Bunny with dropped side of face

[Laura2108]

Hi all am new to the forum have a poorly lil bunny and was hoping for some advice.

Bailey is 4 1/2 yr old lop eared bunny is house rabbit n lives on his own although we do have two cats who love him to pieces!

I noticed about 5 weeks ago now that his head was slightly to the side and took him to the vets where they prescribed an ear infection and panacur. A few days later I noticed his water intake increased and his litter tray was soaking wet and needed to be changed regularly throughout the day. Again we went back to vets and he had urine sample and blood tests taken. On the 4th day to my horror I woke up (had moved him into my room to keep an eye on him) he was unable to stand and rolling on his side. He was taken straight to the vets where they kept him in for 2 days as he stopped eating. The tests carried out for e cuniculi and kidneys etc all came back negative and it was thought he had middle ear infection. He was brought back home with antibiotics and something to help his tummy to prevent gi and we had to syringe feed him regularly. He has returned back to the vets and was given more panacur and a dose of antibiotics. Unfortunately, my vet was off sick for a while and being unsure what to do next I went to another vets for a second opinion and had also touched the one side of baileys face and he shot across the room and began diggin in the corner of room. The vet diagnosed an abcess in his mouth although didn't open his mouth he went on this by the way he reacted when his side of mouth was touched.

Sorry to go on but am lost what to do - we have now taken him back to previous vets who had a good look in his mouth and couldn't find an abcess but said the one side of his face is dropping and suggested nerve damage. The vet has given us option to be referred to vet savvy in Bristol (I live in birmingham) or given antibiotics and said if we feel he is in pain to also give him pain killer. I don't want to put bailey through traveling etc and getting him more stressed. At the moment he is eating, going to the toilet regularly my only concerns are his one side of face has dropped and when touched this appears to cause him real pain. Sorry for long message xx

 

[Elena]

Yes ear infections can cause long term damage to the nerves and make the face go lop sided. I would keep an eye on his ears for any lumps at the base which can mean the infection has turned into an abscess.

Did the vet look in his ears for an abscess?

 

[Babsie]

There is a well-respected rabbit-savvy vet at Manor Vets, Birmingham: Marie Kubiak, and that is where I would go if I still lived in Birmingham.

 

[parsnipbun]

I would defintely take the bun to marie Kubiak if she is still there - or ask for referral to another known rabbit savvy vet. Inner ear infections are very serious and need very specialist care and a range of diagnositic techniques including xray/CT scan, and culturing, often needing antibiotics not usually used on rabbits and even surgery (though this can be high risk).

 

[Laura2108]

There is a well-respected rabbit-savvy vet at Manor Vets, Birmingham: Marie Kubiak, and that is where I would go if I still lived in Birmingham.

Many thanks all I am actually with Manor vets and will enquire to see if she is still working there. The vet has taken swabs from his ear yesterday so am waiting for results from this. I just wonder why the one side of his cheek is so painful for him he is still able to blink and test ducts are fine??