diarrhea and loss of balance HELP

[yvonne0ramirez]

my 3y/o dutch boy had the SAME incident happen a few weeks ago. this time it started out with diarrhea this morning and by the end of the night he can barely move right and has lost his balance. i went to the vet last time and got oxbow critical care kit for syringe feeding but i also got pain meds for what she thought was up worh his legs (an emergenxy vet who didnt specialize in rabbits but said she felt ‘comfortable’). i syringe fed him and he’s been drinking water but refuses to eat. his poop is not completely watery but pasty and has some* ball-ish shapes. what could be scausing the diarrhea to affect his legs ? ps, he is a runt with a heart murmur.

[DanaNM]

Hi there,

I’m not sure, but it you should see a rabbit specialist. It could be a number of things, but it sounds like it could be serious.

Please take him to the a rabbit vet asap. Continue supportive care (critical care, tummy rubs) until you can get him there.

. . . 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.  

[Bam]

There is a rabbit “disease” caused by a parasite that’s called e. cuniculi. It can affect both the gut and balance and the hind legs. (It can also cause other symptoms such as head tilt and kidney problems). This parasite is often transferred to the rabbit when it is in in its mother’s womb, and it’s belived that 50-80% of domestic rabbits are carriers. Most buns don’t get sick from it, but some do.

There are tests available for this parasite, but they are notoriously unreliable. For that reason, many vets choose to treat upon suspicion only. Treatment consists of a dewormer (Panacur) and meds to alleviate the symptoms, depending on which set of symptoms the bun presents with.

You could perhaps call your vet and tell them about this. It’s of course best if you can find a rabbit specialist – they would be aware of this common ailment of rabbits.

Here is some info about this parasite, from the British Rabbit Wellfare Association. It does not mention stomach problems, but it is now known it can affect the gut and we have a member here (Asriel&Bombur’s Bombur) who is a sufferer. http://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-health/e-cuniculi/

Another possibility would be muscle weakness from electrolyte loss due to the diarrhea. But e cuniculi would probably be my first suspicion.

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