Blossom not Herself

Sending lots of vibes for Blossom, poor Girlie, hope the panacur does it's job xx

Rodney is well thankfully, the vet did a full check on him as we were a little worried any sores in his mouth could make him very susceptible, we think the small poo is likely due to his travel hatred.

He's just had his first dose of pancur and is looking around for his girl [emoji24] I've ordered the disinfectant and gloves needed.

This feels almost insurmountable at the moment, I just want to sob and sleep.

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CarelessSquid07 said:

Rodney is well thankfully, the vet did a full check on him as we were a little worried any sores in his mouth could make him very susceptible, we think the small poo is likely due to his travel hatred.

He's just had his first dose of pancur and is looking around for his girl [emoji24] I've ordered the disinfectant and gloves needed.

This feels almost insurmountable at the moment, I just want to sob and sleep.

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Big hugs xx

I've never had to disinfect for EC, but I'm sure I've read it's only for a few days in the 4 week cycle (day 20 something?).

I hope someone with experience comes on soon to advise.

Sending hugs. You can do this

Sending vibes for Blossom and Rodney. Before you said ec, I was wondering if middle ear infection because ear pain makes eating uncomfortable. Will she get abx for cover?
Someone with experience will tell you the days cleaning is required. Perhaps limit their area to make it easier.
Sending you hugs.

The nurse has called to say she's settled in well and is much brighter with an IV and wolfed down all meds and syringe feed.

They've made her a softened area with hay padding and apparently she's happily rearranging it to suit her so hopefully that means she's not struggling too much with balance.

I think the plan tomorrow is to evaluate whether a Ct scan and a full blood panel would be best depending on how she presents, the Ec test has been done today but apparently take a while. They have an on site scanner so it's an easy option although expensive and it would rule out ears.

The vet suggested that an upper ear bun was much less likely to suffer from ears this way but I'm not sure how accurate that is. So no abx cover yet.

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Omi said:

I've never had to disinfect for EC, but I'm sure I've read it's only for a few days in the 4 week cycle (day 20 something?).

I hope someone with experience comes on soon to advise.

Sending hugs. You can do this

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This is controversial I guess:
Frances Harcourt-Brown managed my 1st EC bunny (Noodle) & she never advised any disinfection just good hygiene. I didn't think to question it as I wasn't online then & only heard about it later on here. I later asked Ruth @ Crab Lane vets & she also said just keep things clean, that the disinfection schedule was considered by her to be more appropriate for lots of bunnies kept in smaller spaces (hoarders, breeders, etc). I never really got it tbh, unless your bunny is spraying wee all over the shop & weeing outside the toilet area. Its spread in urine spores & then consumed so I think you could focus on very regular litter changes. I think this is a time when hay racks are super useful as then they aren't eating contaminated hay

I've just been reading that and puzzling about how I can break Rodney's habit of weeing on his fresh hay [emoji19]

I think we'll give them a good clean, disinfect the loos and lino and change them very regularly.

I've also popped all their blankets in the wash at 60 as some have suspicious stains.

I'm very unsure of separating them to be honest but Rodney tested completely negative for EC a few years ago so I guess there's a chance he might stay that way.

I might see if I can borrow a steam cleaner for the floors, I broke the last one a while ago [emoji53]

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CarelessSquid07 said:

I've just been reading that and puzzling about how I can break Rodney's habit of weeing on his fresh hay [emoji19]

I think we'll give them a good clean, disinfect the loos and lino and change them very regularly.

I've also popped all their blankets in the wash at 60 as some have suspicious stains.

I'm very unsure of separating them to be honest but Rodney tested completely negative for EC a few years ago so I guess there's a chance he might stay that way.

I might see if I can borrow a steam cleaner for the floors, I broke the last one a while ago [emoji53]

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Its weird how some bunnies seem resistant. Joey lived with Noodle who was bad with it & then Boo but never succumbed himself. Mousey had active EC / headtilt the 2nd time she was rescued but didn't have a reoccurrence ASFAIK in the 7 years we had her. I think its more of a management condition. My vets always advocated regular panacur use for my EC bunnies & their partners but not at 3 monthly intervals, more when there was a stressful event coming up / occurring, so I use after bereavement, for bonding, house moves etc. If its been more than 4-5 months without a stressy event for bunnies who have been positive I've dosed them anyway. Try not to worry, you caught this really early. Great she is settling in well & making herself cosy. Sorry to mention FHB AGAIN but she said in her EC for rabbit owner lectures uppy ears were a really good pointer towards EC (with the EC/ Ear infection symptoms).

Really good news that she's settled well and is eating I'm sure it helps that between you and your vets she was able to be seen early and started treatment early. I agree with j&b about hay racks for times like this.

Sending more hugs.

joey&boo said:

Sorry to mention FHB AGAIN but she said in her EC for rabbit owner lectures uppy ears were a really good pointer towards EC (with the EC/ Ear infection symptoms).

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That's actually really reassuring, my usual vet hasn't been on shift and it's hard to trust a new one even though he seemed incredibly competent and knowledgeable.

I really panicked when I saw the nystagmus to be honest, I knew 100% it hadn't been there the day before because he checked her eyes really thoroughly. And then the strange movement and slight tilt were obvious once we tried to catch her again.

Thank you everyone for being here, it really helps to get it all out with people that understand they aren't 'just' a rabbit.

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Our rabbits are members of our families so we understand how stressful an ill bunny is to their human.
I have only had up eared bunnies and while they may get fewer middle ear infections than lops; a few of mine still managed to get ear infections and head tilt. It may be regional because ec less diagnosed here in USA. Glad FHB agrees with your vet that ec most likely.

Sending vibes she responds quickly to treatment and Rodney remains well.

Hugs to you too.

Personally I would only separate them if Rodney keeps humping Blossom. Cross infection will already have happened by now but that does NOT mean that Rodney will ever become symptomatic. EC is usually contracted from the Mum Bun to her kits before birth. The parasite is rapidly excreted and the effected kits may never show symptoms in their entire life. But before being excreted the EC parasite sheds spores which remain in the Rabbit’s bloodstream. For SOME Rabbits concurrent physiological stress or a stressful event can cause the dormant EC spores to erupt into various parts of the body, usually the CNS, the Kidneys and the lenses of the eyes. The actual EC parasite has been shed long before any clinical symptoms develop. It is the spores left behind that can do damage and cause clinical symptoms. Sometimes years after initial infection.The spores are shed via the kidneys in urine, hence urine soiled hay can infect other Rabbits. Panacur does not cure EC, but it can reduce the number of spores circulating in the bloodstream. There is also anecdotal evidence that giving a 9 day course of Panacur can prevent the Rabbit being treated from being infected should they come into contact with EC.

This article is very informative

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

Thank you that's really helpful.

Rodney is very down, he obviously thinks she's left us unfortunately.

I'm going to try and distract him until we hear from the vets but to be honest I think he's going to go and join her or we're going to have stasis here as well.

I wonder if the humping was sensing she was ill? As soon as she had visible symptoms he didn't go near her?

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CarelessSquid07 said:

Thank you that's really helpful.

Rodney is very down, he obviously thinks she's left us unfortunately.

I'm going to try and distract him until we hear from the vets but to be honest I think he's going to go and join her or we're going to have stasis here as well.

I wonder if the humping was sensing she was ill? As soon as she had visible symptoms he didn't go near her?

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Yes, the behavioural change could be that he sensed all was not well.

Blossom's head tilt and eye movements have gotten worse overnight.

They're now starting her on antibiotics and doing a full blood test and a ct scan just in case ears are involved or something else sinister.

I understand EC often does deteriorate before any improvements are seen but it is still worrying none the less.

The good news is her stasis is now resolving and they're getting good output with her on syringe feeds.

He also recommended we support Rodney with feeds to prevent stasis if needed.

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Oh I'm sorry Blossom has been poorly. Sending lots of vibes the further tests give you some positive news or something to work towards treatment wise at least xx

I'm sorry that Blossom's symptoms have worsened overnight. Yes, I've also heard that EC very often gets worse before it gets better. Hopefully, the CT scan will exclude any other cause. Will this be done today?

It's good news that her Stasis is resolving. I think, if her symptoms allow and once the further diagnostics have been done, I would consider treating her further at home with Rodney.

Sending her lots more vibes and lots more hugs for you.

The scan will be today, but the results might not be.

The vet has said he wants to see the scans in house and then if they're not happy interpreting them then they'll refer to an imaging specialist which will depend on time zones so I'm guessing the same service Graciee had for Willoughby.

I'm happy to have her home, the main agreement for keeping her in was so he could assess her without travel stress first thing and decide on diagnostics.

I'm going to prepare a padded area for her with a hay surrounding as she seems to be enjoying that at the vets.

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Oh, I'm so sorry Blossom's head tilt and eye movements have gotten worse. Poor girl. It sounds like she's in very good hands, at least, and that they're caring for her really well and taking everything seriously. I'm glad her stasis is resolving, too. Sending her so, so many vibes, and poor Rodney, too. How worrying for you...