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Wobbly Xena U/D Not so wobbly!

Vegan_Bunny

Warren Veteran
Hi. I just wanted some advice really. I don't expect there is much more I can do for Xena but any ideas would be very welcome. This will be long. I'm really sorry.

As some may know Xena had a seizure this time last year (see this thread for info: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...U-D-diagnosed-with-e-c&highlight=Xena seizure)
She has since recovered well and been her usual stroppy self. About 6 months ago she started becoming weak in her back legs and we treat for e.c again just to make sure but we think it's arthritis so she is on daily metacam.
I have to admit that lately she doesn't seem to be doing so great. She seems much more wobbly and is leaning to one side more than usual. She's even falling over quite often. She could run up the stairs a few months ago but now she struggles. Another problem is her poos have become large and wet again (readigrass caused this last time) but she has had nothing new introduced into her diet. I even stopped the metacam for a few days to see if that helped her tum but it didn't. I introduced it again after I saw that she was clearly in pain with something...perhaps the arthritis is getting worse? I really don't think this is the case, though. This seems more neurological to me. It's not her back legs causing her problems but her coordination of her front feet. Sometimes I fear that she gets completely confused and doesn't seem to know what she's doing.

She's an indoor bunny, on daily metacam (0.3mls twice a day) lives as a trio, free range in my room. Eats nothing but excel pellets and hay. She is eating and drinking normally.

Is there anything more I can do for her? She can't have any GA at all and I'd rather avoid bloods since she's had it all done before and even had full diagnostics done on her urine to rule out kidney damage from the e.c.
 
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I don't have any experience of this but wanted to send vibes and bump this up for you xx
 
Thanks. I have a nasty feeling that she's going to have another seizure or something. :( She wasn't interested in her hay this morning but ate some pellets. Not like her at all. :(
 
Oh I am sorry to read this. She has always been so sprited. Perhaps you could put something into health or pm Jane (or both)?
 
VB, I'm very sorry to hear that Xena is poorly. :(
Her symptoms sound a lot like Fiver's. He is very unsteady on his feet unless startled. He leans over when at rest and his spine is starting to curve as a result. He can't reach his ears as well as he used to to scratch them and they must itch a lot because he's still trying to get to them constantly. But he also has very bad hocks and since he and Mimzy were buddies for awhile I fear Mimzy may have given him EC. The symptoms you're describing do remind me of what can happen to an older bun with the disease.

The only thing I can say about seizures is at least the rabbit doesn't have any apparent recollection of the event. Just being sure they don't hurt themselves during it is all we can really do. They are so scary to observe though, I know. I thought Pip would snap her back when she had hers. :(

I'm sorry you have this worry. I wish I had a suggestion as to what to do. :(
((((((((Vibes)))))))) being sent your way for you and the lovely Xena. xxxx
 
Jane has sent me a PM. She thinks acupuncture may help her if it's arthritis related. I'm going to try that. She agrees that further tests will most likely not result in anything useful. Unfortunately, if her problems are neurological there's not much I can do. She mentioned physiotherapy, but I honestly think that would stress her out far too much to be beneficial to her. :( Being handled is very stressful for her because she twists and gets disoriented. :(
I am concerned about her poos as well. Wondering if those fibrefirst sticks would help? She can't handle anything rich, though. She has been on protexin pellets previously and I'm wondering if it's worth getting those again. Has anyone tried the fibrefirst sticks with a bun who has digestive problems? I'm thinking they'll be cheaper than the protexin pellets!
 
RE: inner ears, I think so, yes. Not something you can do from outside in people, apart from a deduction fom symptoms. And harder in animals of course.

Don't have any advice, but I hope it's something you can sort :( I do use the FibaFirsts but my buns are genrally healthy so that's no use to you really! I do empathise on the handling though: it's very bun-specific what one can treat especially in that regard and my two would probably both struggle with it, Lopsy especially :( Best wishes to you all.
 
Just a little update. I took her for her first acupuncture session last week with Fiver. My vet didn't charge me because she wanted to see how it'd go. :)
Anyway, it really does seem to have helped. She's not as tilted to one side anymore and seems much stronger on her feet. She looka brighter in herself as well.
I took her back today for a follow up session and my vet commented straight away that she looked less tilted so I was over the moon that it wasn't just in my head lol. She had another session today and is booked in again in a month's time.

She has some cisapride as well to take for her funny poos so I'll keep this thread updated if I remember to let you all know if it works. Always good to have a record of these things somewhere lol.
 
Just a little update. I took her for her first acupuncture session last week with Fiver. My vet didn't charge me because she wanted to see how it'd go. :)
Anyway, it really does seem to have helped. She's not as tilted to one side anymore and seems much stronger on her feet. She looka brighter in herself as well.
I took her back today for a follow up session and my vet commented straight away that she looked less tilted so I was over the moon that it wasn't just in my head lol. She had another session today and is booked in again in a month's time.

She has some cisapride as well to take for her funny poos so I'll keep this thread updated if I remember to let you all know if it works. Always good to have a record of these things somewhere lol.


Good news :D
 
Oh that is inspiring, VB! :)
So very glad to hear something is going right. :D It's about time you had a break.
That's very interesting that it has helped her tilt wise. I know I've had it suggested that acupuncture would help Mimzy in all sorts of ways, but we only got a specialist as we were ready to leave the state. I could never afford it. :(
I'm glad Xena is doing better. Long may it continue! :) xxxx
 
I didn't realise it would help so much, however, we believe she has arthritis in her spine and I think her compensating for that made her tilt worse. Now she has some relief she is managing to right herself. It'll be good for her as tilting/twisting is surely going to cause more pain in her spine and her muscles. Fingers crossed! I noticed no horrible poos from her this morning so the gut stimulation looks to be working. :)
 
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