Circling and laying down

[Nima]

Hello,

my bunny (10.8 yrs) is currently having difficulty standing up. His hip is moving to one side of the body, so he’s circling around himself and then lays down as his body does not want as he does. However, in-between he was also running and honking.

I was told before he has arthritis but the vet who took the x ray never said anything about that, all looked fine to him. Another one pointed it out. The first time I noticed that he was circling around him self (unwillingly) was after I got him back from the neutering procedure about 2 years ago (he was neutered late as there was never any issue until he started peeing everywhere in his old age).

So my question, what can it be and does anyone have a similar experience? I went to the vet about 2 months ago when something similar happened (he had it for one day and I went to the Vet the same day) but she said I just take care of the flooring. So now he seems to have a similar “episode” again but going to the Vet again I am not sure. They can do an MRI but will it be necessary? He eats normally and has an appetite. Usually both of them don’t like to eat much Hay although I am offering the best.

Only recently I read about a UVB light rabbits should get for their VitD production, I never knew about it so unfortunately did not have it for him. Does anyone have experiences with it?

I am a bit worried, he’s a senior rabbit and I want him to be healthy & happy for many more years. It’s so sad to see him sort of loosing control.

Thank you.

 

[LBJ10]

When they are this old, a number of things could be going on. It could be arthritis, it could be weakness in the hind end, it could be an inner ear problem, etc. Is he on pain medication at all? When my bunny was toward the end of his life, we found a daily dose of metacam really helped. He was old, so it was about making him comfortable at that point. If he has weakness in his hind end, it could be arthritis or a disc in the spine. If the circling has more to do with dizziness, then it could be an inner ear problem like an infection or EC.

Unfortunately, their immune systems start to not be so go at this stage. So opportunistic bacteria or EC can start causing problems. If it were me, I would start with pain meds first. Then move on to treating a potential infection. An MRI isn’t going to help at this point.

As for vitamin D, he should have been getting that from his pellets. A little bit of “sun” certainly can be good for them, but it isn’t so critical anymore with supplemented foods, etc. All of my bunnies have enjoyed natural light from the windows, but that’s it.

[Wick & Fable]

If he’s previously been dx’d with arthritis, it could be the degree has increased and/or perhaps some spinal issues coming up. It is somewhat common in older rabbits. My Galaxy expressed similarly until she started her Meloxicam. If there is recent imaging, I’d talk with the vet if a medication trial may be worthwhile.

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.

[Nima]

Thank you for your answers. Yes, it could also be a disc issue. A vet previously mentioned this when I visited after my rabbit groomed himself, slipped, and couldn’t get up. He has had a rough patch (like small harder bumps)  on his ear for years, and whenever I touch it, his head moves down and he tenses up. I have shown this to different vets before, but none of them found anything wrong with it. My other rabbit does not have these patches, I don’t think it’s normal. He is not on pain medication at the moment. He did take Oxbow Joint Support for a while, as it was recommended by a vet who suspected it might be a disc issue. Now is fine again and running around. However, I guess it’s just a matter of time until it happens again.

[LBJ10]

If the vet thinks it could be his back, then I would look into getting him on a regular regime of pain meds. Like I said, at this stage, it’s more about making them comfortable (as opposed to worrying about potential side effects from long-term use).

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