My bunny is laying on its side, and can't seem to get up

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 16sd replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 11 months ago by JackRabbit.

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- 04/22/2015 at 12:35 PM
  gjustinj
  Participant
  4 posts
  Hi,
  
  My bunny is laying on its side, it’s head seems to also lay down most of the time. The bunny tries to get up and just falls over many times throwing bedding all over the place. I have been bringing it food and water and basically feeding it and trying to keep hydrated as best I can through out the day. I’m very concerned for her, I called around to the vets and they are all over my current price range to see her and perform any needed tests, or get me medication. I really don’t know what to do.
  
  She’s a lionhead rabbit probably about 8 months old. I got her 3 months ago from a place called Pampered Pets in Pittsburgh. They said at the time she was 5 months old. She tried to jump off of the counter when we bought her but I caught her, as time went on she began to fall over from time to time, we just thought she was a clumsy bunny, but in the last few weeks it’s gotten worse and today she doesn’t seem to be able to have enough balance to get up fully.
  
  I called the pet store I bought her at asking if they could give her anything, they said no they don’t provide medicine and they would not take her back (I wasn’t asking them to take her back, or for money – just help), they pretty much washed their hands of it and said “let nature take its course”.
  
  Can anyone give me any kind of idea of what is wrong with the bunny and if there is some kind of medicine I can get at a pet store? Or do I need to prepare for the worse and just do my best to make her as comfortable as possible until then?
- 04/22/2015 at 1:52 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  The only thing you can do is get her to a vet…it could be so many things. The least you should do is have the vet give her an exam.
- 04/22/2015 at 2:04 PM
  JackRabbit
  Participant
  5451 posts
  I would consider this an emergency. Call a rabbit savvy vet, explain your situation and the bunny’s symptoms, and hopefully they will haveva payment plan option.
- 04/22/2015 at 3:03 PM
  gjustinj
  Participant
  4 posts
  Posted By JackRabbit on 4/22/2015 2:04 PM
  
  I would consider this an emergency. Call a rabbit savvy vet, explain your situation and the bunny’s symptoms, and hopefully they will haveva payment plan option.
  
  I have been calling all over, any vets that work on bunnies (around here there are only a few) will not provide any payment plans, or options. Is there anything i could buy at a store to take a chance with?
- 04/22/2015 at 5:38 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Sadly nothing over the counter can help and the truth is you aren’t even sure what is wrong with him even if you could treat him with over the counter medications (which you cannot).
- 04/22/2015 at 10:07 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17233 posts
  It sounds like a neurological issue. It could be caused by a number of things (genetic, infection, etc.). Nothing you could buy from the store would fix this. Your bunny needs to see a vet. Only a vet will be able to properly diagnose her and prescribe medication (if needed). Is there a house rabbit society or shelter near you? They may be able to help.
- 04/24/2015 at 12:41 PM
  gjustinj
  Participant
  4 posts
  Hi everyone,
  
  I took the bunny to the vet (it’s costing me a lot of money), the vet diagnosed her with head tilt and took a blood test. He gave me two weeks worth of medication to feed her to kill the parasite, and then I have to go get more (at least a month or mores worth). I have to feed her, and bottle her so she gets what she needs. She has a 50/50 chance of living, seeing that is only 8 months old is in her favor.
  
  It still looks uncomfortable for her, she rolls around the cage throwing bedding everywhere (it’s a larger cage), should i put any towels, or anything down for her to prop up her head or something? Her head is completed tilted to the site, but she still eats and drinks when i feed her which is a good sign.
- 04/24/2015 at 12:59 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I would get rid of the bedding and just put some towels down….propping her head up might help – I say give it a try. Maybe also put roll some towels up around the perimeter of the cage as well.
  
  It sounds like she has alot of will so that is good.
- 04/24/2015 at 9:14 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17233 posts
  Yes, make her some “bumpers” by rolling up towels. They will keep her away from the sides of the cage and they can also be used to prop her up. Poor thing.
- 04/25/2015 at 1:22 PM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this, but I’m glad you were able to get her in so quickly! With fast attention and meds, head tilt is very treatable! And her being so young and otherwise healthy definitely works in her favor! Please keep us posted!
- 04/26/2015 at 1:32 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Any update on your bunny?
- 04/26/2015 at 4:19 PM
  Little Lion Head
  Participant
  1706 posts
  My first bunny, Boston, got head tilt when she was only a few months old. She rolled for quite a few months but eventually made a full recovery.
  
  At the time we had a basic “rabbit cage” that you would buy at the pet store. We blocked of half of it and put towels in the other half b/c she wasn’t able to use a litter box (we washed a lot of towels during that time). I found that if she had less space, she would roll less.
  
  So glad to hear your bunny is eating when offered! We always offered extra wet greens to help get some water in Boston. We also had to force feed baby food for awhile while she wasn’t eating at all. We also syringed water into Boston’s mouth along w/ her meds. We found that if food was near her mouth she’d eat; including hay.
  
  Glad you caught this when you did and (((((vibes))))) for a very quick recovery. It’s hard to watch our bunnies go through something like this, but you did and are doing the right thing!
- 05/04/2015 at 1:52 PM
  gjustinj
  Participant
  4 posts
  Phoebe, my pet bunny passed away the other day. She was eating and drinking in the morning but by noon she was cold to the touch. It was really hard to see. I went to pet her and get ready to give her some food and water, but it was too late. I have put her in a box, and taped it up. Tonight I will dig a 3 foot hole in the backyard, and the kids will put their pictures for her on it, and we will bury her and then put stones on top so no animals can dig her up. Thanks for everyone’s concern and advice. The Vet did not expect her to die, but sometimes you never know I guess.
  
  <3 RIP Phoebe
- 05/04/2015 at 6:46 PM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  I’m so sorry to hear about poor Phoebe. She was lucky to have you and to be so loved, even though her life was cut short. I’ll keep you and your family in my thoughts…
  
  Binky free, Phoebe…
- 05/04/2015 at 7:59 PM
  gingerg
  Participant
  123 posts
  That’s so sad! You took good care of her, but sometimes these things are just out of our hands.
  
  Binky free Phoebe
- 05/04/2015 at 8:25 PM
  Little Lion Head
  Participant
  1706 posts
  I’m so sorry to hear this. My thoughts are with you and your kids.
- 05/04/2015 at 9:09 PM
  JackRabbit
  Participant
  5451 posts
  Im so sorry for your loss. Sometimes furbabies seem to give up on themselves before we are ready to let them go. Such a short life is so sad.
  
  Binky free little Phoebe . …
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