E.C or Pasteurella?

[mfraz25]

Got home from work today and let Peanut, 7 month old Netherland Dwarf, out of his cage to binky around and enjoy the night. I noticed he was walking on his tip toes, almost like he was walking while streching, then he just fell over. He jumped up and was swaying around. Every few steps he would just fall over. I flipped out, called our local EmergencyV and they had no one on staff that has experince with bunnies. They did give us the number to a different EV and we called, they had one doctor that had seen a few rabbits when he was still in school and was pretty good friends with the only exotic animal vet in our area, he told us to bring Peanut in and let him check him out. We drove straight there, still freaking out. .

The vet comes in and explains that there are two possible causes of his balance issues, 1. Pasteurella and 2. E.C.

He says that Pasteurella is a bacterial infection and is the more common cause and that it is treatable. He also says that E.C is incureable and usually results in the loss of the bunny. He told us that he did not feel comfortable with trying to draw blood to do any testing. That Peanut doesn’t currently show any “REM” but his head is slightly tilted and that his ears are a little droopy, not that I couldn’t have told him that, he is my bunny after all. He told us the best thing to do is euthanize Peanut so they could run some tests, find the cause and potentially save our other bun. He started Peanut on .3CC of Baytril a day and recommended us to get him to the vet that knows what he is doing. Everything else is normal, pulse, respriations, weight is good, chest is clear.

 

This is how he is acting, taking food from our hands, his head has the slightest tilt and his ear will lean but he quickly fixes it. He walks around fine and he is acting like his normal self. When he does lose balance he will try to quickly correct himself. He isn’t dragging or spinning, just falls and jumps right back up then sways a little. If you watch his head, he sways it side to side. He keeps trying to shake his head/ears and will start to fall but quickly catches himself. He doesn’t have a big appetite but he will eat if we hand it to him, he is drinking from his bottle and he just chomped down a banana piece I hand fed him.

We will be taking him to our local exotic vet tomorrow, first thing. Anything that I should make sure to speak with the vet about other than the symptoms?

 

I apologize for any typos and obvious rambling, been crying my little eyes out for the last 3 hours. I never thought this furry little bunny could be so much like my son. This picture is Peanut from a few days ago. Thank you to any and all that respond. I’m still freaked out.

 

 

 

 

 

[LongEaredLions]

You really do need to get a culture and sensitivity test in order to know that the cause is e. cunniculi,and the suitable medicine to treat the particular case. I have never had experience with e. cunniculi, but it is usually quite treatable, and since you have caught it early, I am sure that will help your bunny very much. Go to your exotics vet as soon as possible, and don’t forget to update. Hang in there, and (((((vibes))))) for Peanut

[Sarita]

LongEaredLions is correct – get a culture done. Both can be treated. Not sure why the vet would alarm you about the EC – it’s very common and very treatable.

This could also be an inner ear infection.

[Beka27]

I am glad you’re seeing your regular rabbit vet today. That ER vet sounds pretty clueless.

Like the others said, EC is definitely treatable.

Keep us posted on what your vet says.

[mfraz25]

The local vet definitely has high hopes for recovery. He checked out Peanut’s ears and there is some drainage in his right ear, vet thinks this is just a nasty middle ear infection. Have to give him Baytril and the medicine for E.C and he also gave us some probiotics. Told us to just keep an eye on his food intake and water intake if it doesn’t improve to come back for a liquid solution to feed him. Peanut has a check up in two weeks.

Doctor also thinks that we might have a blind bunny, Peanut didn’t respond to the vet moving his hand around his face. He thinks it might be caused by the infection but there are no signs of swelling any where so he wasn’t too concerned.

I’m still freaking out, of course, but I have faith in the vet.

 

EDIT:

I thought it would be difficult to give this stinker his medicine but he loved it. You could hear him sucking on the syringe after it was empty. He is eating more, not a lot but he has had about half a leaf of kale, handful of hay(orchard grass and timothy mix) and a few pellets, maybe 10. Vet told us if we are worried about his eating that we could let some pellets soak in water or natural/organic, no sugar added apple sauce and try to get him to eat that. If he doesn’t eat anymore by the time my shift ends(3:30am) I might just try that. He hasn’t been as tumbly today, thank goodnes.

We both thank you for the healing vibes.

[mfraz25]

just updating, Peanut is doing much better! His balance is better, he still stumbles a little, no tilt anymore! He takes his medicine with a little bit of a fight. He is eating his hay, greens and fruit. He is drinking but just a little unless we hold the bottle right in his face.

He is not eating his pellets, at all. He doesn’t even sniff them. Should we be concerned even though he is eating his greens and hay?

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m glad to hear Peanut is doing better!

Maybe you could try softening the pellets in a little bit of warm water. Can’t hurt to give it a try.

[mfraz25]

Thank you, I am glad he is doing better too!

Soon after typing that message, the little ball of fluff started eating pellets. I think that he believes he is a rebel. He hasn’t eaten a ton but he has had about 1/8 of a cup. I’ll keep monitoring him.

[LongEaredLions]

Woohoo!!!!!
Yay peanut! He just wants to prove that ER vet wrong doesnt he! Keep it up!

[Author]

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