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Bedding and cleaning suggestions?

22 11:32:54

Question
Hi! We have seven year old Dutch Rabbit who has had a severe head tilt since Dec 2003. (We got her through the initial illness thanks in part to your articles about it. Thanks!)
She is a happy bunny again but has lost use of one eye, one ear and head head is very tilted still. This has left her so that she has very bad balance and she is not able to clean herself well enough to keep her bottom clean. Consequently, she gets stuff stuck to her butt and recently was raw and infected down under. I'm using corn starch powder to help keep her clean and dry (also have a medicated powder from our vet.)
I have taken her out of paper litter as it seems to make things worse, and am currently using newspaper and bath towels. This is very messy and smelly because she now will not designate a spot for a potty and just goes wherever.

My questions: Do you have any suggestions as to better bedding? and Any suggestions as to therapy or exercises we can do to help her regain more balance?

Thanks!
Maria

Answer
Dear Maria,

I'm glad your bunny is improving!

We use Feline Pine as litter, which is highly absorbant and keeps things really odor-free.  I'd suggest you place a layer of that under whatever you're using as soft bedding (e.g., cotton towels).  An excellent combination would be Feline Pine in a litterbox, covered with a layer of artificial fleece from Palace Pet (www.palacepet.com).  The fleece is very cushiony, and will allow urine to pass through without soaking the fleece.  This keeps bunny dry and comfortable.  

It's not always perfect, and sometimes bun might get a bit of poop or pee on her.  But you can deal with it just as you are:  with cornstarch powder and a bit of neosporin on any raw areas.

Physical therapy includes very gently stretching her neck in the opposite direction of the tilt, never forcing anything. At the same time, gently and firmly give deep muscle massage (don't use the tips of your fingers, since that will hurt; use the flats of your fingers with firm, gentle pressure) on the back, the neck, and the chest in front of and in back of the forelegs.

There is a link to an article on physical therapy for head tilt bunnies designed by a physical therapist at the article you may already have seen (but not noticed the link):

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

That will give you more tips for physical rehab.  It's important to get her up and moving about, especially in straight lines.  A large exercise area outdoors while you supervise is perfect, as long as it's not been sprayed with any fertilizers or pesticides, and is predator-proof.

Hope that helps.  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana