Yes 11, that’s what organic greens, spring water, and excessive amounts of pure love gets you, lol. PJ is very active still and frisky, as I’m sure you know with your little guy. I read that dwarf breeds live longer, and tend to be high energy, also aggressive (which he is not, just stomps his feet), and have sinus issues due to shorter snout, and digestive problems.  I hope your bunny is doing well, that is very small.   He looks full of spunk in the picture, I know that look! That is definitely odd he lost so much even though he is eating normally. I know there is a blood and urine test for E.Cuniculi, but as you said it could be false negative or positive. I read the E. Cuniculi can travel to different parts of the body.  When PJ goes through his “mating times” he doesn’t eat much, it started when he turned five or so, his habits seemed to change slightly. Went from sleeping in a cage to not going in one for the past five years, hated carrots now he loves them. He has never had weight loss issues. If you find anything out please let us know how he’s doing.  I think I might have to make another trip to the ophthalmologist. The last mystery eye problem adventure was very lengthy and a lot of back and forth to serval doctors. If I don’t feel I like the answers they give me, I always get a second opinion, possibly third or forth.  Thank you for the input, and good thoughts out to you and your bunny baby.

Aw that’s so good hear!! I am going to see if they will call in a prescription.  What does the Fenbendazole come in? Is it pill form or liquid?  Last time PJ had to be put on Baytril,  I had to call a pharmacy in Arizona so that they could make capsules, so then I could empty them on to mint and basil leaves… it was a real pain. He is not good with meds at all so I always have to outsmart him, which isn’t easy!  What were the liver supplements?  

A quick update, the vet called me back and said she doesn’t think there is any possibility of it being E.C because he’s had no contact with any rabbits and he would be showing other signs.  I’m still worried of course because the eye color did change quite fast, but I’m going to put my trust in her and watch him very closely.   If there is anymore information about how long it can stay dormant in rabbits before emerging. She did bring up the blood test but said 100% she does not think that is what is going on.  I hope she is right.  Thank you for more insight on this and I hope your baby continues to put that weight back on.  

I have another vet I see, he has worked with a Zoo in the past, and he actually brought up E.C in an email he replied to, he only works two days a week and he will not be in at all next week. Does anyone know how long it takes for this to start progressing, once you noticed something odd how long was it till the other symptoms? I will keep note of the ones you guys shared with me. Right now its just the cataract that turned blue out of nowhere. I’m very nervous right now. Thank you both for the great information, I was wondering how long it could live inside of him till signs emerged and remember reading it could be passed at birth. I will be getting him to a vet asap. We are moving this weekend to a temporary place, I am stressed it will cause him more stress. Hope your bunnies are doing well and once again thank you for some needed insight on this. I feel like I was going in circles trying to look this up on the internet.

Thank you for the links, I did see that article before, when I was searching for eye diseases with PJs last episode.  I was able to make an appointment with his ophthalmologist  next week.  Even if it is not E.C, I still want this cataract treated if possible and slow it down if I can.  He’s definitely up there in age (11) but you can’t tell by the way he acts.  He is still  very active and plays for hours a day.  I don’t want him to loose his sight I would be devastated.  I just bought him a castle and thinking that he wouldn’t be able to enjoy it breaks my heart.  Thank you for all of the info I feel like I’m getting somewhere and starting to understand the possibilities of what might be going on.  Has anyone ever heard of Lanosterol?  its a new drop they found to help clear up cataracts in dogs and rabbits and are starting to treat humans.  I just thought I would throw that out there.  Also Dorzolamide? That one is supposed to help the eye not develop glaucoma from the cataract. How old was Link when he had the eye removed?  

PJ has been treated within the past year with Neo-poly-dex drops when his mysterious watery eye had started last September and also the ofloxacin eye drops, that was almost a year ago, I’m pretty sure he was on then neo-poly-dex for around 10 days and then I took him off of them, I was afraid he had an ulcer and he did actually when he was examined by his ophthalmologist.  I’m wondering if this could have anything to do with the cataract progression.  I know prolonged use could do damage, and he had been on these drops off and on for pink eye in the past but never exceeded more than five days.  If anyone has any input on this it would be much appreciated.  We have two more vet visits coming up next week and the following week with two more doctors… feeling pretty frantic about whats going on. I will probably have him tested for EC to see if anything comes up even though it might not show up. hes never given blood before does it hurt them??

I wanted to give an update on PJs doctor visits. We have had two the past two weeks, the ophthalmologist  did a few eye tests and did say the cataract did not seem characteristic of E.C but contacted another vet of PJs to collaborate on what to do.  I then took him to my other vet and I trust him completely with PJ and he has many years of experience not only with rabbits but animals of all kinds, he had worked for our Zoo in the past.  He said its hard to tell if its E.C because no other signs are showing as of right now but they called in a script for Panacur and to do the treatment for 21 days. I worry about side effects of this medication if PJ doesn’t need it but I feel at this point I’d rather be safe than sorry, and I know this vet does not over medicate animals so I am comfortable with his advise on what to do.This is why PJ has three main doctors at this point, I don’t want to go on what just one says, or maybe one missed something, it can be so tricky with the bunnies when it comes to illness. it’s definitely costly but he deserves the proper care just as a human being does.   I really want to thank everyone for the input and support. Its very comforting having other bunny parents to converse with and gain knowledge along the way.  I will keep updating any info I come across. Maybe one day they will be able to cure this completely, what a scary situation. 

It is only the left eye that has been his bad eye for a year now watering continuously, after many many  vet visits they were finally able to detect pus sacks( very small looking like a pimple), in the eye on the inner lids. No change in the right  eye as of now. I am checking that eye several times a day at this point.  Paranoid that it can go at any time and there’s no going back once the damage has been done.  The ophthalmologist did say she would be willing to do the cataract surgery if it comes to that. But he’s not getting any younger. Not sure how I would handle it. 

Thank you, and for sharing that experience with me.  I’m so sorry about your little baby, I know how scary it can be with sudden illness.  That’s exactly what I fear, he has gone into GI stasis in the matter of hours and I am rushing him to the vet. One minute he is ok the next we are fighting to keep him going.  When he sheds his summer to winter coat I have to be so careful and groom for hours a night and hand feed him hay to make sure he gets enough. But I really don’t like how fast this eye change was and he does lean to the left while sleeping I don’t know if that’s normal or not or if he is compensating for the loss of vision in the left.  I’m a ball of nerves about him constantly especially now. He seems happy and content, but I keep thinking something worse is around the bend. I am definitely going to do the treatment and see if there are any changes.  I know dwarf breeds have issues with stasis and cataracts but I worry always about his health and try so hard to do the right thing.  Like last time with his eye I kept seeing doctor after doctor so many appointments I didn’t give up on it  because I felt there should have been an answer of some kind.  I wish I could fix it but all I can do is pay close attention to him, trust my bunny mommy feelings, and get him the proper care. Hope your babies are all doing well! 

 I will definitely ask about having that done, I’m surprised they didn’t mention that. The visit was pretty quick and I usually bombard the doctors with a list of questions but didn’t have an opportunity to do that lol. I will email him.  PJ is pretty strong and seemingly healthy even though he is 11, and has done well while being medicated for other illnesses we have run into along the way, I would feel better knowing the medication was not causing harm to his little bunny body, I’m always worrying.  Thank you for the great suggestion!! I was able to get the meds in powder form, I’m so glad it’s only once a day.  

I wanted to do an update for anyone who might be reading this. I know I have spent countless hours on this site in the past for helpful information.  PJ started the medication Fenbendazole five days ago, sixteen more to go.  I had my vet send the script to the Roadrunner pharmacy in Arizona, so they could make it in powder form.  I always have to get his medication in capsule form, which are premeasured according to his weight (very convenient but pricier), and I wet Basil leaves or Mint leaves with a tiny bit of water and spread the medication on the herbs making sure the powder isn’t either too runny or too thick and getting powder mixed well so he doesn’t inhale any of it, then roll it up and done.  Other wise we would have it everywhere but his mouth.  This method seems to be the best for him and for me lol. I tried bananas, also strawberries, which work if you slice very thin and sandwich the meds, but I don’t like all of the excess sugar.  He is doing very well so far, no adverse reactions or tummy discomfort.  I was very worried he would experience some kind of side effect, but seems to be his happy little bunny self.  I haven’t noticed changes in his leaning to the left which I thought might have something to do with the possible E.C. flare up, but it might be the cataract blindness in the left eye. I wasn’t sure if I was going to medicate him since it was never 100% if he was positive for E.C but I do not want that other eye going any time soon.  I figured I’d try this and keep watch over him.  I will keep posting till the meds are finished and our next vet appointment on 7-18.  Thanks again everyone.  Wishing bunnies well, and the humans that love them.

 PJ finished his meds, he did not show any signs of the possible side effects.  He is still leaning to the left when he sits or uses the litter box. Possibly compensating for the sight lost in the left eye.  He started shedding a little early this year and I’ve noticed him slightly wobbly from time to time, almost as if he is tired and unstable, if I were to nudge him he can loose his balance. I’m not sure what that could be, it is not all the time he is doing this, but I’m starting to become a little concerned, this started about a week ago.  I am going to make another appointment with the vet that prescribed the meds, see if this could be a possible side effect.  He was on a standard dose for his weight for 23 days.  He seems to be fine otherwise, the right eye is doing good, no changes in vision, keeping fingers crossed this one doesn’t go too.  If I find anything out regarding the meds and his health, I will add to the post.  Thank you again to everyone that shared very useful information.   

I emailed his vet, I am hoping to get more medication.  He is not looking normal to me and I am starting to get very nervous.. We have been through a lot this past year and this isn’t looking good.  He is leaning to the left when in the litterbox and just sitting there now.  I took pics for the doctor, if I am able to post it I will.  Now I noticed about a week ago, he was digging at his favorite shirt and his arms seemed like slow motion, I thought he was maybe in a weird mood.  Today he went to dig and it was as if he had no strength in his little bunny arms.  It freaked me out because he has been seeming to stumble lately, when he is playing he has been staggering and falling kind of.  Stretching a lot then lays down mid stretch which is weird for him, and it looks lanky and odd when he does it.   Something is off and I don’t know what else this would be besides E.C. He has the cataract, he has the leaning, and now the balance issues.  I can’t believe this.  I am hopefully moving out of this house I’ve been staying at after the fire.  This wasn’t the best place for PJ, but there was nowhere else to go, but I found us a place and I just want to get him out of here and comfortable, no more moving, I just want to keep him comfortable as possible until that time comes… This is stressful.  I can’t count how many times we have been to the doctors the past year and all the medications.  Now this, it really feels like I’m going in circles.  Does anyone have any suggestions of what to do?  I had the fire then moved to the hotel and now I am temporarily staying with a friend, I am not sure if he is stressed and if it is E.C. that certainly is not helping.  I feel so helpless, I feel so bad, every time I think we are going to be OK something worse happens.  

I feel like this is my fault somehow.  Asriel and Bomber,  I have two prescriptions left for the fenbendazole, I might just get that ordered while wait for the Doctor to get back to me, because it can take two to three days to get here.  His back nails look a bit long, I know the last time I had his nails trimmed they didn’t do the best job in the back and a few are kind of long, I was hoping somehow the weird unstableness was caused by that.  I can’t wait to get him to our new place, I know he will be relaxed there.   House Bunny, I actually thought that last night while watching him!  It’s almost as if  it seems like someone couldn’t grip a pencil or control limbs and yeah, I ran that through my head and will run it by the vet too..  Thank you for the input, it makes me feel not so alone with this, and it’s scary.

His vet emailed me back and thinks it might be arthritis, which he might have hurt his back somehow and I didn’t see it happen but how it is just getting worse at this point and the leaning seems more intense. I tried to upload a picture but can’t get the size right to do so.  The vet said I can come in tonight at 7:45.  I am hoping he can figure this out, I’m in a panic right now.   I am going to take video of him here so I can show him how he has been behaving at home.  I know when we go to the doctors he gets very scared and all the aliments disappear of course, he goes into survival super bunny mode, so hopefully he can determine if this is a back injury of some kind.  I wish I could have blood tests done just too see how his body is doing generally.  I’ll let you guys know how it goes.  UUGGGHHHHH OK I was able to put a picture in of him leaning to the left he does this at all times, eating, pooping, resting, sleeping…

Yes, he is pretty skilled with exotics, he worked with our Zoo in the past and was the chief of surgery, he has a ton of credentials under his belt.  I hope his back isn’t messed up.  It’s a hassle to get out there too.  Does the leaning look like an E.C. symptom to you?  I never seen a bunny lean like this.  The leaning has been going on since June or so is when I noticed it.   And yes, he is very popular with all the ladies at the vets!!!! I always look at him and say,”Toooo cuuutteee!!”. lol 

We just got in a bit ago from the vets.  Good news is that we are treating for E.C, he was given a steroid shot as well to help with the inflammation.  I hope it starts working soon.  He seems to be OK, just sleepy from all the poking and prodding.  I was given panacur 21 days and Metacam for pain.   PJ is stumbling around like crazy, it’s very difficult to watch.  I’ve never seen him in this shape before.  When his eye went blind, I cried for days.  I don’t know how far this will progress, or how fast.  It seems incredibly fast to me how I noticed him digging in an peculiar way and now stumbling.  Hopefully the medication reverses some of this.  Dr. Wagner said that the damage is irreversible and each time he relapses it will get worse.  How do you care for a bunny that can’t eat his cecotropes, or clean themselves.  I will gladly feed him his cecotropes till the end of time, but how will his quality of life become.  He’s fallen a few times at this point where he couldn’t get up and kept squirming on the ground, I feel like he could hurt himself.  I don’t want him to suffer before it’s his time.  Also the doctor discovered he has a hernia!!!  I asked his other vet several times what that was and she said it wasn’t anything, and here it’s a hernia.. He did an ultrasound on it and his bladder, didn’t see anything to be alarmed about but…ugh…. I really am not ready for this.  I don’t know how to handle it.  I’m just being as normal as possible with him.  This is so freaking sad.  PJ is my little soul mate… 

Thank you *Kurottabun* and *Bunny House*, this forum is an amazing source of comfort, I know you guys understand how I feel right now. Thank you for the kind words, concern, and comfort.  PJ seems to be in good spirits, he is eating a lot, and using the potty still, although wobbly.  He is being interactive with me like nothing is wrong.   Having trouble scratching his ears, he can’t lift that leg up.  I was going to sleep on the floor last night because with the coordination and strength issues, not to mention this now hernia, I do not want him hopping up on anything.  He loveess jumping on the bed too, (just a mattress on the floor.  I never wanted to get anything high because I didn’t want him to hurt himself), he would always just stare at me and then make his little bunny noise, fling his head back and run and jump on the bed and start grooming me and cuddling.  I think I will have to get something almost flat so he can hangout when he wants to.  He did jump on the bed last night which surprised me, and alarmed me…  I was given liquid Panacur to hold me over till his capsules come in the mail, but does Panacur or Metacam need refrigerated? I called and asked, they said no, but I swear Metacam did need refrigerated.  PJ had that a few years ago several times when he went though GI Stasis.  I am going to try putting the liquid on some mint and basil, I hope he can’t detect it, otherwise we are going to be wrestling tonight…    

lol Thank you and PJ appreciates that hehe.  The vet said not to do anything about the hernia right now, I guess it is near his bladder, not the intestines, I’m glad he did an ultrasound.  We did see some sort of mass but he couldn’t tell what it was, it wasn’t completely clear.  I have another appointment with him in two weeks, I’m going to see what can be done about this hernia, because I’m sure it is causing if not pain, discomfort of some kind.  These bunnies seriously amaze me with how strong they are.  They have super powers!!  PJ seems to be a little bit more active and stable.  Not entirely stable but he was wanting to play a lot last night and it made me happy but I had him lay down with me so he can just rest right now.  He’s a champ.  Especially getting that steroid shot in the back of the neck.  I’ve had steroid shots before and those hurt like hell.    Thank you for the suggestion, I have a bag of Critical Care Apple and Banana I’ve been wanting to try out.  In the past with meds, PJ has turned his nose up, and gave me that look like, are you nuts??  His facial expressions are too much lol.  I’m not going to rule out a stroke of some kind either right now. This definitely progressed though, within days… so I’m around 97% sure this is E.C His left paw seems to be weaker and he keeps curling it up under him like he cant control it well, but is using it to hop around OK.  He still cant dig, he keeps going over to his digging area but just looks at the shirts, like he can’t coordinate or control the front paws.  He tried last night and just couldn’t do it.   Do you happen to know if this damage will be permanent?  The vet said every time he relapses it will just get worse and worse.  Should I always have Panacur on hand now incase this keeps coming back?  He was on this medication only a month ago and it’s back already.  He didn’t show these symptoms last time we treated for this, we treated only because the eye went, rapid cataract.  I just want to get him to the new apartment and get him settled in. I know he knows I’ve been stressed and I know he doesn’t feel 100% comfortable here.  We will be moving in a month.  I hope that doesn’t upset him.  Since the fire happened last March, we have been floating around.  I’m excited for him to get to the new place, it’s clean and comfy, also has central air for him too.  I hate keeping a window a/c unit on constantly, so this is a big plus for him!  Hope you and your Bunny babies are doing well!! 

It is day five of treatment with fenbendazole and Metacam, PJ is hardly able to walk tonight.  Each day it seems to take a piece of his mobility away.   He is getting himself to the litter box though, he is such a good baby boy, but I want to tell him to just go, go and ill get it.  I am trying hard as hell to get him to the vet tomorrow.  I feel in another day or two he will be completely paralyzed.  I read that sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. Is that true, does anyone know?  I laid a bunch of blankets and towels to make scoop like resting areas and he likes it, he lets me lay with him and I watch him sleep and he will wake up and lick my arm.  I hope he gets better but the way this is going, I’m not sure.  I’m worried his tummy will be effected next and that would be another hurdle.  He is still wanting to eat and drink, so I am hopeful it stays that way.  Has anyone had a bun baby get this bad and recover or improve in any way?  Very upset and worried