Help For Stability In My Elderly Bunny?

I have a 12yr old (turned 12 in April 2014) Netherland Dwarf Male, who is my light of my life. I honestly can't cope thinking about the inevitable. Hopefully that isn't going to happen any time soon.

He is a bit blind, a bit deaf, and has slight muscle wastage on his back end from age. He sleeps more these days. Nothing unusual given his age apparently. He still hops in and out of his cage down 4 steps I constructed, out of newspaper (its secured) and onto a camp bed (my bed, under his cage), where he spends most the day running up and down and coming to say hi and to look after me - including bringing me bits of hay and food, when he thinks I should be eating. Lol.

He has had a couple of health blips, this year, but has gained weight since the last one, and is doing great. His guts still gurgle, but he sucks in air when he drinks, and between the vet's and myself, we worked it out. He gets Simeticone every day, and Meloxican for his arthritis (although I am not convinced he has pain in his joints, so am due a chat with the vet about that) and that has sorted him out. The vet said he is in really remarkably great shape for his age, and he thought he was a wonderfully placid bunny. That was in May.

About 10minutes ago, however, he toppled over in his cage, and couldn't get himself up. I have noticed that the last few weeks, he can be a little more unstable, as he's toppled onto his side, a couple of times on the camp bed, but this was the first I'd seen it in the cage. It wasn't a fit - he just lost his footing and tumbled over and couldn't find footing again. He was thrashing about, trying to flip over, but as soon as I righted him, he was fine again immediately, I stroked him, until his breathing calmed down, and he stopped his usual hyped squeaking and chattering he does at me, when something hypes him up, so I knew it startled him, but a few seconds later, he was eating again happily.

I have banked up the sides of the wire top, tall, open doored, cage, to create a channel in the middle, using extra hay (he's bedded entirely on hay, with a lower layer of newspaper, and under that a thick layer of kitchen roll on the bottom), as it's the only thing I can think of doing - like you do in a stable for horses, so they don't get stuck....so if he topples again, and I don't hear him, then he may be able to find his feet again, because he won't be flat on his side, as he was.

I will get him checked over at the vet tomorrow, but I'm pretty positive that it's just age setting in. I'm now very worried about what would happen if he topples over when I am not about to right him. He was really thrashing about. I don't want him giving himself a heart attack. On the bed, I have been letting him find his own feet, unless it goes on for too long - feels like its forever, but its only a few seconds. I wanted him to learn, and it seems to work - he does this twisty flip thing and gets a hold with his feet and he gets himself up again. But this time he was most definitely stuck on his side.

I'm just wondering if anyone else experienced this with their elderly bunnies?, and also has anyone any other ideas of what I can do to help him as he ages in life? Is there any physio I can do, to help give him more muscle strength and stability?

Twelve is certainly a good age and a tribute to your care. Although he is older, it doesn't necessarily mean that he can't get the same problems a younger bun would to. The symptoms you describe are very typical of an ear infection which effects the balance organs in the inner ear which means they have trouble working out which way is up. It often, but not always, involves tilting the head to one side whilst sat upright too.

Another problem which can have similar symptoms is EC, which is a parasite which can effect the nerves and cause weakness in the hind limbs (leading to muscle wastage) and issues with coordination.

It can be tough working out which is the cause so most vets treat for both with pancur (a wormer) for the EC and antibiotics in case its an ear infection. I'd expect that will be what your vet suggests to try and see if that helps his symptoms.

If you look in the useful topics under EC and headtilt, you'll find more information on both: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?297802-Old-Useful-Topics-Health

What you've done so far sounds like a good idea in the interim. If he doesn't eat them, rolled up towels are good props too

I think age related osteoarthritis is more likely than EC. Arthritic changes in the spine and hips can lead to hind leg instability/weakness. 3 of my geriatric Rabbits have the problem (as do I !!)

A non steroidal anti-inflammatory can be very useful in reducing the discomfort arthritis causes. Whilst a soft camp bed might seem like a good surface for your Rabbit to move about on, if he does have arthritic problems he would probably do better on a firmer surface, but not just carpet or wood/vinyl flooring. A carpeted area of flooring covered with a cotton sheet would be ideal, it would provide a firm surface to aid stability and the sheet over the carpet would mean your Rabbit was not on a very abrasive surface. Sore hocks are a secondary complication of many arthritic conditions and abrasive surfaces make sore hocks worse.

Acupuncture can be helpful for arthritic conditions, as long as the individual Rabbit does not find the treatment to be too stressful. Physiotherapy and massage can reduce the rate of muscle wastage. But physio should not be attempted without seeking guidance from a Vet.

Rabbits with weak back legs can develop 'gunky' ears due to the Rabbit's reduced ability to groom themselves. If your Rabbit has a lot of wax build up in his ears this could lead to infection and issues with balance. Large wax/gunk build up in the ears also leads to loss of hearing.

In more advanced cases of spinal arthritis bladder problems can become an issue. The Rabbit may not fully empty his/her bladder as he/she urinates. This can lead to a build up of calcium deposits in the bladder (bladder sludge), secondary bacterial infection and cystitis. If the Rabbit becomes slightly incontinent and/or is unable to adopt the correct position to urinate their rear end/under-carriage can become urine soiled leading to urine scald. Therefore vigilance is needed re the possibility of any bladder problems becoming an issue.

So a comprehensive examination by a Vet is needed and hopefully a plan of action can be decided on to help your Rabbit feel more comfy

Good Luck

Update:

Just an update:

Littleblack had a full vet check, and all results are now in. He has Arthritis in his hips, but apart from that - he's holding a great healthy weight, was bright and chatty with the vet, and teeth and ears all totally fine... and he's still in fantastic shape for his age.

With regards to his stability, he hasn't really toppled over since, although I am now hyper-vigilant and any louder than normal jumps, I do find myself just looking over to check him, but so far so good. The vet said it's more likely that he just lost his balance, and isn't as flexible as he was as a young bunny so struggled to get up.

I must say I was really proud of my little boy, as while the vet was talking to me, after the exam, he had an explore of the table, then sat between us, calm as you like, and sat up and gave himself a through clean up, and didn't even bother stopping, when the vet touched his back as he was cleaning. LOL.

Due to his balance, and his desire to protect me, I pop him in a harness, and hold him in my arms the whole way to the vet. It might not be safest, but in the carrier he was falling over no matter what I did last time, and this way he arrives, not only happy that he's fended off the passing traffic from harming me, but he's so chilled out too - nothing like cuddles and kisses to pass away the drive....even if I was covered more in his moulting fur than he was, by the time we got there! LOL. When it came to going home time from the vet, I popped the neck part of the harness back on him, and turned him to do up the chest strap, but he'd had enough, and leapt straight up from the table, into my arms at chest height, and settled down, as if to say "let's go then!". LOL. We both laughed.

He has slightly reddened hocks so the vet is getting some cream in for him, and he is going to be on a Senior bun UTI feed supplement, as he is very prone to those, and has survived 3 surgeries in his life to clear bladder stones and sludge previously. He is also going on a joint supplement that the bunny specialist said he's found useful for older buns, so he is going to order that in too for Monday.... and additionally, the vet has put him on 0.3ml of Meloxican a day for Littleblack's Arthritis, with a review at the end of the bottle, to see if he should be kept on it for life. Does anyone know if that's safe? When his tummy gurgles, I'm to give him half a tablet of Simeticone and 10mls of Oxbrow Critical Care after, made up with Bio-Lapis, Pro-biotic for rabbits (which I've been doing ever since we discovered he sucks in air with his water anyway).

I asked about hopping surface help for him. The Camp bed, is where I sleep for the last couple years, and on top of the mattress, and the folded kingsize 15tog duvet on the bottom, the sheets, and the normal 15 tog duvet, is where he has hopped back and forth across every day, several times a day. The vet said as he hops down to steps and onto the bed, the soft landing at the bottom is probably good for him. He said I could try lying a board further up the bed, on the area next to me, where he hangs out for 70% of the day, and layering it with a couple fleeces, and a cotton sheet, but at the moment, the movement and give under foot, is probably keeping him more flexible, than a harder surface, as the bounce is absorbing his weight of his back feet. He said see how I feel, and that I could try it and see, if I felt it was necessary. Littleblack does run about on the carpet (he has free run of the entire house, and his door is never closed), but he's definitely more nippy on the bed....and sprawls out too on the bed, instead of sitting to sleep. What do you think I should do. Put a board on the bed and see if it helps?

The vet said we'll take bloods again next time to test his liver and kidneys, just to make sure... but for now, he's bright, interactive, active, and happy in himself, and I'm to keep going as I'm going - as he is a credit to me, and is just the sweetest bunny on his client list. I bet he says that to all the owners. LOL.

So my little Guard-bun is good to keep guarding me. YAY!!!!!!! Happy me!!!!

Aww, I'm glad he got such a good report from the vet

Trying different things and seeing what he prefers to walk/sit on sounds like a good idea

Awww what a wonderful update! He sounds such a well loved bunny.

It also sounds like you have a very caring and attentive vet :wave: