***URGENT***

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

My bunny is rolling and has a head tilt.. the vet thinks its that parasite called e cunculi.. and my bunny has been on panacur for nearly a week now.. and some other drugs.. antibiotics etc.. and to be honest there has not been any change in him :( he is still rolling and still got a head tilt.. :(

today.. the vet said that there is no point going on.. they all think they are pretty sure that hes got the parasite and that he has brain damage which is unreversable! :( :( :(

they told us to let go... but we can't.. because he still wants to live!! he wants to play and he eats and drink normally! he likes it when our other rabbit comes to visit him in his shed! and it just seems so wrong to give up on him!

we don't know what to do... what should we do? can u please give us some advise.. should we carry on with the panacur..?

:(

ANSWER: Dear Kiran,

Don't give up on him.  If he's happy and eating well, he wants to live.  Please read this immediately:

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

and

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

It could be an inner ear infection, and before giving up I'd try bicillin and zeniquin in combination, which are usually effective against a wide range of bacteria that cause inner ear infections.  There might be no pus visible, but this could still be the problem, and your bunny deserves a chance!

Please find another vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

for a second opinion, and hang in there.   It can take several weeks before you see improvement, and I'd certainly ask about adding antibiotics to the Panacur before you admit defeat!  Patience and nursing are the keys to recovery.  Don't expect quick results.  And let him enjoy his life.  If he doesn't mind that he's rolling and tilted, then neither should anyone else!

I'm rooting for you!

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dana, thanks for your quick reply! i will ask them about the inner infection and we are not going to give up on him.

but one question. the vets (2 of them) have said that he has not responded to none of the medication.. which they said its too late and that it has done damage in his brain and it can not be irreversable..

is this true? can this happen?

also the eye facing down... i read on the internet.. that a rabbit (with head tilt) most likley will not close the eye facing downwards and therefore will need ornaments to moist his eye.. should we get some ornaments from the vet?

thankyou so much for your advise.

it really makes me feel assure that someone else thinks theres a chance for our bunny.

i will let you know how it goes at the vets today.

thanks again.

ANSWER: Dear Kiran,

I wonder if the two vets you saw were familiar with rabbits, or expert in rabbit medicine.  You really need a good *rabbit* vet for this type of problem, and you can find one here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Also be SURE to read:

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

and

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

They say he has not responded to medication, but have they tried antibiotics?  I would not give up until this is considered and tried.

Ointment for the eye won't prevent injury.  In some really severe cases, it's possible to suture the eyelid shut (as long as you have a vet who knows that these must be sutures that DO NOT penetrate the inside of the eyelid, where they will do more damage than protection) so he doesn't injure it, and then open it when the head tilt starts to improve.  An eye patch is another option, but the eye needs to be somehow kept closed, maybe even with a little bit of surgical tape.  Don't do this yourself; let the vet decide what's best.

I hope this helps.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: They have been giving him antibiotics.

But no change.

The vet gave him pencillin yesterday too.

And still on panacur.

Not sure what to do now...

Answer
Dear Kiran,

1.  It has to be the *right* antibiotic, and I would ask about adding zeniquin (marbofloxacin) to the penicillin.  It can't hurt to try, at this point.

2. READ the articles I sent you.  

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

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

They have all the information you need.  It takes a long time for this condition to heal, and you must READ WHAT I SENT YOU, or I can't be much help.

Dana