mini rex cant move

Question
I have a 3 1/2 month old mini rex rabbit that has recenlty lost all balance and this isnt the first time this has happened. the first time this has happened the vet said that will put him to sleep within 24 hrs. if he didnt get better so they gave him a staroid shotand sent him home. then the next morning he was showing signs of aprovement and when we told are vet he said he sould get better. but now a month later it is happening againso if you can help please awnser me back. i am afraid he might die.

Answer
Dear Chris,

First, you need to get him to a different vet than the one you saw before, who is evidently not at all familiar with rabbit medicine.  It is most likely that your bunny has an ear infection and has lost his balance from that.  But this is not a death sentence, and the vet who suggested euthanasia instead of treatment was a word that rhymes with
"gidiot".  You can find a rabbit-expert vet who will take your baby more seriously here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Even if the bunny's head is not tilted, the cause of problems like this are often the same.  Please read:

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

and

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

Steroids may help the symptoms for a little while, but they will not cure the infection, and may even allow it to get worse.  If this is due to an ear infection (which is most often the case in very young babies like this), then he needs the appropriate, rabbit-safe antibiotics.  These can be prescribed by the rabbit-savvy vet you'll be taking your bunny to see ASAP.  The sooner treatment is begun, the better his chances for full recovery.  Please waste no time in getting him to a good vet.

I hope this helps.

Dana