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FORUM HOUSE RABBIT Q & A 9 year old bun acting weird

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    • chrisdurer
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        So I have a 9 year old mini. A few weeks ago I had brought him to the vet because he was having seizures. The vet after examining him told me that everything looks fine. We had the blood work done and it came back good. So we went home. He had stoped having seizures and then yesterday morning I noticed that he was laying on his side. Buggs doesn’t usually lay on his side like this. And when I checked on him he couldn’t get up. He couldn’t move either of his back legs. He was struggling to breath and was grinding his teeth. I stayed with him and comforted him. I helped him up when he tries to get up and he ate hay and I helped him over to his water and he drank. He then fell over and stayed that way for the rest of the afternoon and night. I stayed by his side the whole time petting him and he just seemed so sleepy. All night he was wheezing and almost stopped breathing all together a couple of times. I have had rabbits pass away before and I could have sworn that he was about to. He was the same all morning and early afternoon. Just lethargic unable to even lift his head. Then all of a sudden he started to try and get up. I held him and he got up and just started to eat. He then ran over to his water and drank a bunch or water, now he is just sitting in the corner of his cage facing me. He is eating every once in a while and still drinking. I’m not sure what he is doing. I am not sure what to do. And in my family’s current predicament? We simply do not have the finances to bring him to our vet.


      • DanaNM
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        9064 posts Send Private Message

          That sounds really difficult, I’m sorry you are going through this. 🙁

          Did your vet consider EC (http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/cuniculi/pyrimethamine.htm)  when you took him in? It doesn’t often show up in tests but can cause neurological problems. Many vets will treat for it on suspicion alone, and given his neurological symptoms that would be my next step. It is thought that many bunnies carry it asymptomatically but then my show symptoms when the immune system is weakened (such as with age). If it is EC, it is treatable with a very inexpensive medication, but it can take time to work (at 28 day course). Since you just saw your vet and had a thorough exam, maybe you could call them and request them to give you a prescription to try (it’s also available otc, it’s a deworming medicine), but the vet should give you to the dosage. Usually it’s also given with an anti-inflammatory because some of the symptoms are due to inflammation.

          The fact that he pulled through and started eating again means he’s a fighter.

          . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  


        • LBJ10
          Moderator
          17225 posts Send Private Message

            I agree with Dana. What you are describing aligns very closely with EC. The good news is that the treatment for EC is relatively inexpensive. I’m surprised your vet didn’t treat him on suspicion, especially considering he was having seizures.


          • chrisdurer
            Participant
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              Thank you very much. This was very helpful. The vet did say that EC is a possibility. I was able to get him to the vet today. He is there now and getting another good look at.


            • DanaNM
              Moderator
              9064 posts Send Private Message

                I’m happy to hear that, I hope you can get started on a course of meds and see some improvement. Testing for EC is notoriously unreliable so many vets opt to treat for it if there are any symptoms.

                . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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            FORUM HOUSE RABBIT Q & A 9 year old bun acting weird