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Rabbit stroke?

22 11:08:39

Question
My rabbit is 11 years old. Recently, I noticed him getting very messy and not cleaning himself. I tried to clean him over the course of a few days. Then I noticed him pivoting in his cage, like one leg was broken or something. I took him to the emergency vet. They took blood and said he had the blood work of a 2 year old rabbit. They took xrays which revealed a very tiny bit of arthritis and told me that he was dragging his back leg due to the pain. So I was sent home with meloxicam for the pain to administer once a day. However, I don't think the medication is helping. Now, I noticed that most of the time, his head it firmly pressed against the bars of his wire cage and his right eye is squeezed shut really tight. When I pet him or pick him up, he opens it completely. I'm confused about the head and eye thing. I have read up on head tilt and this doesn't sound like it. Any ideas?  

Answer
Dear Shannon,

At his age, your bunny is a likely candidate for molar problems originating at the tooth roots.  These are located immediately under the eye orbit, and can not only become infected, but as the bones thin due to osteoporosis the roots can actually impinge on the eye socket and penetrate it.  This can cause pain and--if the root penetrates the back of the eye--intraocular abscesses.

Please read:

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

and

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

for more information on the eye/dental connection.

It might be a good idea to have head radiographs done to assess the state of his molars.

There are other possibilities if he has hind limb weakness/paresis, and you can read about those here:

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

If the bunny is showing even the slightest hint of head tilt, then this article will be helpful:

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

The messy bottom is a sign of cecal dysbiosis, which is a secondary effect of illness/pain/stress.  Please read:

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

and if he stops eating/pooping:

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

If your vet is not a rabbit expert, you might want to find one on this list for a second opinion:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Hope this helps.

Dana