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Help Head tilt and rolling rabbit

S

SleepyHollow44

New Kit
My rabbit Houdini has a head tilt and has started rolling. Initially I thought it may be EC so I started him on Safeguard daily, which I am still doing. His ears at the time, looked clear. As a precaution I started him on Baytril and Banamine. After the rolling got worse the last couple days I started some deep research and came across this site and came across a thread about the same problem. It stated that Baytril is useless for ear infections and that Trimeth-sulfa is the drug of choice. So I happened to have that on hand so I have started him on that. I am going through a rough patch and can not afford a vet bill. I have 3 kids and a farm to feed. I raised this boy and his brother as tiny kits. Their mom rejected them so I fed them off of her 2 times a day for 5 weeks. He and his brother give me kisses. I separated the brothers when Houdini got sick because his brother Sash wouldn't stop mounting Houdini. Normally this is just their daily routine, but Houdini is helpless in this state and Sash would hump his face all day if I left him there. My heart breaks for my boys. They have always been together. I moved Sash into my heated barn where there are other rabbits around for him to see and Houdini is inside my house where I can keep a watchful eye on him. Any advice or things I can try? I also tried meclazine. As well as a short round of steroids.
 
SleepyHollow44 said:
My rabbit Houdini has a head tilt and has started rolling. Initially I thought it may be EC so I started him on Safeguard daily, which I am still doing. His ears at the time, looked clear. As a precaution I started him on Baytril and Banamine. After the rolling got worse the last couple days I started some deep research and came across this site and came across a thread about the same problem. It stated that Baytril is useless for ear infections and that Trimeth-sulfa is the drug of choice. So I happened to have that on hand so I have started him on that. I am going through a rough patch and can not afford a vet bill. I have 3 kids and a farm to feed. I raised this boy and his brother as tiny kits. Their mom rejected them so I fed them off of her 2 times a day for 5 weeks. He and his brother give me kisses. I separated the brothers when Houdini got sick because his brother Sash wouldn't stop mounting Houdini. Normally this is just their daily routine, but Houdini is helpless in this state and Sash would hump his face all day if I left him there. My heart breaks for my boys. They have always been together. I moved Sash into my heated barn where there are other rabbits around for him to see and Houdini is inside my house where I can keep a watchful eye on him. Any advice or things I can try? I also tried meclazine. As well as a short round of steroids.
Click to expand...

Hello

I am sorry that Houdini is unwell. Unfortunately only professional Veterinary advice can provide you with what your Rabbit needs, Here in the UK it is illegal for an unqualified person to obtain prescription medication and to treat an animal without first consulting a Vet.All anyone on here can do is give accounts of what treatment their Vet may have prescribed for a similar condition. That said, the treatment may not be appropriate for your Rabbit. It is essential that a Vet examines the Rabbit before authorising treatment.

I do not feel it to be appropriate for me (not qualified in Veterinary medicine) to offer suggestions of other Prescription Drugs to try given that you are not consulting a Vet. But there is some information about Head Tilt on the following threads :

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

https://www.veterinarywebinars.com/...-are-caused-by-central-or-peripheral-disease/

http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/head-tilts-rabbits-proceedings

http://www.tokyovets.com/2017rabbitear3.pdf

http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/navc/2006/SAE/617.pdf?LA=1

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


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

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

https://www.dovepress.com/encephali...-manageme-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-VMRR


Best wishes for Houdini, head tilt, regardless of the cause, can take many months of ongoing treatment before any improvement occurs (if it is going to). Things often get a lot worse at first. Perhaps you could try to borrow some funds from friends or family to enable you to consult a Vet. Or maybe there is a Charitable Organisation you could approach for help.
 
Sending lots of vibes for Houdini. As Jane has said, he really needs to be examined by a vet ASAP. Some vets will do payment plans.
 
Also sending lots of vibes for Houdini. I'm not sure how old your boys are, but if they are becoming sexually mature and are unneutered then they will start to hump each other. They will also probably start to fight, so it's best that they are separated if they are not neutered.
 
Omi said:
Also sending lots of vibes for Houdini. I'm not sure how old your boys are, but if they are becoming sexually mature and are unneutered then they will start to hump each other. They will also probably start to fight, so it's best that they are separated if they are not neutered.
Click to expand...

This is very true, I agree with this. I missed this part of the problem when I replied earlier!
 
dear sleepyhollow44,-i agree with jakes-jane,and zoobec,--as your exotic dvm about [chloramphenicol]-,baytril does not penetrate brain tissue-and is rabbit safe-sincerely james waller from the other kent-usa,
 
jewaller said:
dear sleepyhollow44,-i agree with jakes-jane,and zoobec,--as your exotic dvm about [chloramphenicol]-,baytril does not penetrate brain tissue-and is rabbit safe-sincerely james waller from the other kent-usa,
Click to expand...

Just a heads up that Chloramphenicol is a different abx to Baytril. Baytril is 'Enrofloxacin'

http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/?id=-446279

Enrofloxacin (Baytril) is one of a group of abx known as Fluoroquinolones which do penetrate the central nervous system :)

https://files.brief.vet/migration/a...urologic-infections-in-dogs-36266-article.pdf
 
meds for exotics

Jack's-Jane said:
Just a heads up that Chloramphenicol is a different abx to Baytril. Baytril is 'Enrofloxacin'

http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/?id=-446279

Enrofloxacin (Baytril) is one of a group of abx known as Fluoroquinolones which do penetrate the central nervous system :)

https://files.brief.vet/migration/a...urologic-infections-in-dogs-36266-article.pdf
Click to expand...
dear jack,s-jane,-thank you for the links,-sorry,i only mentioned the antibiotic[chloramphenicol]-for the discussion with the exotic dvm.-I have used this med for facial abscesses also.-the baytril[enrofloxacin]-did not work-for either.-but it is good broad spectrum antibiotic for i.e-coccidiosis sincerely james waller from the other kent-usa:love::wave:
 
Last edited:
Thank you everyone for the well wishes. I do have a livestock vet I seek help from but she doesn't specialize in rabbits. Good news is, I tried Naxcel and that seems to be working. His flipping has dramatically improved. I am keeping his ears cleaned and flushed with a peroxide and water solution every couple days. Looks like Houdini will be going solo if he makes it thru this ordeal. I have him on Pee pads to try to keep him as clean as I can but when he does flip he flings the pads, and of course decides to pee then rolls again right in the pee.... Any suggestions on how I can clean him? I know bathing rabbits is a no no and I don't want to stress him out. Unscented baby wipes????
 
dear sleepyhollow44,-you mean a bum bathe,-which means tail end wet--these are a must,-1.warm water 85*f-or- 30*c,2.baby shampoo-3.hair dryer[hand held]-4.dry towels,5.warm bed,-place bum[only],-into warm water,-must hold-onto rabbit,and using free hand with some baby shampoo-reach underneath-wash,dump water and using warm water[in bowl]-rinse same way.--grab a dry towel and continue drying off,-then place in warm bed,-in another dry towel,-[may have to cover the eyes]---then using hair dryer on low/medium temp,continue drying-using free hand to adjust temp and check dryness,-from start to finish est.2hours,-the drying and warmth are major factors..--did your vet confirm EC.???-here is my link to sanity http://www.medirabbit.com sincerely james waller
 
SleepyHollow44 said:
Thank you everyone for the well wishes. I do have a livestock vet I seek help from but she doesn't specialize in rabbits. Good news is, I tried Naxcel and that seems to be working. His flipping has dramatically improved. I am keeping his ears cleaned and flushed with a peroxide and water solution every couple days. Looks like Houdini will be going solo if he makes it thru this ordeal. I have him on Pee pads to try to keep him as clean as I can but when he does flip he flings the pads, and of course decides to pee then rolls again right in the pee.... Any suggestions on how I can clean him? I know bathing rabbits is a no no and I don't want to stress him out. Unscented baby wipes????
Click to expand...
I used waterwipes before in this kinda situation, Idk if they're actually safe, but I had no problems with them.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
 
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