2 Questions..

Question
Hi, My first question is about my male rabbit. He has got a head tilt, has lost his balance and is rolling quite alot (we have put him in a padded box so he doesn't hurt him self). We don't know what he has got, our vet has said that it could be anything, such as e cuniculi, inner ear infection, brain trauma or something to do with the brain behind his ear that controls his balance etc? I am not sure. At first they said that we should consider letting him go :( but we didn't want to do that. So now they have put him on panacure in case it is e cuniculi, an injection, for any swelling in his brain and anitbiotics. so basically they are treating all possible things?

the thing is he still eats and drinks and wants to play etc.. but he can't play because everytime he tries to walk he falls and starts rolling...... :(

i wanted to ask.. if it is e cuniculi.. does this parasite eventually go away? how long is it in the body and if he has this.. will he get better considering he has lost his balance.. his head tilt? does this parasite get worser before it gets better? if so, what else should we expect? if its one of the other things.. will he eventually get better.. bearing in mind he still wants to "live". also, his eyes seem alittle red.. not the actual eye.. but around the eye. maybe hes just tired or something? he eats everything we put in front of him.. veg, pellets, and hay! but getting water to him is difficult.. he likes eating romaine lettuce and kale, cress, celery etc... he gets water from here too i suppose?

my second question is about my other rabbit.. who just gave birth 2 days ago.. to 5 babies.. :) shes made a nice big nest.. and after giving birth she.. put her fur on them.. BUT.. she made the nest near the door in the corner.. and not in a box.. but the kits do seem warm though.. we don't open the door much (she lives in a shed) only to give her food and to check on the babies..
the question is.. should we just leave it be.. and let her do what she wants.. because we don't want to stress or anger her.. because in the past she has killed her babies.. and we don't want that again.

- Kiran

Answer
Dear Kiran,

1.  Don't give up on your head tilt bunny.  Please read:

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

and

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

This is treatable, though it can take some time to see improvement.  Is the bunny on antibiotics?  If not, please ask the vet about this, in case it's an inner ear infection.

2.  Leave the nest in place, and let mama care for them where she had them.  It would be too risky to move them.  Just work around them with caution.

Good luck!

Dana