Poor honey has a bad ear infection

[MightyMax]

Thanks so much everyone, she's pretty much the same... But at least she's no worse! Still getting wobbly, and her tilt reaches almost 90 degrees when she gets stressed and we medicate her. Poor little girl is on 6 different syringes and I know it's a lot to ask of her.

I have also found a rather white wee on the carpet this morning so going to cut back on the kale although she doesn't even eat that much. Also toilet wise she had given up using her litter tray and will just go in the corner on our carpet!

Thanks for all your on going vibes, we really do appreciate them xxx

To be honest I wouldn't worry about a bit of white wee at this stage. If she's eating well and enjoying it, that's all that matters! Can you perhaps put some newspaper down with vet bed on top? Buns usually love the softness and it could be comforting for her to wee on there - maybe Bless her!

Vibes to you all xx

 

[Jack's-Jane]

Thanks Jane so much,

Okay will do!

Basically she's not eating a lot at all, this is what she is picking at and then I'm giving her a small top up of oxbow maybe about 10mls before bed.

Hay - Ings hay
Dried plantain and dandelion from hay experts
Fresh grass & dandelion leaves
Coriander / dill / Parsley
Hay cookies - likes picking them up and pulling off tiny odd bits
Tiny amount of kale - talking like 6 pieces
Little broccoli stalks
She won't eat any dry food at all, treats are a no go even after soaking them!

We do medicate her on the floor in a towel but as soon as she sees me walk in she knows what's coming and I have to catch her. I don't chase her or anything and can pick her up quite easily just to walk her over to where we normally do it. And that's when she looks awful..

Thanks for the tip about puppy pads but she tries chewing them, but towels she's fine with.. Very odd as she used to hate towels but I wash them every time and have them folded over loads so that she doesn't get wet.

She still seems bright in herself and for the first time this morning she stamped her foot about twice, that's because I had a Carrier bag on the floor, but surely that must be a good ish sign? Xxx

I think you a right to consider cutting down on the Kale. There is an informative list on here re calcium content of Veg

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/calcium.htm


Maybe Honey may be tempted by new tastes, not too much obviously. But I have often found that when a Rabbit is ill they seem to go off their usual food preferences in favour of something different. You could even make up a finely chopped/grated mix of a few items from the list provided on the link.

It is very common for Rabbits with sore ears to refuse any hard feed. Morse did, but he would eat pellets soaked in cooled boiled water.

How are things going re Honey's Respiratory Tract symptoms ?

The fact that Honey is still quite bright within herself is good news, that will certainly work in her favour. I know for a fact that if it were not for Morse's formidable and positive spirit he would not have coped so well for so long with all his health problems. Honey sounds to be similar in that respect.

Are you due back at the Doctors today about your injuries ? I really hope that you a feeling a bit less sore by now xx

 

[Scrappy's Little Helper]

Continuing vibes for you and Honey, Ruth. I agree with Omi that a bit of attitude must surely be a good sign. I hope she carries on holding her own. xxx

 

[MightyMax]

Thanks Jane so much,

Okay will do!

Basically she's not eating a lot at all, this is what she is picking at and then I'm giving her a small top up of oxbow maybe about 10mls before bed.

Hay - Ings hay
Dried plantain and dandelion from hay experts
Fresh grass & dandelion leaves
Coriander / dill / Parsley
Hay cookies - likes picking them up and pulling off tiny odd bits
Tiny amount of kale - talking like 6 pieces
Little broccoli stalks
She won't eat any dry food at all, treats are a no go even after soaking them!

We do medicate her on the floor in a towel but as soon as she sees me walk in she knows what's coming and I have to catch her. I don't chase her or anything and can pick her up quite easily just to walk her over to where we normally do it. And that's when she looks awful..

Thanks for the tip about puppy pads but she tries chewing them, but towels she's fine with.. Very odd as she used to hate towels but I wash them every time and have them folded over loads so that she doesn't get wet.

She still seems bright in herself and for the first time this morning she stamped her foot about twice, that's because I had a Carrier bag on the floor, but surely that must be a good ish sign? Xxx

Ah poor wee soul - you're trying your best!

Regarding calcium, if you're really worried (and veg is rarely the culprit), then perhaps give her filtered water, as our tap water contains more calcium than anything else. This isn't from me, but from my specialist vet

 

[Pets mum]

Again, no advice, but thinking of you both, and topping up the vibes xxxxxx

 

[Ruthyjones89]

Thanks everyone.

Jane - that's good to know thank you, well tonight I have tried carrot tops and she just sniffs them and ignores them. I've also tried some cabbage and again she just turns her nose up at it!
Regarding her respiratory infection, she's doesn't seem to have the blocked nose and making the horrible sniffly noise which is good but she is still doing the odd sneezes.. About 10 a day I'd say.

Mighty max - I've only ever given her filtered water as I know our water is awful. Could it be the meds?

Thanks so much guys, I really appreciate it! My god it's just so hard.. I'm really struggling with watching her and how she'll just suddenly fall over!
We've had the new anti-sickness med through today, it is the one you said about Nicky and weighing 2.2, she's on 0.45ml twice daily? Seems a lot compared to the 0.1m she had of the stemitell. Xxx

 

[Ruthyjones89]

Okay, so she's had her meds but I'm finding she's holding them in her mouth and dribbling out. I've managed to get them in her fine and I know she's had the full amounts she needs. But when giving her some oxbow she's spitting this back at me! Really don't know if this is a bad thing or maybe is she saying she doesn't need it? Xx

 

[AndyRachel&Jack]

Hi, I've not been on the forum for a couple of weeks and have just caught up with your thread, I'm so sorry to hear how things have gone When we started to try to feed Mouse her medication and oxbow critical care it was hopeless once the steroids had worn off, we had the dribbling out problem. I think that it's when they feel too ill (maybe as they feel so dizzy) and just don't take it in. I'm no expert and don't know what to suggest.

All I can say is don't give up. The rolling is very upsetting, only 4 weeks ago we were going through this and I know how bad this is. I still don't know if we did the right thing, although I think Mouse's problem was very deep seated and affected her balance on both sides. Is Honey OK if she just sits on her own or do you have to keep her propped up? I'm assuming she falls to the same side all the time.

 

[nickybunny1]

Hi Ruth. Cody would sometimes have held his critical care in his mouth so I reduced the amount syringed in each time and then when he was hold it I would sort of lift him or manoeuvre him into a slightly different position on the chair (he was in a burrito ) and that distraction made him swallow . I also would massage his neck and that seemed to make him swallow too. R u feeding honey on the floor between ur legs?? I found kneeling in front of a kitchen chair with Cody in a burrito facing away from me was easier. I then would put my hand under his chest to lift him up about 45 degrees and fed him then. Gravity helped slightly here bur he wasn't upright . I gavr meds like this too. How much cc are u giving her and how often ?? I was giving around 10 - 15mls every 3 hrs. But it depends how much honey is eatting by herself. Regarding the dizzy meds I had to ground up a 25mg tablet and divide into 6 I think. So that was roughly 4mg per day so that's half of what honey is getting but it may be different amounts because it's liquid ?? I don't know. But hopefully this will help.

 

[Omi]

Sending more vibes for your Honey.

 

[bunny momma]

Dear Ruth,

I am sorry you and Honey are going through so much again. Even though I do not have nearly the extent of experience as some others on this forum, I have had what I consider is more than my share of head tilt bunnies.

Jane is right about them becoming more disoriented after they are handled-even when we do so gently. This meant my bunnies were worse when I was handling them to give them their meds or hand feeding. Each time they moved I had to give them a minute or two to adjust so it took longer. I would also take a break if they (or I) became too stressed. You may need to try mixing the Critical Care with more or less water. I have even added more water as the mixture thickens quite quickly.
Since some of my bunnies could not use a water bottle and they also had trouble drinking from a water bowl, I gave them sub Q fluids so they stayed hydrated without giving them too many vegetables.
Like you, I used towels when a bunny could not use her litter tray. My bunny had more laundry than me and my spouse.
My last head tilt bunny could not wash her bum after she went to the bathroom, so I had to keep her bum clean and dry until she was able to do it herself.

Ruthy, all but one of my head tilt bunnies recovered and led normal lives-with or without a slight permanent tilt. Honey is a fighter and you give her great home care and those are two positive factors in her favor.
I am thinking positive thoughts that your love for Honey and her love for you will get her on the road to recovery soon.

 

[Jack's-Jane]

How are things going Ruth ? No worries if you are not up to posting a reply, I just wanted to continue to send millions of vibes for Honey B xx

 

[Ruthyjones89]

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all your lovely supportive comments.

With the cc, she has always been a nightmare as she isn't very keen on it. I've managed to give her 5mls this morning and it is quite watery. She does continue to nibble through the day, and is eating hay. So I'm reluctant to keep giving her loads as she is trying to make the effort to eat. Now more so of a worry is her drinking, initially she was drinking loads but now I hardly ever notice the bowl going down. I am wetting some of her herbs and I know she's on quite a lot of meds so is getting fluid in, but surely she needs to continue drinking too? I've noticed her wees are getting smaller but her poos are remaining firm. Do you think this is cause for concern?

To be fair too her, although I do tend to find the odd soft poos dotted around after her meds mainly, she is managing to keep herself clean and her poos remain formed although little.

For the first time last night, she did actually start having a chew at her chew sea grass mat. Only a couple of times before she fell over but again this has got to be good hasn't it?! That she's still trying to interact and play like she used too?

Nicky, thanks for the Medication details, I think it's because her tablets are already crushed and pre-mixed like her tramadol. But must admit I do think the new anti-sickness is helping her. She can stand on her own fine and even move around, but it's when she's trying to fit through gaps or try to have bit of a fast hop she just falls over and rolls! and her co-ordination of going through the door aren't very good either, she doesn't go through the middle instead creeps around the side which then causes her to either knock herself or fall over

Thank you, I really appreciate everyone saying their is hope but this is just so so hard, I really do think everyone that has helped support a head tilt bunny must be amazing. But at least it's the weekend now and I can stay in to be with her xx

 

[joey&boo]

I certainly agree it can be really distressing / upsetting looking after a head tilt bunny(in 5 years this was the only thing & time that made my bloke cry). I think its a good sign she is doing her regular stuff (telling you off for leaving carriers about & chewing at her mat). Many vibes for her continued improvement.

 

[MightyMax]

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all your lovely supportive comments.

With the cc, she has always been a nightmare as she isn't very keen on it. I've managed to give her 5mls this morning and it is quite watery. She does continue to nibble through the day, and is eating hay. So I'm reluctant to keep giving her loads as she is trying to make the effort to eat. Now more so of a worry is her drinking, initially she was drinking loads but now I hardly ever notice the bowl going down. I am wetting some of her herbs and I know she's on quite a lot of meds so is getting fluid in, but surely she needs to continue drinking too? I've noticed her wees are getting smaller but her poos are remaining firm. Do you think this is cause for concern?

To be fair too her, although I do tend to find the odd soft poos dotted around after her meds mainly, she is managing to keep herself clean and her poos remain formed although little.

For the first time last night, she did actually start having a chew at her chew sea grass mat. Only a couple of times before she fell over but again this has got to be good hasn't it?! That she's still trying to interact and play like she used too?

Nicky, thanks for the Medication details, I think it's because her tablets are already crushed and pre-mixed like her tramadol. But must admit I do think the new anti-sickness is helping her. She can stand on her own fine and even move around, but it's when she's trying to fit through gaps or try to have bit of a fast hop she just falls over and rolls! and her co-ordination of going through the door aren't very good either, she doesn't go through the middle instead creeps around the side which then causes her to either knock herself or fall over

Thank you, I really appreciate everyone saying their is hope but this is just so so hard, I really do think everyone that has helped support a head tilt bunny must be amazing. But at least it's the weekend now and I can stay in to be with her xx

Aaww Ruth, this sounds encouraging!

I have to say most of the buns I've looked after don't care for CC, or they go off it after a few syringe-fuls :shock: I tend to use Ella's Kitchen baby food and mix CC in with that, or else use some other powdered formula with it to build them up.

I'm glad you got the Bonine, and that it sounds like it's helping. So many rabbits have benefitted from that!

Topping up the vibes, millions and millions winging over to you this weekend xx

 

[Janey]

So sorry to hear she still isn't well, what a tough time you are both having.

In regards to food, I always tempt with things they shouldn't' really have to try & keep things moving, with my old bun I used to give mashed banana with cooled porridge oats. Probably not the best and others may think it's not good but it worked for Poppy.

I always used to think just getting something in them was better than nothing but then I am no expert.

Lots of vibes from here.

 

[Ruthyjones89]

Janey thank you!

She's not keen on banana, honestly I have the fussiest bunny ever!!

But I've just soaked her pellets, with some porridge oats & brocoli bits, leaving it slightly warm & she almost woofed it down, I'm so so pleased and will try making some more for her later!

 

[MightyMax]

Janey thank you!

She's not keen on banana, honestly I have the fussiest bunny ever!!

But I've just soaked her pellets, with some porridge oats & brocoli bits, leaving it slightly warm & she almost woofed it down, I'm so so pleased and will try making some more for her later!

Haha, I'll be slammed for saying so, but oats are very tasty and nutritious for a rabbit who's not keen on eating

I'm with Janey on this one!

So glad to hear this :thumb:

 

[Janey]

So so glad to hear she has eaten something. Sometimes I think it's just about getting them going again and then hopefully they start to get a bit more of an appetite.

Porridge, broccoli and mushy pellets......who wouldn't love that :lol:

Poppy used to love her porridge, I used to give her sultanas with it (yes.....her diet was awful at times but it was that or she ate nothing at all), she literally used to have the same breakfast as me!

 

[tonibun]

Hope Honey keeps eating and wishing you both a restful night xx