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Head tilt

AlexandraLT

Warren Scout
I have just been to check on my bunnies and have found one has developed a slight head tilt. It’s not awful like I have seen on the internet when googling.
He also has what appears to be conjunctivitis in the eye which is facing up, I know this is a common problem with rabbits who have a head tilt.
Just looking for some advise on what to do, he’s booked in for the vets later this pm.
He’s not eating his pellets, but eating his veggies and drinking.
Thanks :)
 
Could be inner ear infection, my Cody had this which resulted in head tilt. Try softening the pellets in warm water for him to eat. If inner ear the jaw bone and ear canal are close together do eatting hard pellets will be painfull. Good luck at thd vet, head tilt bunnies can be fixed with correct meds , a good vet and lots of love.
 
Thank you.
He went to the vets and has been given a 28 day course of panacur.
Since having this though he has gone really down hill and hardly moves. (It looks like he has died until you get up close and see he is still breathing) he is still eating his veggies though.
Is this normal or is this bad news!?

Thanks
 
I don’t have any experience of head tilt but I’m sending lots of vibes. I know a lot of members on here have had bunnies with head tilt, hope you can get some advice xx
 
I also have no experience of head tilt. However, as far as I know the symptoms are extremely similar for both an ear infection and EC. I think it's normal therefore for most vets to treat for both. It appears that your vet is treating only for EC although Metacam should be given alongside the Panacur for EC, because of its anti-inflammatory properties. To cover the ear infection possibility, your rabbit needs an antibiotic as well as Metacam as ear infections are painful.

I'm hoping that someone who has had experience of head tilt can give more definitive advice. However, I personally would consult the vet again asap. Sending lots of vibes for your rabbit.
 
I also have no experience of head tilt. However, as far as I know the symptoms are extremely similar for both an ear infection and EC. I think it's normal therefore for most vets to treat for both. It appears that your vet is treating only for EC although Metacam should be given alongside the Panacur for EC, because of its anti-inflammatory properties. To cover the ear infection possibility, your rabbit needs an antibiotic as well as Metacam as ear infections are painful.

I'm hoping that someone who has had experience of head tilt can give more definitive advice. However, I personally would consult the vet again asap. Sending lots of vibes for your rabbit.
This^^

You need to treat for both EC and ear infection join the Facebook group help for head tilt hoppers - and post on there - they're great - you need to cover all your bases to give your bunny the best chance :)

Sent from my HTC U11 using Tapatalk
 
Thank you.
He went to the vets and has been given a 28 day course of panacur.
Since having this though he has gone really down hill and hardly moves. (It looks like he has died until you get up close and see he is still breathing) he is still eating his veggies though.
Is this normal or is this bad news!?

Thanks

Did the Vet also prescribe a non steroidal anti-inflammatory to be administered daily ? This is an essential part of the treatment for both EC and Otitis media (middle ear infection)

In the absence of a definitive diagnosis of EC/Otitis Media many Vets will treat to cover for both, so the treatment prescribed would be Panacur, an antibiotic and a non steroidal anti-inflammatory.

These links may be useful to read :

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/head_tilt.htm

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Otit/otitis.htm

http://www.msdvetmanual.com/eye-and...-interna/overview-of-otitis-media-and-interna

http://www.veterinarywebinars.com/m...oads/2016/03/Study_Notes_Ear_Nose_Rabbits.pdf

https://www.dechra.co.uk/therapy-ar...cs-antifungals/disease-information/e-cuniculi

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Signs/Cuniculi_signs.html

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/cuniculi/pyrimethamine.htm

As Gracie has suggested, if you are on Facebook it would be a good idea to join a group set up to offer advice and support for those caring for a Rabbit with head tilt

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelpforHeadTiltHoppers/


Finally, if you would like to obtain a second opinion about your Rabbit's treatment from another Vet then you could start a thread over in Rabbit Chat asking for recommendations of 'Rabbit Savvy Vets' in your area.

Or you could search on here :

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/ve...-by-rabbit-owners/vets-owners-recommendations

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/

Head tilt is a very challenging condition to treat, but it is possible for the Rabbit to recover. Some may be left with a permanent tilt, but they adapt to cope with their disability. Unfortunately some Rabbits will get a lot worse before any signs of progress occur. And of course some Rabbits are unable to recover and/or are unable to cope with the stress of all the hands on care needed. This care may need to be ongoing every day for several months.

I hope that your Rabbit will be able to pull through xx
 
Thank you.
He went to the vets and has been given a 28 day course of panacur.
Since having this though he has gone really down hill and hardly moves. (It looks like he has died until you get up close and see he is still breathing) he is still eating his veggies though.
Is this normal or is this bad news!?

Thanks


Hi there and so sorry to hear about your rabbit :(

There can be more than one reason a rabbit has head tilt - one member, Janey, has been through this recently and her thread is below in case you want to follow anything up:

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?466946-EC



There are a couple of links here about possible causes of head tilt:

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-8/head-tilt.html

http://www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html


And this disabled website is full of information:

http://www.disabledrabbits.com/head-tilt.html


There's some info on this link about ear infections, but there are some graphic images:

http://www.exoticpetmedicine.com/article/S1557-5063(16)30173-2/pdf
(it also takes a while to load!)


And lastly, as Grace mentioned, there's a Facebook group devoted to head tilt rabbits which you might like to join if you can:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelpforHeadTiltHoppers/


Wishing you loads of luck. I have nursed head tilt rabbits (many times) over the past 25 years and it's always distressing to watch. But bearing in mind there can be so many different causes, there are also many treatments.
 
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