Head Tilt help

[4Snupy]

Hi all,

 

One of my buns has head tilt. The direct cause is still to be determined as we are waiting on results from blood tests, xrays and CT scans. Is there anything we can do to prevent him from spinning? We’ve come back a few times to find him in a fetal position because he has spun while we were gone and no one was there to help him regain his balance. Its heartbreaking.

I’ve read the instructions on how to pad his home to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself but I am still troubled by the fact that he spins when we are away. Is it realistic to think he will not spin at all? I’m thinking about modifying his litter pan so as to reduce the risk of him tripping over one of the edges, but I don’t think that is the sole root of the problem.

We switch nights sleeping with the little dude, with our hand ever so lightly on top of him so we can feel if he starts to panic, but this is by no means a long term solution. Help!

Sleep deprived and scared,

4SNUPY

[Lintini]

Hey guys this is my good friend from high school. She asked me for help and I didn’t know what to tell her so I directed her here of course. Any info for her would be greatly appreciated!!!

{{{vibes for Domino}}}

[Monkeybun]

I’ll post this question to the Rabbit Advocates, several of them have head tilt buns, and I’m sure they will have ideas for you.

[Monkeybun]

One response so far:

Getting a low tray of some kind might help, but it isn’t just bumping into things that could set him off. Rabbits with head tilt ‘spin’ and fall over because they are trying to right themselves. They are dizzy and can feel off-balance even just standing still. As a very short term solution when you aren’t around you could place him in a small carrier propping him upright with pillows or rolled towels. **If you do this make SURE it is plenty cool in your house & that the carrier has plenty of ventilation and that he has access to water & hay.** Other than that I’m not sure what to tell you. Sounds like you’re doing a good job so far. Good luck!

[kralspace]

Is she too active to confine to a smaller, padded area when you’re gone? When my bunny first got head tilt, she still wanted to be active so I rolled up towels to go around the sides and took out everything hard she could run into. She couldn’t get into the litterbox so I used towels and folded fleece (remnants I got cheap at JoAnns) for the floor of her pen so it was easy to throw in the washing machine.

When she couldn’t balance at all, I used a smaller box or clothes basket like Monkeybun suggests, so that the padding can keep her upright and give her body some rest and relief from trying to right itself. Make sure you have greens, hay and a way to offer her water. I hid Hershey under my desk at work and was able to offer her water often.

At first I would find her curled on her side sometimes but she got to where she would prop herself up in the corner or against the padding.

[BinkyBunny]

 There is a site dedicated to people who have bunnies that are suffering from head tilt (regardless of the cause).  http://www.onthewonk.com

I don’t know how long your bunny has been spinning, but usually, eventually, their brain starts to adjust a bit.  Less spin — just a tilt.  May still deal with tilt problems and balancing a bit, but that horrible spinning at least stops.  I don’t know if this happens in every case but so far that has been my experience.   

I’m so sorry for what you are having to watch your bunny go through.  It is heartbreaking.  please check out the OnTheWonk website as I think you will find it very helpful. 

 

Hugs to you and healing vibes to your bunny. 

[Beka27]

I don’t have first-hand experience with this so I’m limited on what I can offer. Has the bun been put on any meds while waiting for the test results?

(((Healing vibes!)))

[Lagomorphic]

Posted By Beka27 on 05/13/2011 04:57 AM
I don’t have first-hand experience with this so I’m limited on what I can offer. Has the bun been put on any meds while waiting for the test results?

(((Healing vibes!)))

Poor bun!  And poor you, how distressing.  I’m a little surprised the vet didn’t put him on any meds while awaiting test results.  When my bun started having some neurological symptoms (but no head tilt), my vet put her on meds just in case it was e. cuniculi while we were waiting on the test results.  But I’m learning from this forum that there’s a wide range of what vets will do! 

[BinkyBunny]

 

Posted By Lagomorphic on 05/13/2011 05:38 AM

Posted By Beka27 on 05/13/2011 04:57 AM
I don’t have first-hand experience with this so I’m limited on what I can offer. Has the bun been put on any meds while waiting for the test results?

(((Healing vibes!)))

Poor bun!  And poor you, how distressing.  I’m a little surprised the vet didn’t put him on any meds while awaiting test results.  When my bun started having some neurological symptoms (but no head tilt), my vet put her on meds just in case it was e. cuniculi while we were waiting on the test results.  But I’m learning from this forum that there’s a wide range of what vets will do! 

This is what might vet did too. They did treat my bunny for  e.cuniculi to help prevent further damage ust in case,  while waiting for results..  However, I haven’t had to treat a bunny for e.cuniculi in years, so maybe some things have changed.   I did notice the  OnTHeWonk.com Website also used to recommend treating for e.c. right away, but that is no longer part of their recommendation page.  (or I missed it somehow).  I wonder what has changed.  I need to get updated on that. 

 

 

 

 

[Lintini]

I believe 4Snupy graduated college this weekend – I let her know she has some replies! Thanks everyone for helping her <3 <3

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