already saw vet additional question/advice

Question
Hi Dana,
I have been dealing with my rabbit bun-bun being ill this week and wanted to ask someone who has rabbit knowledge a few questions! About a week ago bun-bun had stopped eating/drinking/was lethargic severly/had eye and nose discharge/hiding/ wouldn't get up/ heavy kind of wheezey breathing.I was trying pedialyte and a little baby food, but not being very successful. He was at the vet 2 nights; they hydrated him and got him on Baytril;told me they believe it's a kidney infection. He is now eating some, but doesn't want to drink water ( having to syringe it to him), he looks alert and much healthier now, but he is not being able to use one of his back legs and is having some trouble getting around of course. I am trying to work with him, but not getting far ( it's only been 2 days since I've had him back). I brought him to the vet this morning and he gave him a steroid shot and just said it doesn't sound good and he wants to see him in a week. I am frustrated because though he has been my vet for years, it seems he is not being thorough or doing any tests or anything. I have checked the rabbit house society link, but no links are listed for rabbit savvy vets in Mississippi. Can you give any advice about working with bun-bun or anything? I have been looking for good information on rabbits on the internet, since it seems there isn't a whole lot anyone seems to know other than assuming it's a kidney problem ( i'm not disregarding that, just no other information was given to me). He gets a little out of breath/ panting when I try to work with him to get up or clean him up etc. (( I know this is a lot, but I am trying to give you all the info i can )) thanks so very much for your time, Christy

Answer
Dear Christy,

Without seeing your bunny in person, I can't really make a judgment about his condition.  Wheezing can be caused by upper respiratory infection or pneumonia, and since it's not really safe to do a tracheal wash to culture for this, Baytril is a good first choice.  If he's really having trouble breathing, then nebulization with sterile saline, amikacin, aminophylline and acetylcysteine can be very helpful.  Ask the vet about this.

What is it that makes the vet think this is a kidney infection?  Are the kidneys enlarged?  Is the bunny straining to urinate?  Is there blood in the urine?  Other signs of urinary tract trouble?  

If the vet meant renal *failure*, then this would be determined via bloodwork.  The combination of renal disease and hind limb paresis could suggest the involvement of the parasite Encephalitozoon cuniculi, which can be treated with Panacur (fenbendazole) and/or ponazuril to arrest the damage (but kidneys don't really repair themselves; nor do nerves do a very good job at this).

Since we don't have HRS chapters or vet listings for your state, you might want to try the listings of the North Georgia Chapter:

http://www.houserabbitga.org/georgia.html

and see if any of them are within reach.  If not, you might be able to call one of the closest vets and see if they can offer a referral to someone closer to you.

But I think I'd ask about having a complete blood chemistry done, at least.  And ask the vet about treating for E. cuniculi.  Please see:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/paresis.html

and *especially* share the linked article by Dr. Susan Brown on that site with your vet.

I hope this helps.

Dana