Deanna is sick

[osprey]

Early this evening my daughter went to the bunnies’ pen to play with Deanna.  She noticed that she was swinging her head from side to side.  We took her out, and on closer examination I found that her eye (you may remember she only has one eye) was rhythmically moving from side to side, and her head was following the eye.  I called five vets before I found one with a bunny doc who was open at 8 PM on a Friday night, in Berkeley, about an hour and 15 minutes away.  I drove her to the vet, and the vet thinks it is E. cuniculi.  She prescribed one of the worming meds for the parasite (Fenbendazole).  I was not impressed with the vet at all, I had to ask for Sub-Q to be given and I had to ask for Critical Care.

Auntie Heather is not convinced that this is EC because the eyes are going side to side rather than up and down.  She thinks it may be an inner ear infection or a concussion from a fall.  We did not drop her, but who knows what goes on in the pen when we are not home.  I am going to try to get in to see Dr. Harvey tomorrow.  The good news is that once we got home, she was quite hungry, and has been eating hay, greens and pellets as well as drinking water.  I gave her a little bit of Critical Care just to be sure.  I will keep everyone posted.

 

[BinkyBunny]

Oh, I am so sorry! What a nightmare! Rucy had an ear infection and did the exact same thing (and at THAT time she was e.cuniculi negative) It cleared up within a few days. I so hope that this is what is happening to Deanna and it’s an easy fix. Sending healing vibes Deanna’s way, and peace vibes for you and your family as I know how stressful this has been and still is.

{{HUGS}}

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Aww Osprey *BIG HEALING VIBES*

[Binkles]

Heh, when I read your post, I was re-living my own past. This was exactly how I knew something was wrong with Little-Bit when we first got her as well. Luckily it turned out to be just an ear infection as well -no E.C. Though it was a very TOUGH ear infection. It took…I believe it was eight weeks to treat. Unfortunately she has some slight residual scarring on her inner ear, though. She has a very, VERY slight and slow permanent head ‘sway’ -we call it the Stevie Wonder. Doesn’t seem to affect her at all, and the actual nystagmus is completely gone.

I’ll be praying that it’s just an ear infection with no E.C. for it’s cause!!

Important Edit: I should also mention that even if it IS an inner ear infection, that does NOT rule out the possibility of E.C. I think a lot of people mis-understand it. E.C. doesn’t actually directly attack the organs that wind up showing damage -ear infection, paralysis, etc. Instead, it actually overwhelms the immune system, therefore making it possible for other nasty things to take root. (Like ear infection, paralysis, etc.) So in that light, it can’t be inferred that just because the nystagmus is horizontal, it isn’t E.C. The nystagmus being horizontal just means that she either has an ear infection or a head injury. The actual cause behind the ear infection may well be an E.C. infestation.

But again, it may well not be, and let’s pray to God that it isn’t!

[Beka27]

oh no! feel better Deanna! keep us posted Osprey!

[JK]

Oh Osprey – healing vibes from us too!  I truly hope it’s not as bad as you think. Why is it something always happens on a Friday night!  I’ve spent many a Friday (and Saturday and Sunday) night at the ER with animals!  Please keep us posted.

[MimzMum]

You have our healing vibes too, osprey! I hope whatever it is, that your daughter finding it like that means it was caught early and will be easily recovered from!
Yah, what is it with the buns, they wait until it’s a weekend to get sick? I think it’s a BUNspiracy! ^_^ (sorry, just a mild joke to lighten the mood…I REALLY hope it’s just an ear infection and that Deanna will feel better soon. hugs for osprey!)

[Scarlet_Rose]

Oh no Osprey.  I hope things are better and Dr. Harvey will fix Deanna right up.  I agree that does not sound like a very rabbit savvy vet.  it sounds more like torticollis caused by some kind of infection, but I wouldn’t rule out E. Cuniculi either.

Of course I cannot help but give a link here to our heroine Osprey!

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/tilt.html

[LittlePuffyTail]

Sorry to hear about your bunny. Sending lots of feel better bunny vibes your way!>>>>>>

[osprey]

to Scarlet Rose for the DK reference

A small update.  I tried to get in to see either Dr. Harvey or Dr. Hawklyn today, but no luck.  I have an appointment with Dr. Harvey on Thursday afternoon, earliest one I could get.  We had an adoption show today, so I brought the bunnies to the show so that our more senior care givers could check her out.  Auntie Heather thinks that Dee suffered a concussion, most likely from a fall in their condo.  Because she is missing an eye, she is pretty klutzy sometimes, so this would not be the first time she fell (if that is what happened).  Deanna is much, much better today – the “scanning” behavior is much less pronounced, she is not circling any more, and she can periscope and wash her face without falling over.  Heather and Linda gave me some Baytril and Metacam to give her in case it is an infection until I see Dr. harvey and get an official diagnosis.  These are considered standard treatments when an infection is suspected, and since it will be several days before I see the vet, we wanted to start treatment right away.

 

[JK]

That’s very encouraging!  Let’s pray that that was what happened.  It sure sounds like it.  Can she move to a one story condo?

[Binkles]

Baytril is what we gave Little-Bit for her ear infection because the swab showed her bacteria problem to be staphylococcus. So Baytril/ Metacam, DEFINITELY a good idea as an ‘in-the-meantime’ thing.

The only thing is to watch out for in a bacteria-killing drug is how long you it to her. ESPECIALLY if it ISN’T an ear infection. Just as an example, with Little-Bit, we ran into a bit of a problem near the end of her treatment with Baytril. There’s a delicate balance between staph and yeast in the ear. Take away too much of one, and the other over flourishes. We actually wound up killing ALL of the staph, and the yeast overgrew. So what used to be a staph infection was now a yeast infection.

Which wasn’t too horrible. A week on an yeast-killing drug took care of the excess yeast, and after a few weeks off of both medications, the bacterias balanced themselves back out to a normal level, and her ear infection was gone.

But yeah, so be careful, ESPECIALLY if it isn’t an infection. No over-killing bacteria!

[osprey]

Deanna is a little bit better I think.  The “scanning” behavior is much less pronounced, but she is definitely doing it sometimes.  We have noticed that she seems to eat a little gingerly, perhaps her teeth are bothering her.  This is another possible cause of inner ear problems.  We’ll see what Dr. harvey has to say on Thursday.

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

*VIBES* I’m glad to hear she’s improving!!! *Fingers & Ears crossed* (<<not *my* ears of course )

[Sarita]

Osprey – I just read this – please let us know what Dr. Harvey says. It is so frustrating to have to wait and not know anything.

I’ve read somewhere about nystagmus and the direction the eye goes indicating something – I’ll see if I can find that article somewhere.

[Sarita]

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx

If you look down to the middle of this artcle with the chart this vet gives some information on nystagmus.

[Lisa_43]

I just read this too, I hope all is well with Deanna.

[Author]

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