my lionhead rabbit with E. cuniculi

Question
QUESTION:  My two month old lionhead rabbit has been diagnosed with ecuniculi.Is there any hope of recovery? The vet has started her on antibiotics in the hope that they may do some good. Have i got my hopes up falsely or is there any way she can recover?

ANSWER: Dear Sally,

On what basis was this diagnosis made?  It is *really* unusual for such a young rabbit to show signs of E. cuniculi, though it's not impossible (especially in really inbred rabbits, such as Lionheads, who may have genetically compromised immune systems).

If your bunny has a head tilt, please read:

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

and

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

If the problem is hind limb paresis, then please read:

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

If you write and tell me the symptoms the bunny is showing, I will be better able to help you.  Also please tell me the name of the medication your bunny is getting.  Antibiotics are not usually helpful in treating E. cuniculi, though certain antihelminthic medications (e.g., fenbendazole) may be.

I hope to hear back from you soon. Do not give up on her.  This *is* treatable.

Dana

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

QUESTION: Dana,
Thanks for your prompt reply. The diagnosis was made through a blood test. Not sure what medication she is having, as she is at the breeders - due to not wanting to upset my son. The antibiotics were to treat her as having an ear infection before the blood results came back.
Her symptoms are a wry neck a very severe case and slightly off/losing balance.She is eating and drinking as normal.
I won't give up on her!
Look forward to hearing your response.
Thanks
Sally

Answer
Dear Sally,

Well, if a paired titer for E. cuniculi was done, even a positive titer doesn't necessarily tell you that the problems you're seeing are being caused by E. cuniculi.  A head tilt can be caused by a LOT of different things, and I hope you'll find this useful:

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

Please also read this, for my own experience with head tilt bunnies:

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

I'm glad you're not giving up, because this condition is usually quite treatable, even though it looks upsetting.  

I'm sending lots of healing thoughts, and hope those articles help.

Dana