possible e. cuniculi

Question
Hi Dana. I've read many of your rabbit-related articles and have invariably found them helpful. I have a sick bun, Lowell, who is approx. 10 years old.  He recently went through Hell for about 10 days, where he experienced total GI stasis and nearly died.  With the help of great vets (here in the Virginia Beach, VA area), Lowie was able to pull through and is now pooping fairly well.  However, in the course of this experience, Lowie has lost the coordination in his hind legs.  He seems to still have a lot of strength in his hind legs, as he kicks strongly when I try to flip him on his back (e.g. to wash his tummy).  But his ability to stand is near nil.  It's as if he has severe vertigo.  He strongly prefers laying on his left side.  The doctors suspected that the cause of his incapacity was e cuniculi.  They've taken blood to titer, and started Lowie on a course of treatment with Panacur (0.45ml/day) and Metacam.  What are the chances that Lowie will be able to stand and hop again?  Also, can you recommend anything else I might do to get Lowie upon his feet?  Thank you very much!

Answer
Dear Anne,

This makes me wonder if the cause of Lowell's ileus was not an imminent problem with his hind limb paresis.  There are several possible causes, which you can see here:

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

but E. cuniculi is surely a prime suspect in a bunny this age.  The Panacur should be effective at killing the parasites, but the degree of restoration of his mobility will depend on how much permanent damage has been done to his spinal cord and/or major nerves controlling his back end.  Panacur will not restore damaged nerves.  

If some of the immobility is due to inflammation from a reaction to the parasites, then their deaths will eventually reduce inflammation (after a possible initial flare up), and his mobility could improve.  Physical therapy and gentle massage can help.

If he is showing signs of dizziness, and not really so much weakness in his back end, then please read this (and feel free to share it with your vets):

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

Problems that cause head tilt can also occur without obvious signs of torticollis (head tilt), and your vet might want to consider those.  The article above was written by the very well respected rabbit vet, Dr. Susan Brown.

I hope this helps!

Dana