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Update: lost weight - Red eyed rabbit occasionally holding his head at an angle

A

Azucena

Alpha Buck
Hi,

We have picked up a potential new friend for my current rabbit and noticed that occasionally he holds his head at a slight angle (i.e. with his ears held not at 90 degrees but slightly to one side). He scans quite a bit due to his red eyes, is it likely to be an extension of this? His ears don't feel hot.

Thanks!
 
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Azucena said:
Hi,

We have picked up a potential new friend for my current rabbit and noticed that occasionally he holds his head at a slight angle (i.e. with his ears held not at 90 degrees but slightly to one side). He scans quite a bit due to his red eyes, is it likely to be an extension of this? His ears don't feel hot.

Thanks!
Click to expand...


Hi there :wave:

Yes I have come across this in the red-eyed whites that I've had.

Have you had a word with the place that supplied you with the rabbit about this behaviour?
 
Ah ok thank you! My other rabbit has red eyes too but while she scans I haven't noticed her tilting her head.
Yes, I contacted the rescue who said to keep an eye on it, but could be to do with his eyes. Just wanted to double check it wasn't more likely to be indicative of anything else.
 
Azucena said:
Ah ok thank you! My other rabbit has red eyes too but while she scans I haven't noticed her tilting her head.
Yes, I contacted the rescue who said to keep an eye on it, but could be to do with his eyes. Just wanted to double check it wasn't more likely to be indicative of anything else.
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You're welcome!

I'm glad the Rescue reassured you that they hadn't a problem with that rabbit in the past. I know what you mean, some REWs seem to scan and tilt their heads more than others.

When do you intend to bond them? :)
 
Azucena said:
Ah ok thank you! My other rabbit has red eyes too but while she scans I haven't noticed her tilting her head.
Yes, I contacted the rescue who said to keep an eye on it, but could be to do with his eyes. Just wanted to double check it wasn't more likely to be indicative of anything else.
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Personally I would arrange to have the Rabbit checked over by a Vet if this has not already been done. Whilst the 'head tipping' may be benign there are some health problems that can cause such symptoms eg otitis media (middle ear infection). I very much doubt it will be anything to worry about, but I would prefer to err on the side of caution and seek prompt Veterinary advice, thus enabling any problem to be promptly identified and treated. I think this would be especially important before attempting to bond the new Rabbit with your current Rabbit.

Good luck :)
 
It also may be worth treating for EC. It's something I do with all new-to-me rabbits as a one-off, just in case they have this common parasite. Treatment is 28 days of panacur. If there are symptoms (eg head tilt, hind leg weakness), then you also need an anti-inflammatory.

Getting a vet check is a good idea anyway. He will get an MOT (which should include ears and teeth), and advice on vaccinating and neutering (if not already done).
 
I agree with taking him for a vet check, my bridge bun was a rew and although he scanned a lot, particularly in new or different surroundings, he never tilted his head.
 
Thanks everyone :) He's got an appointment today. He's only recently been neutered and vaccinated, so would have been checked then, but I guess not specifically for anything related to tilting his head. I'll let you know what they say!
 
Azucena said:
Thanks everyone :) He's got an appointment today. He's only recently been neutered and vaccinated, so would have been checked then, but I guess not specifically for anything related to tilting his head. I'll let you know what they say!
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Yes I thought he would've been recently checked (probably a couple of times!) so I really hope there's nothing amiss and it's just him being an adorable REW :)

Do you have any photos?
 
Azucena said:
Thanks everyone :) He's got an appointment today. He's only recently been neutered and vaccinated, so would have been checked then, but I guess not specifically for anything related to tilting his head. I'll let you know what they say!
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Hopefully the Vet will be able to reassure you that all is well :)
 
We have a course of Panacur for him and a precautionary/preventative one for my other rabbit. His ears were fine, and no other symptoms, but the vet thought it was better to play it safe.

Don't have any photos that I can post unfortunately.. Laptops being weird!
 
Azucena said:
We have a course of Panacur for him and a precautionary/preventative one for my other rabbit. His ears were fine, and no other symptoms, but the vet thought it was better to play it safe.

Don't have any photos that I can post unfortunately.. Laptops being weird!
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Great :D

You can all be reassured now!
 
Azucena said:
We have a course of Panacur for him and a precautionary/preventative one for my other rabbit. His ears were fine, and no other symptoms, but the vet thought it was better to play it safe.

Don't have any photos that I can post unfortunately.. Laptops being weird!
Click to expand...

That seems to be a sensible course of action :)
 
Azucena said:
We have a course of Panacur for him and a precautionary/preventative one for my other rabbit. His ears were fine, and no other symptoms, but the vet thought it was better to play it safe.

Don't have any photos that I can post unfortunately.. Laptops being weird!
Click to expand...


Look forward to when you can :love:
 
Thanks everyone!

He's adorable.. a fluffy himalayan-coloured lion head cross. Rose is about 3kg so at about 1.2kg he's so tiny!
 
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