Please Note - Medical Advice
Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.
You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.
We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.
Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.
Option 2 is definitely what I would do for Aoife. Sending more vibes for her.
Another brief update- our Vet’s professional opinion is that Aoife’s clinical presentation is that which fits with either idiopathic epilepsy or a brain lesion/mass
We discussed options going forward.
1- Brain CT/MRI scans to ascertain if there is a brain mass.
2- ‘Wait and see’ - Keep a diary of symptoms. If seizures become frequent start anti-convulsant medication. If Aoife’s QOL is adversely effected every day, regardless of treatment (side effects of medication can be unpleasant) then we let her go
I asked what would we can gain from scans with regards to other treatment options.Our Vet said that treatment wise nothing. It would just rule out a brain mass/tumour. If a tumour were found my Vet does not think it would be ethical to even contemplate surgery/biopsies/ chemo etc. I agree.
So, after much discussion we are going with option 2. I know some people won’t agree with this and maybe feel I am not doing enough to try to help Aoife. But me and our Vet have come to this decision with Aoife’s welfare as our priority. Our Vet said it’s the decision she would make if Aoife were her Rabbit.
We don’t know how things are going to pan out but at the moment Aoife is doing OK within herself. And for her ‘at the moment’ is all that matters.
She’s had another seizure Will be having a difficult conversation with our Vet later