Hershey, Horners and headtilt now

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 34sd replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 1 month ago by Cassi&Charlie.

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- 02/08/2010 at 4:35 PM
  kralspace
  Participant
  2663 posts
  Geez, my poor little Hershey had done wonders getting pretty much past the Horner’s Syndrome that hit her in early January. A bit of paralysis in the lips and nose but everything else pretty much back to normal.
  
  Then early Sunday I noticed her head bob a tiny bit in a funny way and within the hour her head had started to twist around in headtilt. Her eyes flickering horizontally and her mentally ‘going away’ for short periods of time, almost like a partial seizure. Between those periods she’s mentally alert and I had to move her from her condo into a box with the rolled towels, etc for suport because she was insisting on trying to get up.
  
  I had her with me at work today and we got into the vet at 4. I was afraid she would take one look and want to put her down. She did say ‘oh crap’ when she picked her up, but after giving her a thorough exam is fairly optomistic about her chances of making an acceptable recovery. At least it’s a 50/50 chance.
  
  There is no sign of ear infection, her chronic respiratory problem is even better than usual, heart’s strong and stomack feels and sounds good. She can’t or won’t eat solids, but really slurps down a mixture of CC/babyoatmeal, applesauce, pellet dust, baytril through a syrings, and her probiotic for desert. She was eating 3 teaspoons every hour and lots of water all day. I had her wrapped up on my lap at work and she was very quiet.
  
  Dr. Ervin spent several minutes nose to nose with her, just watching. She said she’s bright, mostly mentally alert, eats well for now and still has a sense of herself, insisting on trying to clean herself when someone steadies her upright. She said she’s figured out not to fight and struggle the vertigo and when she put her back in her padded box she immediately moved herself to the right corner so she could lean against it and stay upright instead of hysterically thrashing around.
  
  At this point Dr. Erving thinks it may be caused by whatever triggered the Horner’s, possibly neurological and we may have to eventually decide to put her to sleep, but she feels it’s worth a try. She’s back on the steriods, and double probiotics for now. I was worried because she’s not pooping (I fed her the few cecals she passed) but she said because she’s just eating the mush right now her body is probably absorbing most of it, but we’ll keep an eye out for statis.
  
  Here’s my son taking a turn feeding tonight, your healing vibes for my girl are certainly appreciated.
- 02/08/2010 at 4:38 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  Oh no!
  
  (((((((((((((((((((big big big healing vibes for poor little Hershey)))))))))))))))))))
  
  You guys have been through so much lately… I do hope she gets better!
- 02/08/2010 at 4:57 PM
  mocha200
  Participant
  4486 posts
  oh poor Hershey ((((((((((((((((((((((healing vibes ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) get better soon Hershey! be strong don’t give up
- 02/08/2010 at 5:40 PM
  stacyblue
  Participant
  98 posts
  Oh dear I am so sorry Hershey is so ill but it sounds like she is a fighter .I realy hope she starts to feel better soon. Dont lose hope, big hugs!
- 02/08/2010 at 6:37 PM
  MimzMum
  Participant
  8029 posts
  I am heartbroken to see this post! I will keep you and Hershey in my prayers for a swift and complete recovery.
  (((((((((((((((((((strong healing vibes and hugs for Hershey))))))))))))))))))))))))
- 02/08/2010 at 6:55 PM
  Lintini
  Participant
  3329 posts
  Oh I am so sorry to hear about this, I hope she heals and makes a great recovery!
  
  {{{{{{{{{{{{{Healing Vibes}}}}}}}}}}}}}
- 02/08/2010 at 10:16 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  “Oh Crap” indeed! (((HERSHEY))) Your vet sounds just amazing. Hershey is in good hands with you, your son and your vet. Thank you for posting that sweet pic. Hershey is such a doll. I love her lil bunny self! {Hugs} Kathy.
- 02/09/2010 at 2:57 AM
  wiseleyd
  Participant
  236 posts
  Sweet bunny, Hershey, (((((((((((((((((healthy))))))))))))))))) (((((((((((((((Bunny)))))))))))))))))))))) Get well soon, you are a doll!
- 02/09/2010 at 5:21 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Oh Kathy! Continued huge vibes to you and Hershey. That’s so nice that your son is helping you with her.
  
  Hugs to you.
- 02/09/2010 at 6:09 AM
  Barbie
  Participant
  1581 posts
  Oh no! Here are some (((((((((((get well vibes to Hershey)))))))))!
- 02/09/2010 at 6:32 AM
  kralspace
  Participant
  2663 posts
  She’s eating this morning! little bites of carrot and apple, a couple pieces of parsley, but that’s the first solid food she’s had in several days. Still have to use the syringe for water right now, but she’s drinking quite a bit. And taking in her green goo. Yea!
  
  I rubbed the steroid in her ears last night, the same stuff used for her Horner’s paralysis and she seems so much stronger today. She’s got herself propped up in her box under my desk so she can mouth at me when she’s ready for some more goodies. I’ll have to sneak a video of her to post.
  
  Bunny slave healing vibes must be the strongest in the world, thanks!
- 02/09/2010 at 7:06 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Oh good! More bunny vibes coming Hershey’s way.
- 02/09/2010 at 7:15 AM
  Denise12
  Participant
  281 posts
  Much love and healing vibes to Hershey!!!!!!!!!!
- 02/09/2010 at 8:30 AM
  KatnipCrzy
  Participant
  2981 posts
  glad to hear that you are seeing some improvement!
- 02/09/2010 at 8:52 AM
  Karla
  Participant
  1624 posts
  Lots of healing vibes!!! Happy to hear that things seem to be going in the right direction. I keep my fingers crossed for you.
- 02/09/2010 at 2:56 PM
  mrmac
  Participant
  2156 posts
  (((Healing vibes))) I am glad to hear she is showing some improvement! Little is always better than none. Get well Hershey, Hugs to you both!
- 02/09/2010 at 5:38 PM
  MimzMum
  Participant
  8029 posts
  Aw, this sounds sweet…little bunny lips asking for a treat! ^_^
  So glad to hear she is improving! More healing vibes coming your way! ((((((((((((((((((((Hershey & Kathy))))))))))))))))))
- 02/09/2010 at 6:36 PM
  wiseleyd
  Participant
  236 posts
  Please, please take a video. That has to be the cutest thing ever. Bunnies have cute lips. (((((((((Heal))))))))))))
- 02/09/2010 at 11:25 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  TRIPLE DOSE OF HEALING VIBES! I am so sorry this has happened. I am glad to hear there is improvement though so that is good.
  
  I am sorry if this has already been asked, but has ecuniculi been ruled out?
- 02/10/2010 at 6:47 AM
  kralspace
  Participant
  2663 posts
  Thanks for the vibes, guys, she’s showing more improvement this morning. I had taken everything out of her condo’s top floor and put rolled towels and triple layer fleece and sheepskin. I also put the heating pad from the cat’s bed under the layers in one corner, it’s the kind that doesn’t come on unless they’re laying on it. After putting the steroid in her ears and getting cleaned up, she was able to stumble around and eat some pieces of carrot laying around. I felt kinda mean not handfeeding he those, but I wanted her to practice aiming for it. She did good and later got a bit huffy when I syringe fed and watered her.
  
  Checking on her during the night, she had found her way into the heated corner and was sleeping upright leaning against the towels.
  
  She’s looking much better here at work now. I have a towel over half the box so when she wants some privacy she scoots under it and comes out when she wants something. She can balance and work on cleaning her face and feet almost by herself.
  
  I like that Dr. Erving said she may do well because she’s smart enough to not fight and thrash around. When she does roll and go into that pretzel shape, she takes advantage of it the get her cecals by herself now. Smart girl!
  
  BB, is the test for ecuniculi the deep nasal snot test? Since there was no sign of ear infection and her chest wheezing seemed under control, she decided to try the steroids and see if it was caused by the same unknown problem that brought on the Horners’, if so we would see improvement quickly.
  
  With her age and all, she’s not wanted to do that deep nasal test because of the stress, so she keeps in mind that she may have the active pasteurells(sp).
  
  OMG! she just managed to get the tip of her front feet over the side of the box for a quick look without falling over. True, she’s kinda looking over her shoulder, but still, wow.
- 02/10/2010 at 6:52 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Kralspace the e. cunniculi is taken from a blood test – it’s actually a titer. I believe there are only certain labs in the US that do this and it normally takes about a week to get the results.
  
  She is definitely a titer.
  
  More healing vibes to Hershey.
- 02/10/2010 at 9:43 AM
  kralspace
  Participant
  2663 posts
  This was Hershey a few hours before the headtilt became evident. She gets annoyed because I’m disturbing her banana break and gives me some stinkeye before running off.
  
  The way her head was tilted the first day. I guess she figured there wasn’t much else to do in that position so she cleaned herself up and did some cecal housekeeping.
  
  In her box under my desk yesterday, 3rd day on steroids. She’s eating her first solid food. When she’s full, she scoots back under the towel and sticks her head back out when she wants some more. Her head is straigher and she can prop herself against the padding to sit upright.
  
  Last night in her now padded condo. She was able to get around by herself and pick up the bits of food I left, but still can’t drink water by herself. She found the warm corner under her tent (cat’s heating pad) and spent the night on it. Since I had taken her hidey box out, after I shot this I pulled the quilted piece down so it made her a soft tent to hide in.
- 02/10/2010 at 10:07 AM
  Bren
  Participant
  149 posts
  you and Hersey are in my prayers for certain! Thank goodness you have a vet that is wiling to look at the whole picture and not so quick to put down!!! {{{{{{ hugs Hersey}}}}}}
- 02/10/2010 at 11:05 AM
  wiseleyd
  Participant
  236 posts
  She seems to be improving. Keep it up, dear Hershey!
- 02/10/2010 at 12:08 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I meant to say in my last post that she is definitely a fighter not a titer.
  
  I love the videos. More hugs for Hershey from me too.
- 02/10/2010 at 12:23 PM
  Lintini
  Participant
  3329 posts
  Keep up the healing Hershey! {{{Vibes}}}
- 02/10/2010 at 12:49 PM
  lopsandspots
  Participant
  1 posts
  Have your vet give the rabbit oral Ivermectin 1% solution for cattle. Give this to the rabbit at the dose of 1/10cc per pound of rabbit. So a 5 pound rabbit would get 5/10 cc of Ivermectin. If the rabbit isn’t suffering from an ear infection, he may have head tilt (torticollus). This can be cured by using the Ivermectin. It’s recommended to give this to the rabbit as soon as the head tilt shows up. Give the amount for 2 days, then give another dose 7 days later. It’s very important to give the rabbit the dose at 7 days. Ivermectin 1% cattle solution can be purchased at any Farm supply store or on-line. A small bottle costs about $35. The rest of what you are doing is great, but I swear the Ivermectin will clear up the head tilt. Many vets cannot or will not use the Ivermectin for cattle on a rabbit, believe me it works and it will not harm your rabbit. I’ve saved rabbits that have developed head tilt with probiotics and Ivermectin 1% oral solution for cattle. It has to be the oral solution for cattle and it must be 1%. Antibiotics won’t hurt but if the rabbit doesn’t have an infection they will not clear up the head tilt. My best to you and Hershey..
- 02/10/2010 at 1:35 PM
  kralspace
  Participant
  2663 posts
  thank you for the info lopsandspots, I’ll ask Dr. Ervin about it when we go back.
  
  I was also reading an Allexperts question/answer about headtilt written by Dana K. that references a very interesting therapy for the bunnies. The page itself had a very hard-to-read background, so I copied and pasted it here, with the authors info:
  
  http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/tilt_therapy.html
  
  THERAPY FOR BUNNIES WITH TORTICOLLIS
  By Lawrence J. Gavlak
  
  Our beloved 10 lb. bunny that answers to the name of “Boper” fell ill to the CNS parasitic dysfunction torticollis on August 4 of the year 2002. After taking him to three different vets on four separate occasions, we found that each vet gave him little or no chance to survive his bout with this very scary-looking illness.
  
  After these veterinarian visits, I began to scour the internet to hopefully find a cure for our furry family member and came upon this website. After reading and re-reading each offering on the subject I finally took our bunny to a very good vet that was willing to look at this website and try the medications suggested.
  
  Our bunny now is very functional and has survived his bout with torticollis and is almost back to normal. A twisted neck is all that is left from the disease. He can hop around his cage much as he did before the day of his sickness. Also, his balance is almost back to normal, after he exhibited almost no balance for quite some time after his illness began.
  
  I am a therapist by trade and I put my training in the field of therapy to good use with Boper. To make a long story short, I will tell you in “layman’s terms” how I contributed to our bunny’s increase in balance.
  
  When a person exhibits a lack of balance, a therapist will, using varying techniques and under strict supervision, let the patient while standing or sitting, lean to the affected side and then the unaffected side with help from the therapist. This sends signals to the brain that triggers a balancing response. After much of this type of therapy a patient usually shows an increase in balance. So, after some thought, I decided to try this balance therapy on our bunny. After buying a large clothes basket and a suitable carpet or rug (purchase one that your bunny can use for the most traction) for the bottom of the basket, place your bunny inside the basket and let him get comfortable with his new surroundings. After this, gently pick up the clothes basket and rotate the entire basket away from the bunny’s affected side and then to the bunny’s affected side. This sends signals to your bunny’s brain that will make him attempt to “right” his balance.
  
  Our bunny was severely affected from his bout with torticollis. Therefore, I had to start this type of treatment very gently and slowly progress upwards. Toward the end of his treatment sessions I was actually rocking the clothes basket very briskly in many directions to attempt to disrupt his balance and every time our little bunny friend balanced himself very well. After approximately one month of this therapy, two times per day, I did not feel the need to give therapy any more as our beloved little guy was back hopping around in his rather large pen and eating almost constantly!
  
  Good luck with your treatments. It will be worth the time spent in the end!
- 02/10/2010 at 1:43 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Lopsandspots – thanks for the info. I do feel I need to clarify something so that people reading your advice may not use this as a single solution. (and people should discuss this with their rabbit-savvy vet first). I would really be careful with how you treat the head-tilt until you know what head-tilt is caused by. Head-tilt (torticollus) is not an illness all on it’s own, but a symptom of just one of many illnesses (including an ear-infection) Check here for a more thorough list: http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-8/head-tilt.htm. So you do you do want to figure out the real source of the problem as quickly as possible so that the real illness will not continue to wreak havoc.
  
  Note: Many vets will treat right away for e.cuniculi as a “just in case” measure while they wait for the results because catching it early can help prevent further decline and permanent damage. So normally that’s just fine for the vet to treat that right away even if they don’t know for sure.
  
  And for people who do have bunnies with headtilt – here is some more information about treatment and ongoing care (as well as there are even more educational resources within that site as well) http://onthewonk.com/?p=4.What+Trea…bit%20Have
- 02/10/2010 at 2:30 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  kralspace – Thanks for that info too! I actually forwarded this to the owner of “OnTheWonk.com”.
  
  I can tell you that we used physical therapy on Bailey (she had hind-leg weakness due to e.cuniculi so hers was different than what you would use for headtilt) Her legs were not actually weak, but her brain was not sending the correct signals. We did leg circles, hallway walks, we also little obstacle courses that forced her to make a hard right and left. This helped her improve her balance. Now I’m not at all saying for YOU to use the same exact technique as this was used for hind leg weakness/usage issues. But I’m just saying the PT really seemed to help her brain re-establish some new connections to get her moving again. (like in the article your provided).
  
  At the shelter, there was a bunny there that had severe head-tilt for years due to e.cuniculi, but when he was finally adopted, the new owner gave massages on a regular bases, and that seemed to help. (Plus I don’t doubt that he had more freedom exercise wise in his forever home and all of that helped. But the massages helped relieve those tight muscles that are contracted too much on one side and stretched too much on the other.
  
  Regarding your other question about e.cuniculi, Sarita is right. It can be done with a blood test, but many vets will treat for it right away. It seems like your guy is improving. The tricky part is even if a bunny comes back positive, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the head-tilt is being caused by that (though a vet would normally still treat for it once the test comes back positive). Many bunnies will have E.C. and never show symptoms. For example, even though Bailey had symptoms, Rucy was also positive and never showed symptoms. (It’s estimated that one in every four bunnies will test positive)
  
  Latest edit: Will show Edited due to being a typo maniac!
- 02/10/2010 at 2:42 PM
  kralspace
  Participant
  2663 posts
  She’s been on Baytril since before I adopted her (a bit over 2 years now) and the vet always checks to see if that condition is still the same before going on to the new problem. I found that OnTheWonk site too, I can’t wait to get home and start reading. She’s not wanted to eat much this afternoon, I’ll try to entice her before I have to force feed her, she’s been taking the syringe so well, she may be tired of me.
- 02/10/2010 at 3:25 PM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  She’s looking much better as she progresses in the videos.
  I just want to add that I always consult with my vet first if entertaining the option of different things to try, since the vet is familiar with exactly your situation with your bunny.
  Hershey’s a brave girl.
  
  {{{{{{{{{{{{Speedy healing vibes}}}}}}}}}}}}}
- 02/10/2010 at 3:34 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Well the fact that she’s improving is good sign, and so hopefully it’s not E.C. related. I do always wonder though why some vets choose to wait to give meds for e.c, when it comes to symptoms that could be related to e.cuniculi. as treatment can help stop the progression IF it is, but waiting can cause more permanent damage for many bunnies who have it. Maybe it’s a medicine issue — not mixing certain ones etc, or having too much in the system.
- 02/10/2010 at 5:13 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  ((( Hershey)))
- 02/10/2010 at 5:27 PM
  Cassi&Charlie
  Participant
  1260 posts
  (((Hershey))) She’s looking so much better in that last video. I’ve never seen a video of head tilt before so thank you. Now I know what it looks like 🙂
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