Head tilt and nasal discharge

[Stephan870]

Hi, I have a 3 year old dwarf lop called Snuggles who in October developed an ear infection which I duly got treated with baytril and also got her treated for encephalitozoon as a precaution. The ear infection cleared up and she developed head tilt after, it is pretty much at a 90° angle but she has never stopped eating or drinking thankfully she always eats as if shes never been fed before!

Anyhow recently she has just started leaking discharge out of her nose and is pretty bunged up. Not sure if rabbits get colds so Im guessing it is something bad? I will take her to vets tomorrow anyway but was wondering if anyone had a similar experience with theirs? If another infection of some kind is there a better antibiotic than baytril?

 Thanks

Stephan

[Sarita]

Rabbits don’t get colds but they can get an Upper Respiratory Infection and I imagine since she has head tilt she’s probably more immune to illnesses. I don’t know that there is a better antibiotic – a culture & sensitivity test might be helpful, but that can take a few days and if it were my rabbit I would want to try and start her on some kind of treatment right away and baytril if the vet recommends is a rabbit safe.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m sorry your bunny is unwell.

I definitely recommend a culture as well. Has the vet been doing anything to try to reverse the tilt?

Please let us know how your vet visit goes.

[jerseygirl]

Poor bunbun. (((Vibes)))

With her tilt I imagine the discharge doesn’t flow away very well. Are you able to clear it a bit for her? I’ve heard you can use an infants nasal aspirator to try suction out the gunk. Taking her into a bathroom after the shower has been used might help loosen things up.

I do agree about going straight onto antibiotic. Being blocked up it would make it harder for her to eat and drink.

Maybe ask if there is anything you can use along with oral antibiotics? Like medicated nose drops. Sometimes eye and ear drops can be used for the nose I think. Also, can be administered via the eye as it goes into the sinus area. I’m not certain if that’s correct for rabbits but I know when I use some eye drops, I can taste them in the back of the throat within minutes.

Was treatment for EC continued after she developed tilt? It can cause tilt but is not the only cause. But treating as precaution was wise in my opinion.

Good luck. I hope you can get her sorted out.

ETA: You might already be familiar with it but this website is all about rabbits with tilt. http://www.onthewonk.com

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Awww poor Snuggles. I had a rabbit with headtilt but don’t have experience with that combined with a respiratory infection. However, eye, ear, nose and throat are so connected it’s not surprising that your seeing a respiratory or nasal infection in combination with an ear infection.
The only thing I can really advocate is prolonged aggressive antibiotic treatment that you and your vet will work out. It’s stressful to do medications frequently as most of us on here know, so feel free to vent -we know what you are going through! Please keep us posted on what the vet says and how Snuggles is responding to treatment! Welcome

[RabbitPam]

I’m hoping you get to see the vet today, and start a treatment asap.
In the meantime, I’m sending {{{{{{{{{{{{{Healing vibes}}}}}}}}}}}}.
Please keep us posted on what the vet says and does for Snuggles.

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