is my rabbit having seizures

Question
I bought a dwarf rabbit at my local petstore she is also from a local breeder the pet store owner told me. Last week i came home and she was falling over and kicking in the air and just couldn't get back on her feet. I spoke with my local vet and was told it may be a inner ear infection and was told it coud wait untill i got paid this week, just to keep an eye on her make sure she keeps eating. Well she got better the next day and was acting perfectly fine playing and hopping.I spoke to the vet again and she said it maybe siezures and again to keep an eye on her. Well i came home today and turned light on and she just started falling over and kicking again and acting really dizzy and disoriented and acting very tired afterwards.I picked her up and calmed her down by holding her. I put her back in her cage and my cat scared her and she just went at it again but worse. im just asking what u think it maybe. my local vet charges a $100 emergency fee not including treatment and i just cannot afford to do that right now. i was reading online about some of the symptoms of wryneck and inner ear infections and the symptoms are close but she isnt tilting her head and she dosnt have puss in her ear. and she seem all better the next day. this time i just checked on her and she is breathing but she isnt moving unless i touch her and she is keeping her eyes open. i just dont know what to do.

Answer
Hi Alex,

The most likely cause of your rabbit's issues is a middle and/or inner ear infection.  Not all rabbits with present with tilt or wryneck (technically it's called torticollis).  It is virtually impossible to see any real sign of infection even with an otoscope deep inside the ear.  I treat for ear infections when presentable symptoms point in that direction....and this sure looks like a vestibular infection.  Your question has me very concerned.  I am really concerned about the vet's attitude about this issue in rabbits.  Time is critical in an ear infection in a rabbit.  It is much more serious than a human, dog or cat.  A rabbit can't focus on a fixed point.  They rely on their ears (like we do) and the bottom of their feet to send accurate information to the brain so the rabbit can orient itself.  Many times they will have "roving eye syndrome" (nystagmus) as they frantically search for proper orientation.  They will spin, sometimes violently enough to severely injure their backs, because they are basically drunk (vertigo).  Delaying treatment can allow an ear infection to migrate to the brain stem.  We have just such a patient in our sanctuary.  Due to the improper treatment she received in the infancy of a vestibular infection, her brain stem was infected.  She is now almost totally blind and deaf.  She has a condition known as positional nystagmus in which she flat spins like a rodeo bull.  The spin (and the tilt) is always to the side with the worst infection..but most likely both ears ar infected.  

The proper way to diagnose a suspected bacterial infection is by culture and sensitivity.  Thei will determine if there is a bacterial infection and if so, identify the pathogen and the drugs that the bacteria are sensitive to.  At one time, we could assume a bacteria known as Pasteurella Multocida as the culprit.  While it is still the most likely, in today's rapidly changing bacterial world, we can't assume this any longer and we can't assume that if it is Pasteurella that it is sensitive to the drugs that most vets have used for years.  We have numerous cases of drug resistant bacteria in our sanctuary...and that leads to some chanllenges when dealing with rabbits.  Ear infections can be long term issues (we have treated for as long as 7 months running) and require the expertise of a skilled rabbit experienced vet.  As I mentioned, an ear infection in a rabbit is an entirely different world compared to dogs or cats.  You may also read about a condition called E Cuniculi and read how it causes head tilt (and your rabbit will tilt unless this issue is promptly resolved).  E Cuniculi is the most misunderstood of all rabbit issues.  Most vets have never seen a real case of EC much less treated one.  I have done very advanced work on EC...it took a very special rabbit from me.  I have a personal vendetta against EC.  But fact is, EC doesn't directly cause tilt.  It is a protozoan infection that overwhelms the immune system and allows opportunistic bacteria, like pasteurella, to invade.  The stressed immune system allows these bacterial infections secondary to a possible EC infection.

Here are my suggestions for treatment.  Please understand that I am not a vet....just very experienced at treating these issues.  Use my comments here in discussions with your vet regarding treatment.  I use much more aggressive drugs since I know the true nature of what is going on with these infections.

>Get a culture to see what is causing the infection(s).  Knowing most of the pathogens that are found, my drugs of choice in fighting ear infections are Penicillin (with a specific amount of Procaine and Benzathine), Zithromax or Chloramphenicol.  I have recenly been working with a drug just approved for use in the US....called Convenia (the web site says not to use it in rabbits).  I have used it both in domestic and wild rabbits successfully...but we haven't had sufficient cases to establish facts about this drug.  WARNING:While you may be able to acquire these drugs without a vet....they have to be administered properly both in administration route and dosing or they will cause death.  Most vets are still using Sulfanomides and/or Baytril.  Neither are very effective these days.

>Watch the body temp.  Fever associated with ear infections can reach life threatening levels (abouve 105F).  

>Ear infections are painful and stressful.  I generally use a NSAID for the first few days (this family of drugs can be damaging to the liver when used long term).  You can use narcotics (Buprenorphine or Tramadol) for longer term.  If the rabbit is spinning violently, light sedation by either using an extra round of Tramadol or by injectable valium can help.  Some rabbits respond well to Meclizine (the active ingredient in motion sickness meds)....some don't respond at all.

>Encourage the food and water....and watch hydration carefully.

This is a very brief protocol for dealing with an ear infection.  It is highly unlikely the problem will resolve on it's own...in fact, it usually escalates quickly without proper treatment.  I urge you to do everything you can to get this rabbit in the hand's of a qualified rabbit vet as quickly as possible.

This may be a long term and challenging issue to deal with.  The meds I usually use are not that expensive...it's just sometimes ear infections take a while to resolve....and it' important that once you have an effective treatment that you stick with it...for your rabbit's sake.  Don't hesitate to contact me after reading this.  I have lots more info.  No flaming to your vet.....they receive very little if any training on "exotics" in school...but if he/she isn't familiar with the special challenges of treating bacterial infections in rabbits....ask for a referral to a doctor that is experienced or if your doctor is willing, I will be glad to consult with them directly as long as it's known that I am not a vet...some will, some won't depending on a lot of things.