Hello,
This is my first time posting on any forum, but I’ve read a lot of the comments and I think at least here I will find people who love and really care for bunnies!
Basically, I’m hoping someone can refer me to a vet in Vancouver/lower mainland with whom they have personal experience. I took my bun, a mini-lop, to see two different vets, Dr. Martinez at Little Paws and Dr. Rob Ashburner at West King Edward; they both have very good reviews overall and are rabbit-savvy. But, it’s been nearly two months and I still don’t know what Pat has. Worse is, I have tried to get them to treat her for ear infection or even to consider that she might have an ear infection, but they just dismissed or ignored me! Her external ears show no signs and are clean, but I’ve read that it may not show if it’s deep enough, mild enough, and if the ear drum is not ruptured… Her head is not tilted in the typical way; rather, it is twisted. It began with her right side, then it shifted to her left for a longer period, and finally it’s been back to her right side since Sept 12. It’s not twisted all the time either – it’s very sporadic, as is her nystagmus (which seems to be horizontal).
She had a few really bad days when she could not walk straight but would go in circles; now she can navigate straight but would bump into things, as she is blind from cataracts. She was put on Panacur (liquid suspension) for 30 days. The 3rd week she was improving and the symptoms had almost gone, but then she had a relapse that brought her back to square one. That’s when I consulted a second vet. He has ruled out E.C because the Panacur did not work and her kidneys are fine; he thinks she has brain tumor and will have to be “put down” when she gets worse! However, he’s just guessing – it’s not a diagnosis! And he seems unwilling to listen to me and help my rabbit! I have been advised by Dana Krempels to have her treated for both EC and ear infection just in case she has those, and I agree with her completely. But I need a vet to work with me.
If you know of one, please tell me. And if you have any experience with similar symptoms with your bunnies and can enlighten me, please do! I am so afraid I have lost too much time already…
Pat is about 10 yrs, maybe more – she’s a rescue so I’m not sure.
Thanks a lot!
Karen