-inflammatory. Print off and take in any articles you think may help.

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...ugh-Metacam-dose/page2&highlight=metacam+dose

Poo is great, more would be nice. The practical side of caring is hard when you work full time. My OH & I got employers to change lunch times (have an hour but work late / come in early, we were lucky as both worked close enough to home to cycle there in 10 mins). This was a problem more in keeping her bedding clean n dry than with food as she would eat things she could grab like herbs, we never had to syringe feed. I found my bunny travelled poorly during this time, I'd never normally advocate a bunny doesn't go in a carrier but if he is ok with it maybe carry him tightly in your arms (then in carrier before you leave the car), providing there is someone to drive.

I hope for more poo & some progress soon. My rabbits head tilt was really severe, it was 6 weeks before she was moving around, then she went from strength to strength. Its impossible to say how long recovery will take unfortunately