Bunny running into walls headfirst and terrified?

[BinkyJoy]

Hi everyone,

Made this account specifically because I’m unsatisfied with my (exotic) vet’s assessment of what’s going on with my bonded bun. I’m really worried about him and I’m hoping for medical ideas as to what his issue may be. Please believe me, both my rabbits are free-roam and get a lot of attention so I know them and their behaviors very well — this is not just a rabbit getting spooked or “upset”, I promise you.

One morning few weeks ago, I was working at my desk when I suddenly heard strange sounds from across the room and saw that one of the rabbits seemed to be pulling down my bedcover from the bottom. I went over and saw both rabbits, but August (the husbun) was sort of backing up in circles, then spinning terrified as if something was holding his tail. Then he starts darting across the room at top speed and banging his head into things as if he didn’t know where anything was — in this home that is more his than ours. I managed to catch him after he hit himself about 10 times. His heart was pounding, and as he calmed down he started drooling. 

 I rushed him to the vet, and they took blood tests. For whatever reason, E. cuniculi was not included on the panel but the blood showed no infection. However, the vet suspected E. cuniculi based on the fact that I adopted him from a shelter 18 months ago and the symptoms. So we’ve been giving him an antiparasitic and antibiotic for the last month. However, my other rabbit would have been exposed to this through him and she has never had symptoms. My husband, friends and I have always observed that he occasionally has either a hearing or sight issue (or both)…he and his bunwife always come when called for meals, salads and treats but sometimes it takes getting a foot away from him for him to notice, then he excitedly searches for the food and has some trouble locating it. He also has always had slightly swollen tissues around his eyes, and I could see the whites more than my other rabbit, but I thought perhaps he’s just different. We suspected he might have a neurological issue, but he’s 4 yo so I just thought/hoped it wouldn’t get worse.

Well, tonight the running into walls happened again at 3:30am and woke me. My arm is shredded from picking him up this time and I’m really worried. I’ve searched these forums and heard of similar things happening, but no answers other than it might be E. cuniculi or they want to get out of their cage, etc. I’m sorry, I just don’t think that’s what it is. Most of the time a patient walks into a doctor’s office, it’s the common cold. But for those cases where it’s not? I don’t think my rabbit has something common. Please help 

[jerseygirl]

How scary to see that! Poor lil bun.
I wonder if he is having seizures?
There can be lot of causes for seizures – including EC, so I think it’s good he is being treated for that at least. An anti-inflammatory med might be needed also. Or
I’m an anti seizure med. could be given if the vet thinks it is suitable??
(I’m actually reminded of someone who said their elderly dog would get up in the night running and banging into walls. They were told it was seizures. )

If he is like this again, try throwing a towel over him. If he is mentally with it & it obscures his vision, that *might* be enough to keep him still.

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/seizure.htm

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Metabolic/Seizures_en.pdf

[Asriel and Bombur]

I agree EC seems like it could be a culprit. Most buns actually are carriers of EC and just never show symptoms. I have two buns, one with a chronic active EC and one that has never been sick a day in his life. So you can’t rule it out just because one bunny isn’t showing symptoms. The EC drugs also take a bit of time before they really take affect. So it’s something to be patient on because it could require several rounds for symptoms to subside.

[BinkyJoy]

Thanks Jersey, I did end up on that same Medirabbit site, concerned about seizures myself due to something my husband observed 4 months ago (sort of a twitching, not quite like that rabbit — he went to the vet then and they found nothing). Didn’t include that because of length of post already getting excessive. It’s just that none of this quite looks like classic seizures — but I agree that my instincts tell me that’s what it is. I love the towel idea, will head to the fabric store today. 

Question about anti-seizure meds in rabbits — I have some experience with these meds in humans, and they have some really garbage side effects. Is it the same for rabbits? Should I give those to him at this point or wait until (hopefully not) the frequency of his episodes increases?

[BinkyJoy]

You’re right, A&B. And believe it or not, I did know about EC carriers…just not at 4:30am when I wrote this! I didn’t know the EC drugs could take a couple rounds, though. Maybe I’ll give it another couple months before I come back asking about less common neurological issues. It’s a pity, though. Giving either of them medicine is twice the burden of other rabbits because they’re both incredibly self-possessed and resistant, plus I do it alone because my husband is on assignment out of town for the next few months and the Panacur takes 28 days per round. Fun! Can’t wait.

[Asriel and Bombur]

Hahaha we’ve been on 4 rounds of Oxibendazole since February so I know your pain!

[Bam]

We appreciate your posts, Binky Joy, and all information you give is very valuable. We very much like to hear from you and how you get on, so please don’t wait months before you post again!

I’m sorry your bun is having these problems. E C can cause encephalitis, encephalitis means inflammation of brain tissues and can result in any number of neuro symptoms and seizures are common. It can heal though, but as A& B says, the meds against EC are slow-acting. An anti-inflammatory can be given together with Panacur and Baytril, as Jersey says. Gabapentin is an anti-epileptic drug that can be given to rabbits – it’s a comparatively “mild” drug side-effects wise. I don’t know of any bun that has had it to control seizures, but we have one member (Bunny House) who uses it for neuralgic pain in one of their rabbits.

EC tests can still be notoriously unreliable, so many vets choose to treat empirically.

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