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baby rabbit with neck problems

22 10:46:35

Question
I have a four week old Holland Lop who seemed fine at birth.  Now it leans it's head to one side like it has a crick in it's neck.  The eye on the side that it leans to has not opened.  The sibling just opened it's eyes about 4-5 days ago. This one opened it's one eye the next day.  What can we do to strengthen the neck muscle so it will hold it's head up?  what about the eye that hasn't opened?

Answer
Dear Shannon,

This condition, torticollis, can have several different causes, including trauma and inner ear infection.  You can read an exhaustive overview of causes here:

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

and a more personal account here:

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

The problem isn't weak neck muscles; it's a balance problem that may require antibiotics from a good rabbit vet.  I would recommend you get the baby to one, and you can find a good vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

The closed eye must be opened soon (gentle pressure with warm, wet compresses will help get the eyelids open, but since you're going to the vet anyway, please ask about that also.) or the baby may be permanently blind in that eye.

I hope you can get this little guy flying straight soon, but you will definitely need the help of a good rabbit vet.

Good luck,

Dana