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  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Head Tilt - Urgent

Gemmapookie said:
Is it really? You learn something new every day!
Would you use it in a case of head tilt where the bun isnt in stasis though? Would using a gut stimulsnt when the gut is already moving not possibly cause painful cramps?
Just curious, I dont really know what Im talking about! ;)
Click to expand...

I used it on my Billy, who recovered from a head tilt a little more than a month ago. It was a night and day difference. The first two days he wouldn't eat at all due to the nausea, after I started giving him Metoclopramide, he started eating like a lion :)

No two rabbits are the same, some might get cramps, my Billy didn't. If you live in the UK, you might want to look into Proclorperazine. I couldn't find this drug in my country (it was here till 2010, then it was removed), so Metoclopramide did the trick instead. Getting them to eat again is very important, and they won't want to if they feel nauseated cause the entire room is spinning around them :)

As for antibiotics, my vet gave Billy Azitromicine (sp?). It's a human antibiotic, but has so far cured my late bun Mandy of pneumonia, and Billy off his head tilt. Billy took a 12 day course of this antibiotic and he was good as new.
Its a very strong antibiotic, and its usually given for 6 days in rabbits, with the possibility to extend it in case the infection isn't fully gone by then. Also, it stays working in the rabbit's blood for 3 days after he has stopped taking it.

Also, Meloxicam is a must for the first part of the treatment, as it will reduce any inflammation due to the infection.

And as always, a course of fenbendazole just in case its EC.

It's going to be a tough phase for you and your bun, make sure you are always with him, a bunch of cuddles and kisses goes a long way for recovery :)
 
I am not a health expert but I think your vet took a very confident step by administering a steroid injection. Hopefully this will prove to be the right decision as when I had a head tilt rabbit the first vet gave an antibiotic injection, which didn't seem to be effective, the econd vet gave her something else but was wary about giving a steroid, nothing happened. It was only when the third vet who had more confidence in steroids gave her an injection she was noticably improved about a couple of hours later and is back to normal now. I was also given Panacur but she wouldn't take it, so with the help of the vets we got 3 days worth in which wasn't much good I know but bunny was very awkward and wouldn't take it on anything tasty. I hope he gets better soon.
 
Hi Everyone:wave:

Smudge stopped eating last night:cry:

I'm syringe feeding him food and water every couple of hours. I've now bought him into my flat. Ive put him the hall with the carrier and litter tray as his base. At the moment he is just sitting in the carrier. I've separated him from Tilly as she just keep humping him:roll:

I'm taking him back to the vets tomorrow.
 
Charlotte333 said:
Hi Everyone:wave:

Smudge stopped eating last night:cry:

I'm syringe feeding him food and water every couple of hours. I've now bought him into my flat. Ive put him the hall with the carrier and litter tray as his base. At the moment he is just sitting in the carrier. I've separated him from Tilly as she just keep humping him:roll:

I'm taking him back to the vets tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Is he still pooing ? If not he really needs to be seen by a Vet again today as he may need additional medication to keep his GI tract working.
 
If it is EC please remember that the spores can re infect buns and other buns around them. Reinfection is very common. The spores can live for 28 days outside of the body hence the reason for a 28 day dose of panacur and the reason for bleach cleaning everything possible or boil washing materials etc. The bleach clean is one part bleach, nine parts water left in contact with whatever is being cleaned for 30 seconds and then rinsed off thoroughly.

An anti inflammatory is also a must if it is EC - this helps to reduce swelling in the brain etc that causes EC symptoms like the head tilt. If it is a ear infection too, metacam will help as it is a painkiller and we all know how much pain earache is!

You would need to check with your vet and perhaps other people here on RU can advise too but I don't know how steroids and metacam 'sit' with each other.

Just please remember, if you haven't got rid of the EC spores they can reinfect the bun.

Good luck :wave:
 
one of the family said:
If it is EC please remember that the spores can re infect buns and other buns around them. Reinfection is very common. The spores can live for 28 days outside of the body hence the reason for a 28 day dose of panacur and the reason for bleach cleaning everything possible or boil washing materials etc. The bleach clean is one part bleach, nine parts water left in contact with whatever is being cleaned for 30 seconds and then rinsed off thoroughly.

An anti inflammatory is also a must if it is EC - this helps to reduce swelling in the brain etc that causes EC symptoms like the head tilt. If it is a ear infection too, metacam will help as it is a painkiller and we all know how much pain earache is!

You would need to check with your vet and perhaps other people here on RU can advise too but I don't know how steroids and metacam 'sit' with each other.

Just please remember, if you haven't got rid of the EC spores they can reinfect the bun.

Good luck :wave:
Click to expand...


The vet said yesterday that you can't give steroids and metacam together. However the steroids don't appear to have done anything. Smudge is just feeling more poorly
 
Just got back from the vets. They gave Smudge Emeprid injection x 0.15 for his GI tract. He has eaten some hay and greens and he's been drinking water from a bowl. I'm syringe feeding him every hour and I'm also giving him fibreplex and panacur.

My next appointment is tomorrow evening. I'm hoping that the vets will give him metacam and other things mentioned on the forum.
 
I hope he is feeling better soon.

It is correct that you can not give a steroid and metacam - your vet will know when it is safe to be able to prescribe metacam again.
 
Smudge has spent the day at the vets today. He was syringed fed and has started to eat greens on his own. They gave him another steroid injection which has made him feel better. He is moving around more but is still very wobbly. He is going back to vets tomorrow. Luckily I'm on an insurance scheme with vets.
 
Please can I have everyone help again:cry::cry:

Smudge has come from vets where he has been syringe feed etc. However he was smelly. His bottom was covered in poo (the one they eat. I can't remember the name). I've cleaned him etc.

I feel like it isn't right to carry on with him in this state. He isn't walking or hardly moving. I feel like his head tilt has got worse. Please help :roll::roll::roll:
 
It is still early days and he will need a lot of help to keep himself clean. He probably feels too dizzy to eat his cecals which is why he is getting a mucky bum.

What medication is he on now ?
 
Jack's-Jane said:
It is still early days and he will need a lot of help to keep himself clean. He probably feels too dizzy to eat his cecals which is why he is getting a mucky bum.

What medication is he on now ?
Click to expand...

Apart from the steroid he received yesterday and panacur he isn't on only think else. I've asked the vets based on the info on this thread but the vets aren't keen.
 
Charlotte333 said:
Apart from the steroid he received yesterday and panacur he isn't on only think else. I've asked the vets based on the info on this thread but the vets aren't keen.
Click to expand...

So no antibiotics :? Did the Vet say why ? The symptoms your Rabbit has can also occur with a severe middle ear infection. Also, steroids will have a negative effect on his immune system, so *if* there is a bacterial infection the use of the steroid with no antibiotic cover may make things worse.

Is your Vet very Rabbit savvy or might it be a good idea to request a referral to a specialist who could see your Rabbit tomorrow ?
 
I agree with Jane. I would honestly try another vet asap in order to try some antibiotics first before giving up. Only you can see and know your bunny though.
 
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