Rambo&Phoebe
New Kit
It's been a rough week and as much as anything I'd just like some vibes and some stories of people's experiences.
I lost my Dad suddenly last week, so have been staying with my Mum to help her out. The husband was in charge of the rabbits & cats. He called on Tuesday to say that my lad had developed a head tilt and was falling over but still eating and drinking. He was rushed to the vets who confirmed no ear issues so EC infection suspected. He is on Metacam and 28 days of Panacur, I have also put his two wives on panacur.
I headed home on Tuesday to a bunny that would walk around in their approx. 6x3ft 'bed' area and could get in and out of the litter tray. He was only falling over when running for pellets and was using a bowl. Maybe 50-60 degree tilt.
Then this morning I go in to feed them to find he's clearly been down most of the night as his side was wet and covered in urine and some uneaten cecotropes. He tried getting up but would often fall over again and could only right himself by going all the way over to the other side. Whilst doing this his 'top' eye would roll back a bit and his back legs would be shaking, I don't think it was a fit, more extreme effort. His head is at a full 90 degrees now.
He ate the panacur on some cabbage and the metacam was licked straight out of the syringe, but wasn't interested in hay or pellets. I syringed some water as I'm concerned he's having trouble with the water bowl.
I asked my husband in to help me decide whether he was suffering and it was time, I am aware I am very emotional right now. Husband rightly stated he's only been on the medication for 2 days and a dip is not unexpected, plus he perked up a bit with all the attention.
So I've popped him into a large carrier with fleece blankets on the bottom and sides, hay, pellets, a water bottle as don't want him falling in the bowl and not being able to get out. He ate 4 grapes and a tiny piece of pear but still no interest in the pellets. I will keep offering him these and water via syringe as he is still spending most of his time on his side.
Has anyone had experienced it getting this bad before it gets better? I don't want to jump in prematurely if he has a chance of recovery, but nor will I put him through the suffering if the prognosis is not good. I am wondering about taking him to the vets again to show the worsening of the tilt and balance issues, or whether this would be additional stress and to press the worsening symptoms firmly over the phone.
I feel so guilty as I know this will have been caused by my not cleaning out their room before I left for my parents. Also, that although my husband did his best, he's not an animal person so it could've been spotted earlier if I'd asked him to take them to rabbit savvy boarding.
Thanks for making it through to the end!
I lost my Dad suddenly last week, so have been staying with my Mum to help her out. The husband was in charge of the rabbits & cats. He called on Tuesday to say that my lad had developed a head tilt and was falling over but still eating and drinking. He was rushed to the vets who confirmed no ear issues so EC infection suspected. He is on Metacam and 28 days of Panacur, I have also put his two wives on panacur.
I headed home on Tuesday to a bunny that would walk around in their approx. 6x3ft 'bed' area and could get in and out of the litter tray. He was only falling over when running for pellets and was using a bowl. Maybe 50-60 degree tilt.
Then this morning I go in to feed them to find he's clearly been down most of the night as his side was wet and covered in urine and some uneaten cecotropes. He tried getting up but would often fall over again and could only right himself by going all the way over to the other side. Whilst doing this his 'top' eye would roll back a bit and his back legs would be shaking, I don't think it was a fit, more extreme effort. His head is at a full 90 degrees now.
He ate the panacur on some cabbage and the metacam was licked straight out of the syringe, but wasn't interested in hay or pellets. I syringed some water as I'm concerned he's having trouble with the water bowl.
I asked my husband in to help me decide whether he was suffering and it was time, I am aware I am very emotional right now. Husband rightly stated he's only been on the medication for 2 days and a dip is not unexpected, plus he perked up a bit with all the attention.
So I've popped him into a large carrier with fleece blankets on the bottom and sides, hay, pellets, a water bottle as don't want him falling in the bowl and not being able to get out. He ate 4 grapes and a tiny piece of pear but still no interest in the pellets. I will keep offering him these and water via syringe as he is still spending most of his time on his side.
Has anyone had experienced it getting this bad before it gets better? I don't want to jump in prematurely if he has a chance of recovery, but nor will I put him through the suffering if the prognosis is not good. I am wondering about taking him to the vets again to show the worsening of the tilt and balance issues, or whether this would be additional stress and to press the worsening symptoms firmly over the phone.
I feel so guilty as I know this will have been caused by my not cleaning out their room before I left for my parents. Also, that although my husband did his best, he's not an animal person so it could've been spotted earlier if I'd asked him to take them to rabbit savvy boarding.
Thanks for making it through to the end!