Vibes for Lilac :(

[Orenoko]

Lilac has been off her food for a few days (not completely, just decreased appetite). Yesterday morning I got up and found her moving her head side to side with some nystagmus, so I booked her in at the vet for that evening. She perked up through the day but seems to have episodes of nystagmus. The vet wasn't my usual vet but he couldn't find anything wrong. She does have a lump at the base of her ear which we've known about for a year but due to location and her age we opted to monitor (she had a CT scan at the time). The lump is still there and was causing some pain on palpation by the vet.

He gave her some emeprid for her gut, and her appetite has massively improved, I have no concerns there. She is already on pain relief (metacam, gabapentin and calpol) so we carried on with that as normal. I also ordered some panacur just in case, which hasn't arrived yet.

I got up at 1am to check on her and give her some critical care and she seemed fine, she was running about quite happily.

This morning I've found her in the same situation as yesterday but worse, seemingly distressed and curled round to one side while standing, moving her head from side to side etc. She was like that for about 30 minutes until I picked her up to give her meds.

I'm worried she's got an e cuniculi infection or that the lump in her ear is progressing. I've had a rabbit with head tilt before, he was only 2ish and we had to euthanise in the end, so with her being 10/11 I absolutely do not want to put her through it. The symptoms aren't constant but I am worried about her. Unfortunately I have had to head into the office today, I've got a camera monitoring her and will be calling the vet asap to book her in for an appt this evening. I know nobody can make the call for me but I am wondering what others would do in this situation. The last thing I want is for her to deteriorate and suffer. She's eating this morning so that's positive and when I left she seemed almost back to normal! But it's these episodes that worry me

 

[Pets mum]

So sorry to hear about Lilac, I've no experience of this, but sending lots of vibes for her, hope vet visit goes well x

 

[a reader of books]

Oh, poor Lilac, I'm so sorry she's having these episodes. I hope the vet can give you some answers this evening. I'm sending her so many vibes

Since you're wondering what others would do, I would personally want to know exactly what's causing this and what treatment options are there, and how intensive treatment would be, as well as a prognosis, before making any decisions. It would really depend on how they are, too, for me; whether they're still happy most of the time or they're clearly suffering and it's likely to be a lengthy/unending process while they continue to suffer.

I'm wondering if you could give her her meds on the floor for now? Just thinking that her symptoms while she's having these episodes might make her a bit disoriented, so picking her up might be uncomfortable?

 

[Shimmer]

EC is highly treatable. Oral Panacur for a 28 day cycle. She’s already on metacam, which helps to refuce the damage done by the parasite. Meanwhile, keep her comfortable, clean and fed. The parasite is shed in urine, so it is important to increase the cleaning and do a thorough disinfect on days 21 and 28 of the treatment cycle . I hope all goes well at the vet.

 

[Zoobec]

Sending lots of vibes xx

 

[MimzMum]

Oh, poor Lilac. I hope there is a comfortable and workable way forward for her.
My Mimzy got head tilt from suspected EC when he was about 5 years old (?) and we had a 6 month struggle with treating him and keeping him stable in a similar manner as Shimmer has already posted. He did wind up with about a 90 degree residual tilt of his head that would eventually resolve to 45 degrees, and went on to live to be 10 years old. My husband, at the time Mimzy became ill, thought I was being cruel to keep him going but my vet was very helpful and encouraged me that he could recover and he did continue to enjoy life and adapt to his new condition. Each bunny has its own experience and I also would want to know cause and choices for treatment and success before making a decision. I do hope this is something either transitory or that can be easily treated and resolved, not all rabbits wind up like my Mimzy did, especially when you catch it early as you appear to have done.

I also had a vet that recommended meclizine (a motion sickness medicine) that greatly helped Mimzy's balance issues and improved his ability to cope with the spins and tipping. You might ask if a similar medication might be available and used off label for Lilac.

All the very best wishes and hopes on the way for you and dear Lilac.

 

[bunny momma]

Sending lots of vibes for Lilac. I wonder if adding an antibiotic would help because I had bunnies with head tilt from middle ear infections that cleared with treatment. The eye movements will stop first. Only one of mine had some remaining tilt.
She is eating and has normal periods so it sounds like you caught this early and she has a good chance of recovery.

 

[Omi]

Just wanted to add my best wishes for Lilac's vet appointment. I have no experience with this, but I think I've seen on other threads that it's often the case that the bunny is treated for both EC and an ear infection ie antibiotic and Panacur in addition to her Metacam.
Regarding her further treatment, I would be guided by my vet's advice and also not rush into any decisions at this stage, as it's only just at the beginning of her illness.

 

[Orenoko]

Thanks all, I managed to get her booked in for tomorrow morning. I've seen her pottering about on the camera today and she has been fine! It's very confusing as it's so intermittent. The panacur has arrived today so I'll be starting that tonight I'd then take further advice from the vet.

I do have some meclizine tablets that I ordered for myself (get terrible motion sickness on public transport), so I will speak to the vet about whether she can have similar. I used to use that for Teddy when he had head tilt. It's just annoying that the really rabbit savvy vet is unwell currently! She is incredibly thorough. I might ask for antibiotics as well.

Re the cleaning, Lilac is free roam so I'm not sure how I can disinfect every area she goes in as she goes all over the house (except the bathroom!).

 

[joey&boo]

Thanks all, I managed to get her booked in for tomorrow morning. I've seen her pottering about on the camera today and she has been fine! It's very confusing as it's so intermittent. The panacur has arrived today so I'll be starting that tonight I'd then take further advice from the vet.

I do have some meclizine tablets that I ordered for myself (get terrible motion sickness on public transport), so I will speak to the vet about whether she can have similar. I used to use that for Teddy when he had head tilt. It's just annoying that the really rabbit savvy vet is unwell currently! She is incredibly thorough. I might ask for antibiotics as well.

Re the cleaning, Lilac is free roam so I'm not sure how I can disinfect every area she goes in as she goes all over the house (except the bathroom!).

Pottering sounds good I hope she responds well to treatment.

Cleaning wise ....its shed in urine so concentrate on areas where she pees.

 

[SarahP]

Cleaning wise ....its shed in urine so concentrate on areas where she pees.

Fingers crossed for improvements,

Yes, I think you only really need to worry about disinfecting the areas where the pee goes. And in particular, if she pees in areas where she also eats hay, like a litter tray.

 

[willow and squiggles]

Healing vibes sent for lilac. My squiggles started off with symp like lilac and I started panacur straight away. The vets also gave her antibiotic. The head tilt went back to normal completely so I think we caught it fast. Only you know your girl and what’s best. Hopefully the vet can find out what it is and she can get treatment fast.xx

 

[Cinnabun14]

Good luck and many vibes for you and Lilac. I don't have any experience with rabbit health, but I hope all goes well for you. I'm sure you'll do what's best for Lilac and, if she's anything like the loving bunnies I've come to know here on RU, she'll understand and love your for it

 

[Orenoko]

Thanks all, she mainly pees in her litter tray but she does also use the carpet from time to time (we were actually at the vet for this a month or so ago, no UTI, possibly arthritis related). Obviously I clean those whenever I spot them but not sure how to disinfect the carpet completely. She was quite chirpy last night and pretty much back to herself. Just about to get up so will check on her as soon as I do.

 

[Orenoko]

Just went to see her and she came running over as soon as she saw me, which is her usual routine bless her (not because she loves me but because she gets her oxbow treats from me first thing!). She's definitely much perkier, she's pooed everywhere so her digestive system must be back to normal too. The intermittent nature of her symptoms is strange but she will still be going for her checkup later regardless!

Edit - spoke a bit too soon, she just started moving her head left to right a bit, nothing as bad as yesterday where she was practically curled in on herself like a donut though.

 

[Zoobec]

So glad to see she is feeling better!

 

[bunny momma]

I am sorry she had another episode after eating. Sending vibes the vet visit will yield some answers and she will soon make a full recovery.

 

[Orenoko]

Just finished at the vet and she has an ear infection (I'm a bit annoyed as the other vet didn't check her ears). We've got some drops and the vet is also going to consult the RVC who did Lilac's CT last year for some additional advice. Also they confirmed she'd been tested for EC last year which was negative which I'd forgotten about, and she's not been exposed any other rabbits since then so that side of things should be OK, although I'll finish the panacur anyway.

 

[bunny momma]

Did vet prescribe any oral or injectable antibiotics? Sending vibes for a fast recovery for lovely Lilac.

 

[Cinnabun14]

I'm glad it's not EC, that's very scary. I hope her ear infection heals quickly without getting any worse.