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Elderly bunny treated for inner ear infection- now has problems with hind legs
- Thread starter Pandora1
- Start date
MightyMax
Banned
Hi everyone
Just to update on my bunny Poppy. The x ray revealed that some of the discs in her spine are fusing together and it ranges between moderate and severe, is this Spondylitis?, she also has arthritis. We have her home now, she is eating well at the moment. Her left leg seems very stiff and sticks outwards slightly which is affecting her balance. She is on Loxicom (1.2 ml twice a day) and we have tramadol (half a tablet twice a day). She is trying to move around but is dragging the left leg. She was in our conservatory but I have brought her in to a warmer room and put her in a pen on vet bed and training pads, so she is more comfortable.
I was thinking of acupunture, and if this would be beneficial to her. She seems bright in herself but I feel sorry for her, she has had a lot to cope with lately after losing her partner.
Pandora x
Just to update on my bunny Poppy. The x ray revealed that some of the discs in her spine are fusing together and it ranges between moderate and severe, is this Spondylitis?, she also has arthritis. We have her home now, she is eating well at the moment. Her left leg seems very stiff and sticks outwards slightly which is affecting her balance. She is on Loxicom (1.2 ml twice a day) and we have tramadol (half a tablet twice a day). She is trying to move around but is dragging the left leg. She was in our conservatory but I have brought her in to a warmer room and put her in a pen on vet bed and training pads, so she is more comfortable.
I was thinking of acupunture, and if this would be beneficial to her. She seems bright in herself but I feel sorry for her, she has had a lot to cope with lately after losing her partner.
Pandora x
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Oh bless her
Acupuncture may well be of some benefit to her if she would tolerate it. My excellent Vet offers both Acupuncture and Cold Laser Therapy as part of the management of arthritic conditionshttps://www.twickenhamvets.com/acupuncture/
https://www.twickenhamvets.com/laser-therapy-amazing/
Massage and gentle physio can also be of benefit. Some Veterinary Physiotherapists do offer a home treatment service, it is best to have Professional guidance before starting any physio regime.
I hope that your Bunny can remain as comfortable as possible xx
MightyMax
Banned
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Thanks all
Poppy is still with us, I am waiting for a call from the vets re: her condition, as when we picked her up last night we saw the nurse, so need some answers to questions. She has some appetite and so have been giving her veg treats. She is not interested in pellets. Her eyes are constantly flickering, not scanning, I gave her stemetil last night when she came back from vets and also this morning, along with all other pain meds. She can move around but that involves dragging her left leg. I am concerned that she is not really finding her water bowl, I gave her some recovery this morning so she should be ok along with veg she has eaten. Its very difficult to know what to do, whether to give her more time? The vet didnt continue with the antibiotics for the ear infection which I thought he would have, she has been on them 3 weeks.
Pandora
Poppy is still with us, I am waiting for a call from the vets re: her condition, as when we picked her up last night we saw the nurse, so need some answers to questions. She has some appetite and so have been giving her veg treats. She is not interested in pellets. Her eyes are constantly flickering, not scanning, I gave her stemetil last night when she came back from vets and also this morning, along with all other pain meds. She can move around but that involves dragging her left leg. I am concerned that she is not really finding her water bowl, I gave her some recovery this morning so she should be ok along with veg she has eaten. Its very difficult to know what to do, whether to give her more time? The vet didnt continue with the antibiotics for the ear infection which I thought he would have, she has been on them 3 weeks.
Pandora
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
I would be minded to request that the antibiotic treatment continues. I hope that the Vet will agree. I do hope that Poppy will be able to remain with you for a while longer. I am sure that you will do whatever is best for her xx
MightyMax
Banned
Ear infections can take a lot longer than 3 weeks to resolve. Unless the vet has another plan, I would be requesting further ...
Can you remind me what antibiotics she is taking?
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Having had rather too much experience in dealing with ear infections I have learned that more often than not antibiotic treatment needs to continue for several weeks. Sometimes even for several months.
MightyMax
Banned
Roxyroller88 has lots of experience with bunnies' ear infections. She's around at the moment, so you could drop her a PM?
I am sure she wouldn't mind
Hi all
Poppy is displaying some neurological symptoms, flickering eyes and circling. She cannot use either of her legs now, so cannot stand up, and when she moves she is just dragging herself in a circle. Tough to watch. The vet did not ring me back today re antibiotics even though they promised. This is not my usual vet though but a supposed savvy vet with exotic experience. I have an appointment booked with my own vet tomorrow so will be able to get a second opinion. I dont think antibiotics will help her regain use of her legs ultimately as this could be the fused discs in her spine. So there is perhaps more than one thing going on here.
The nurse yesterday said the eyes was a result of the ear infection, but they were not like that when we took her to stay in on Wednesday, thats why I think its maybe neurological.
Pandora
Poppy is displaying some neurological symptoms, flickering eyes and circling. She cannot use either of her legs now, so cannot stand up, and when she moves she is just dragging herself in a circle. Tough to watch. The vet did not ring me back today re antibiotics even though they promised. This is not my usual vet though but a supposed savvy vet with exotic experience. I have an appointment booked with my own vet tomorrow so will be able to get a second opinion. I dont think antibiotics will help her regain use of her legs ultimately as this could be the fused discs in her spine. So there is perhaps more than one thing going on here.
The nurse yesterday said the eyes was a result of the ear infection, but they were not like that when we took her to stay in on Wednesday, thats why I think its maybe neurological.
Pandora
MightyMax
Banned
I'm really sorry to hear this. It must be heartbreaking for you
What time is your appointment with the vet tomorrow?
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Sadly with ear infections they can progress to the inner ear/brain hence the onset of severe neurological symptoms
http://www.msdvetmanual.com/eye-and...-interna/overview-of-otitis-media-and-interna
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Bacterial/BacterialOtitisMediaInterna.htm
I am so sorry that the Exotics Practice appears to have let you down by not returning your call, that really is not acceptable and must have added to your distress.
I am sending millions of vibes for dear little Poppy, she is clearly now a very poorly Rabbit
You are doing absolutely everything within your power to try to help her and as I said before, I know that you will do whatever is best for her xx
MightyMax
Banned
Thinking of you and Poppy today xx
It's not possible to definitively diagnose an ear infection purely by that symptom with the eyes (nystagmus)
The inner ear controls balance and hearing. Disease can enter this area through the same three pathways as in the middle ear. Signs of disease of the inner ear include deafness, HEAD TILT, LOSS OF BALANCE and horizontal or rotary nystagmus (eye "flipping" or "rolling") which is spontaneous and unrelated to the position of the head. Proprioception (the ability of the rabbit to sense where the feet and legs are) and postural reactions (the ability of the rabbit to try to return to a normal standing position) are normal.
It's not possible to definitively diagnose an ear infection purely by that symptom with the eyes (nystagmus)
The inner ear controls balance and hearing. Disease can enter this area through the same three pathways as in the middle ear. Signs of disease of the inner ear include deafness, HEAD TILT, LOSS OF BALANCE and horizontal or rotary nystagmus (eye "flipping" or "rolling") which is spontaneous and unrelated to the position of the head. Proprioception (the ability of the rabbit to sense where the feet and legs are) and postural reactions (the ability of the rabbit to try to return to a normal standing position) are normal.
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Hi all
I am very sad to tell you that our lovely Poppy was put to sleep at lunch today after taking advice from my vet, and taken into consideration her poor prognosis, and poor quality of life she had. I held her in my arms and comforted her whilst she licked my arm, a real honour from her I feel, and perhaps proves she had no idea what was going on and was not frightened in any way. My husband was with me. It was all very calm and I know she didn't suffer and she is now at peace and reunited with her beloved Bobby, who died 4 weeks ago tomorrow.
Thank you everyone for all your support and advice that has helped me through this awful time. It is the end of an era for me as I said when both my rabbits passed I wouldn't have any more as I have owned rabbits for 18 plus years, so quite sad about that too.
Pandora xx
I am very sad to tell you that our lovely Poppy was put to sleep at lunch today after taking advice from my vet, and taken into consideration her poor prognosis, and poor quality of life she had. I held her in my arms and comforted her whilst she licked my arm, a real honour from her I feel, and perhaps proves she had no idea what was going on and was not frightened in any way. My husband was with me. It was all very calm and I know she didn't suffer and she is now at peace and reunited with her beloved Bobby, who died 4 weeks ago tomorrow.
Thank you everyone for all your support and advice that has helped me through this awful time. It is the end of an era for me as I said when both my rabbits passed I wouldn't have any more as I have owned rabbits for 18 plus years, so quite sad about that too.
Pandora xx
