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Please Note - Medical Advice
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Ear solution
- Thread starter Hills
- Start date
jewaller
Alpha Buck
dear hill,-rabbits can have ear mites,wax,tec...my exotic dmv does clean ears,tear ducts,scent glands,etc.-these are not meds,but an ear infection requires meds.--sorry but I donot understand,-ears must be cleaned by an experienced dvm.,--sincerely james waller from the other kent-usa
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
I am assuming that the Vet checked that Louis' eardrums are intact. Did you discuss the other treatment options we spoke about given that Louis has infection in his middle ear too, confirmed by CT scan ? If Louis becomes more 'wobbly' after you apply the ear cleaner then personally I would stop the treatment and take him back to the Vet ASAP.
Hills
Young Bun
His ears were so dirty he couldn’t see so he needed them to be cleaned first. I went through everything with my vet and he didn’t want to put him on abx because the infection in the ears is usually sterile, so I’m using the ear cleaner for 10 days then going back. I just don’t know what to do anymore!
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Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
His ears were so dirty he couldn’t see so he needed them to be cleaned first. I went through everything with my vet and he didn’t want to put him on abx because the infection in the ears is usually sterile, so I’m using the ear cleaner for 10 days then going back. I just don’t know what to do anymore!
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Is your Vet an Exotics Specialist /Very Rabbit Savvy ? I am wondering if seeking a 2nd opinion re treatment options may be something to consider ? I know that you have ruled out surgical intervention and I can 100% understand that and I have made the same decision myself on more than one occasion. But the Vets involved in the Rabbits' treatment always prescribed systemic abx and NSAIDs on a long term basis. As I mentioned in our PM discussion, it is more of a 'palliative care' approach but one that can buy a Rabbit a considerable amount of good quality time. For example my late Inspector Morse was on various treatments for his chronic ear disease for at least 4 years. In fact his passing was not due to his ear disease but to a cancerous tumour in his abdomen.
How is Louis doing now re his balance, has it become any worse after putting ear drops in ?
Also, has the Vet checked him over to rule out any arthritis in his hips/spine ? I ask as often a Rabbit with arthritis can develop gunky ears as a secondary condition.
Hills
Young Bun
Yes my vets is exotic/rabbit savvy, there are 2 vets there and I’m going back to see my favourite next week for the second opinion (sooner if needed).
Oh gosh your poor bun! They do go through it don’t they! Glad you was able to get on top of the ear disease though, was it abx that helped him?
His balance is still off but I can’t work out if it’s got any worse or not, I’ve made the shed dark for him and I’ve put puppy pads, hay and water where he’s chosen to sit so he doesn’t have to move around much.
The vets haven’t checks his hips or spine but I’ll get them to when I go back so thanks for mentioning it.
Just feel so helpless because he still wants to run around :’( x
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Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Inspector Morse's ear disease would have escalated rapidly without the use of systemic abx. Because of his other health problems (Heart Disease) ear surgery was not an option. And tbh I am very much on the fence regarding such drastic surgery for a Rabbit. I have yet to hear of a case where-by surgery has been curative and/or without complications. More often than not repeated surgery appears to be needed. Post surgical recovery can be protracted and painful. For me I would want a higher percentage of 'success rates' before agreeing to a procedure such as an ear canal resection and ablation/bulla osteotomy.
http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/navc/2006/SAE/617.pdf?LA=1
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00...v_TechniquesRabbit/Bulla_osteotomy_Rabbit.htm
But my opinion is not 'qualified', so to speak. Anyone who has a Rabbit with ear disease needs to take advice from a very Rabbit savvy/Exotics Specialist Vet.
