Bunny losing balance after shaking head

[Dee]

Hi Everybody,

I haven’t posted in ages but look in every so often. My latest issue is of course with poor little BunBun, who seems to be unable to go too long without some issue. Last I wrote, it was regarding his possible testosterone imbalance. I never ended up finding a supplement that seemed safe, and his behavior improved for a few months, but lately he’s been doing a bit of humping and circling his wife, Nelli.

Now that I’ve given an update on that, I’ll get to the newest problem. Bun had what is assumed to be an inner ear infection in 2012. He was given a 10 day course of Baytril and metronidazole, which the vet told me to stop after about 4 days. Bun responded quickly and has been fine. However, about 2 months ago, my husband was holding him, then put him down on the floor, and BunBun did his usual aggravated vigorous head shake, and afterwards rocked from side to side several times as if trying to regain his balance. I had my husband repeat the picking up /putting down and Bun didn’t shake his head or rock again. So I put it to the back of my mind and just kept a closer eye on his coordination. One other thing I noticed was some very quiet sneezes which is rare for Bun, but I was using wood shaving in their litter boxes since I was out of their Carefresh. I replaced the shavings with new Carefresh and all seemed well until about 3 weeks ago when I noticed Bun do a head shake while running and kind of wobble/swerve afterward. From then on, I observed this several more times. Even if he’s just sitting still and then shakes his head a couple times, he does a slight side to side wobble afterward. He also lowers his head add if to try to regain his center of gravity. He seems to hop fine, doesn’t fall over or struggle, and jumps right up on the couch with me and then back down with no problem. He’s able to groom himself and get his cecals too.

The Friday before last, I called the vet and got an appt with very rabbit savvy vet at our regular place. She examined Bun and said his ears looked clear (but could still have infection within of course), he showed no signs of E. Cuniculi, and the only thing she noted was a very small amount of clear discharge dried on his nose. I had just used the last of the wood shavings underneath the Carefresh (I never learn!) and she said it could be that, only use Carefresh from now on. She said that unlikely possibilities from his symptoms are E. cuniculi or, very unlikely, cancer, but she says thinking an inner ear infection was more likely. She prescribed Orbac and of course Benebac for 20 days. It’s been about 11 days and Bun is about the same, certainly no worse but no marked improvement. If this is just a sign of aging for Bun, or if I knew it wasn’t anything progressive, I would be content to leave it be. It’s such a slight symptom and doesn’t effect his comfort hardly at all, I think. But I’m worried that E. Cuniculi could be causing it, or something else. He had no sign of E. Cuniculi though, unless a slight increase in stretching upon getting up could be counted as hind leg weakness. I doubt that since he can still hop as high as ever at 7 years old.

Sorry for the long description, I didn’t wanna leave anything out. Do u all think I should push for Panacur in case of E. C.? The vet says it shouldn’t be used as a “just in case” treatment because it can cause bone marrow suppression.
Has anyone actually had a bunny be affected that way from Paracur or other “dazole” medication?

Is this a likely way for E. Cuniculi to present itself?
Do aging bunnies sometimes just get a bit wobbly, but specifically after head shaking instead of generalized unstained like an elderly person
Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any advice!
Dee

[drwil]

The antibiotic should be matched to the species and strain of the bacteria. This is not an old age problem but an inner ear problem.
An infection could have done some permanent damage even after it is cleared up. A vet tech I know has a cat with this same problem.
If the infection is gone and the problem only lasts for a short period he might just have to live with it.
Could the infection have caused Menier’s disease? Ask the vet.

[Dee]

Hi Drwil,
Thanks for your reply! I’m taking him back to the vet on Friday and I’ll ask about Menier’s disease. I was assuming that it was the same problem that caused his last ear infection in 2012, but since Orbac isn’t helping, probably not. Unless Baytril and metronidazole would have cleared it just like before.
I’ll update on Friday!

[Megabunny]

Baytril is not always effective for ear infections. Rabbits almost always get infections in their middle ears and not the outer ear where you can easily see. Is this a lop? They are highly prone to ear infections according to my vet. Bad infections can spread to the sinuses. just throwing that out there. I don’t know how they can see the infection if the ear drum is intact, though.

[Author]

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