Similar Situation... EC/Stroke Head Tilt... advice
Hi - I noticed your post and thougth I would reply - I have a rabbit who has the same symptom-tilted head.
Smog also had problems with her back legs... I know your bunnies legs are fine... but EC and Strokes can affect them differently in each case. Anyhow here is what I have picked up about EC and strokes since Smog appeared with a tilted head one day!
EC - cannot be confirmed by blood test as any exposure to the parasite will result in a positive test result... even if your bun came into contact and carried it years ago. Most bunnies in the UK are in contact with this parasite or carry it at some point. Not all bunnies are affected-i.e. become ill etc.
Inner / Middle ear infections can cause similar but are normally related to Pasturella not EC.
Most get EC from their mother before birth, others can pick it up from spores in urine... but we are talking vast amounts of urine... many bunny keepers do not let urine deposits sit or build up to the extent needed to contract EC from another rabbits urine.
The test does not show if EC is currently in the rabbits system only if it has been. Spores from the parasite spread through liver, kidneys, central nervous system and eyes.
Some rabbits get cataracts, some brain damage, some permanent head tilt, some are incontinent or cannot urinate. Some lose all sensation in their legs... and so on. Most damage already caused cannot be reversed. But can be halted with treatment. Panacur only kills the parasite - stops it sporing/spreading, the damage caused improves with baytril/long acting steriodal anti-inflammatories etc. Treat your other rabbits twice yearly with Panacur - this is recommended by my excellent rabbit vet... this should be done by keepers as soon as the bunny is weaned to prevent E. Cunniculi from even becoming an issue. Most vets do not tell you this until a problem has already reared it's ugly head!! (like my old vet!!! ching ching goes his till!!!)
A stroke can only be determined by MRI scans and the like - which for a bunny would costs A LOT of money. There is no cure, just rehab and drugs to prevent swelling of the brain etc. If your bunny has had a stroke - her condition will not get worse, but will take a while to improve-it can be slow. Stroke bunnies are at higher risk from another stroke so calm, non stressful environments are important. A bang to the head whilst playing can trigger another stroke-as can any head trauma.
My bunny Smog, has had the following treatments;
Panacur x 2 weeks treatment
Baytril x 4 weeks treatment
Metacalm & 1 other anti-inflammatory / steroid (can't remember all the names!!) long acting 2 weeks in system.
Stronger Anti-inflammatory/steroid - long acting - in system for 4 weeks.
At the start of her treatment she had tilted head - runny eyes - loss of co-ordination in her back legs and could not jump/hop. If you picked her up she would fall over when you put her back on the floor... any shock or sudden movement confused her to the point where standing up and thinking about something else made her fall over on her side and writhe on the floor before struggling her way to her feet... her brain could not process all of the information and control her body at the same time. It was quite a sad sight but she was still eating, drinking and moving around so there was hope.
After her treatment - last visit to vets a month ago - she now has better co-ordination in her back legs, is not getting confused and falling over, can wash herself again, can charge around like a mini-tank with the baby bunny she has as her toyhusbun! She is still tilting her head - and does not leap around binkying but you can tell she knows what is going on around her now.. before she just sat in a daze.
She has improved vastly - thanks to treatments.
I would keep your bunny with one putty bunny (soft and non-dominant) as playing chase and darting around like loonies is dangerous for bunnies with tilted head etc. Keep bunny calm, in a safe place with no heights to fall from etc perhaps indoor cage? I really think that bringing my bunny inside helped in her rehab... the noises - people in and out - cats, other bunnies etc. If you seperate a bunny from her partner/group they get depressed - which won't help! If you need any other info please ask... I feared the worst with my bunny... and am so relieved she is on the mend. She is 3 years old - and was my first in many buns so I was extra upset!
As long as symptoms don't increase or get worse - your bunny can adapt to her physical limitations like tilted head etc. Cosmetically if you do not mind having a bunny with a tilted head (which i am sure no-one does) then eventually you both get used to the change and adapt. Stimulation, lots of tlc and vets treatment and medicines are what helped Smog Bunny to recover some of her old self. She was still my Smog and I had to let her know I still loved her even though some days she didn't seem to know who I was!! It made me cry!! (normally being a strong, hard-hearted so and so after so many illnesses and tumors in my mousery)
I hope I have not been too blunt (one of my bad habits!) but I have tried not to coat it in candy and be straight with you regarding what CAN but may not happen. There is light at the end of the tunnel... hope this has helped... and fingers crossed for your buns treatments and recovery x x There are loads of sites on the web detailing the above if you want to check them out, if you need the links give me a shout!