Head Tilt – Very Confused about diagnoisi

[twuffy]

Hi Bunny Friends,

My rabbit Mochi “BunBun” Cloud has a case of head tilt. At first I thought he had gotten overheated and had some kind of brain injury. But the vet (who is not a rabbit doctor and there isn’t one near at all to Mount Shasta) says it was probably a head trauma, don’t know how that could have happened (there was a bear outside one night and the dog barked at it who never barks, could Bunbun have jumped against his cage? possible). She didn’t see any mites, but thought she saw some graininess in the left ear. He is tilting to the right. We are treating for a possible ear infection with ciprofloxacin with little or no improvement. He tilts way to the right with his head, circles, though he has figured out how to adjust his gait, and if taken off balance, flips around, shakes and has laid on his back, legs in the air until righting himself after 30 seconds or so (scary!). He is eating normally, though has to adjust his mouth and it seems to help if I adjust him a little. He has nystagmus especially when on his side and it flips up and down (is this horizontal??).  Should I also try some oil or something in his ears in case of mites or other substance? Any ideas for nutritional or other holistic remedies? The scariest thing the vet said was that it could be some kind of raccon parasite? Bunbun escapes the house when possible and goes out in our “yard” for a few days, we are in a forest area and there is lots of wildlife. This has only happened a couple times but the last time was a few months ago.

Your thoughts and advice is super appreciated as I wish that I had the resources to take my bun to the best rabbit experts available but already have spent more than I can afford…is there anything else I can do or should I go beg and borrow to get to a better rabbit vet??

 

Thank you!!!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Sorry to hear about the trouble you are having with your bun. My advice is to do everything you can to get to a rabbit vet asap because head tilt that is caught early can sometimes be reversed but the cause needs to be found and treated.

Did you notice him digging at his ears or shaking his head before the tilt started, these are signs of an ear infection. The only way to be certain of an ear infection is for the vet to take a sample from his ears and check it under the microscope. This normally doesn’t cost very much.

If you have no alternative but to see a non-rabbit specific vet, your best bet is to educate yourself as much as possible so you can and your vet can work together.

Let us know how your bun is doing.

[jerseygirl]

Head tilt is also often caused by a parasite infection and can come on suddenly.
This article describes it well. It also contains a link to House Rabbit Society’s Vet listings. http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/tilt.html Treat it early and Mochi could recover well.
(((Mochi)))

[Miyuki]

Poor Mochi! I’m not sure if this will help at all but I was told that my bun was probably born with the parasite she had (passed down from the mother I suppose) and it was dormant for 4 years before my bun’s case of head tilt reared its ugly head. We took her in when it was only slightly tilted so it was never very bad. My vet was able to test for the parasite with a blood test. It was treated with some oral meds. I’m sorry that I don’t know the name of the parasite offhand or the med that was given. I know you’re over budget already but maybe you could ask your vet if there are blood tests that can be done?

[Binkles]

Hopefully it’s just a case of bacterial or fungal ear infection which can usually be treated pretty easily, and I think that since he was outside it’s especially possible that it’s just an ear infection. However you do need to get this treated ASAP because it can become VERY serious either way (infection or parasite) if you don’t get it diagnosed correctly.

Little-Bit had a terrible inner ear infection complete with nystagmus and lateral head motion when she was a baby. The vet took a culture of hear ear wax and did a sensitivity test and found out that it was a form of staphylococcus which was vulnerable to baytril. Two weeks worth of baytril 2x’s daily and some ear drops and she was better than new! She’s not had even a hint of nystagmus or head motions or ear itchiness since.

So make sure your vet takes a culture of his ear wax to find out if it may be an infection and make sure he tests it for sensitivity! This part is usually something they can do in-house. If it is an infection they HAVE to do a sensativity test in order to know if the meds will work. If not, it’s just as good as giving them no meds at all.

If it’s NOT an ear infection then you need to have the test for Encephelitazoon Cunniculi (the parasite) done. The test usually takes a few weeks to get results from because it has to be sent off for analysis, so depending upon how long his head tilt has been going on and how severe it is I personally would probably opt to go ahead and get this test done at the same time you’re having his ears swabbed. (Even if it is an ear infection, it’s just good measure to test for E.C. in my humble opinion, especially in head-tilt bunnies. Because E.C. is a very serious thing but can be managed pretty well if caught early on.)

PS. I would not put aything in his ears unless given to you by a vet. (And even then you should check online to make sure it’s alright.) Liquid of any kind in bunny ears can lead to serious problems.

[Sarita]

Hi, do you have him inside now – there are countless dangers outside. There are tons of parasites out there that could harm a domestic rabbit.

I think at this point you need to seek a second opinion and if he is outside bring him inside where it’s safe.

For head tilt you may expect treatment to be prolonged in order to see any results. But my recommendation is to get some bloodwork done and seek a second opinion.

[BinkyBunny]

Head tilt can definitely be a reaction to several things – ear infection or e.cunculi are the most common causes. Rucy had an ear infection and was severely dizzy/spinning behavior/falling down for days before the antiobiotics kicked in, and then she was back to normal in a few weeks

But as Binkles mentioned, there is also a parasite called e.cuniculi (this is different than what your vet was talking about what raccoons spread.)
that can affect the brain.  It is important that if your bunny does not improve quickly that the vet should give meds just in case for e.cuniculi while waiting for the tests as meds can help prevent more damage being done to the brain/nervous system by the parasite.

There definitely is another parasite that can be transferred from raccoons that can cause this as well, but it is quickly life-threatening – this is not as common, and will affect other animals around, not just rabbits, but cats, dogs, as well as humans – normally children as they are down on the ground and then put things in their mouths. It is not as common though but it is something to be aware of.

I would seek out a second opinion because your vet never even brought up the possibility of e.cuniculi, and they should have tested for that as it is very important to get treatment for that asap to prevent further damage.

I’m not sure where you are located but here is a link to vet resources from the House Rabbit Society. http://rabbit.org/vets/vets.html
There is also a link in there that shows you how to find a rabbit savvy vet – includes screening questions too!

Keep us updated.

[twuffy]

Hi friends,

Thanks so much for the insights. Mochi never dug at his ears, but was born outside and at a young age his rabbit doc in Davis thought he might have a parasite or something from his mother and prescribed Baytril. I have it still since we didn’t end up using it (it was impossible to get him to take it). Mochi only gets outside by escaping, i.e. someone left the screen door ajar and he broke out. I will sometimes take him out on a leash but if he gets out he loves it and digs all over the place.

I thought maybe he was improving today, but then I took him to the rug area to put him in an xpen and get some more exercise (his cage is adequate but can’t get some running time and I am not ready to let him run loose in the house again until his balance is better, too dangerous) Well, he had no balance, was on his back and then flipping around and around frantically, it was horrible. I managed to contain him and get him carefully and stably into his cage again where he calmed down after a snuggle and had a snack. I decided to give him the Baytril to see if we can get some results with that in addition to the ciprofloxacin (going to confirm both at once is okay). I am just flipping out bc I really wish I could take him to a decent vet. First of all I have no drivers license (no $) so going somewhere an hour or more away is a major risk. The gas alone would wipe me out and the bill??! Ugh. I need $500 to appear out of nowhere, quick. I’m a single mom working two part time jobs and not really getting by, so when I say its just not possible I don’t mean because I have to get my nails manicured or something. Just keeping my kid and four pets fed and cared for is a major thing. I should never have fallen for the cutest bun in the world (free, he prob would have been eaten if I hadn’t taken him…) Okay, sorry for the ramble, just so stressed over my rambunctious bun who is so sad now.
The story about the four years makes sense, he is about 3 and a half….
Any info appreciated.
Love to the buns.

[Beka27]

Would your non-rabbit vet be willing to consult with a rabbit vet in another area? The bunny is going to need treatment, this won’t go away on it’s own. I understand that you don’t have the money for this, but something needs to be done… even if it is surrendering to a shelter (be aware that he would most likely be humanely euthanised, not all shelters have the resources available to rehab animals.)

Did you ever follow up with the vet before when you stopped giving the Baytril?

[Sarita]

I would talk to the vet about the baytril – maybe they can compound it for you or you can make it more palatable. What form did he give it to you. That could be part of the problem if you are stopping the treatment that the vet prescribed – there are always alternatives and ways to make him take the dreaded medicine.

However reading that you are giving him ciproflaxin you do not need to do the baytril as well – always talk to the vet before you start mixing any medications. I pretty sure Cipro and Baytril which is actually enroflaxin are forms of the same drugs. Cipro is pretty heavy duty (used to treat anthrax in humans) and is safe for rabbits. But you don’t need to be mixing your medications unless approved by the vet.

Also these drugs may cause stomach upset as well – so watch for this.

[twuffy]

Thanks Sarita that is good to know. I did consult with the vet way back when I stopped the Baytril. I will call the vet and see if she can consult with someone, since she thought there was nothing else to do….maybe she can call an expert, I probably have to find them tho…that’s what I get for living in a glorious place far away from civiliZation.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

That’s a fantastic idea to ask the vet to consult! What a good solution to not having a rabbit savvy vet around!

Twuffy-I’m really sorry to hear about your bun. They always seem to get sick when we’re stretching from payday to payday it seems! I actually found this link bombing around the internet not to long ago and it may help=didn’t thoroughly check it out.
But anyways -it’s a list of resources for helping owners pay vet bills. I think it’s really neat because vet care is expensive of course!
Hope this helps you a little bit!!!

http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/financial-help-vet-bills.html

Also, here are some great articles on head tilt

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-8/head-tilt.html

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

Unfortunately I can’t offer much more then links as I’ve never experienced it first hand (though I’m sure Noot went through it when he was younger as he does tilt a wee bit on one side)

[Binkles]

Just a tip, the way I got Little-Bit to take her medicine is I crushed it up and dispersed it in a little applesauce. You know those bunnies don’t even pay attention to what they’re eating when they’re eating something they enjoy.

[twuffy]

I called my rabbit doc in Davis, CA (who is actually the closest, 3.5 hours from here) and they won’t talk to the vet here or me unless they see him. The doc up here says there is no such thing as a rabbit vet (baloney) and that she can do whatever I need…not much on suggestions. She said there is nothing to swab in his ears and we can run any tests I want…she will give him anti-inflammatories if that is what I want…and to bring him back in…

I am really confused now….

Been giving Mochi his meds crushed in blueberries or strawberries, he very much likes this. I was trying to hide the pill in a whole strawberry but the clever boy would just spit it out.

Oh, and the vet up here doesn’t air condition and the office was at least 85 degrees plus having to hold him, he was so uncomfortable.

I am going to go check on the rabbit docs in Oregon…maybe Ashland or Medford has someone good…fenagle a ride from a friend, and miss more work…I can’t lose my bun!!

[Sarita]

Is there any other vets in your area. Your current one sounds very unhelpful.

I can imagine your frustration. There is a House Rabbit Society in Oregon but they are in Portland and they have vets but they are within the same distance of your vet in California.

[twuffy]

I think it’s time to move to Portland….hmmmph.

:-}

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Twuffy I just sent you a private message along with friend request. This may or may not work out for you, but since the other vets don’t want to help your vet, I sent you my vet’s contact info. Your vet could call her. She’s a doll and specializes in rabbits, and took a month course on them in January this year. She wouldnever turn down a chance to help an animal (she gives free services all the time to shelters or people who can’t afford treatment, and takes home animals too!) so I’m SURE she’d consult with your vet and help.

[twuffy]

Hey Koka, thanks sooo much, I got your friend request, but no private messsage, can you send again? The vet here is only in the office today, and not again until Thursday…but of course!

Mochi was looking a bit better today, maybe just in high spirits? Enjoyed his neck massage very much.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

DRAT!!! Ok, I’ll message you again, but if that doesn’t work you can always email me at

kokaneeandkahlua @ binkybunny.com (no spaces of course!!)

[twuffy]

Update:

I have been meaning to write an update about Bunbun’s (Mochi Cloud) miraculous recovery but now something tragic has happened. Let me go back to the recovery.

A few weeks ago, we finished about 3 weeks of antibiotics with a few doses of Baytril but mainly the other antibiotic. There didn’t seem to be any change. The last day of antibiotic he also had these Swiss healers come to see him and they did a healing. He really responded to their presence and laid before them with his eyes closed and occasionally nudging against their fingers. By the next morning he was 50% better and by the end of a week he was 110%!! He was back to his old antics, breaking out of his xpen and chasing cats, running around my room, doing binkys and being generally hilarious. Maybe it was the antibiotics finally kicking in?

The night before last I secured him in his cage/xpen but I thought that I might need to change the setup bc we were suspicious that he might be jumping onto a counter and getting out. But I was tired so I went to bed. The next morning he was out of the cage, my son said he’d heard him rumpusing around under his bed that morning. I went to work and got a call that Bunbun had no movement in his hind legs and was crawling using his front legs!

He is completely paralyzed from the hips down. Incontinent. The vet thinks he has broken his spine. This is the same vet who said he had a head trauma, from which he recovered fully.

So, here are my questions:

Is it still possible this is the parasite? From what I see online, it could be, and the vet I am working with is willing to prescribe, I sent her the articles I found and you all provided me. Do I also treat for possible ear infection?? If it is either, could he recover?? And finally, any advice on caring for a paraplegic rabbit would be appreciated. I am wiping him several times a day, and just gave him a bath. He is going to need daily bathing for sure, but I don’t know how to keep his limbs healthy, etc.

Thank you for your support. I blame myself, for not getting his cage properly secured. He probably got out, chased the cats off too high a jump, or got into it with the dog (not likely as dog was sleeping next to son and I think he would have heard something). But I still wonder if there is another answer here…btw one of the healers said he had a brain injury AND a spinal injury, which at the time didn’t make much sense…

[Sarita]

Did the vet do an x-ray? If not, what would make the vet think he broke his spine?

Is he able to urinate on his own or do you have to express his bladder?

I would recommend that you get fleece to put down in his cage area – I buy mine from http://www.palacepet.com – they call them beds but they are just pieces of high quality fleece that you can just toss into the washer.

[twuffy]

She didn’t have an x-ray machine, would have to send me somewhere else, but she thinks she feels a space between his lower vertebrae. He has no response to pain down there. I am not sure if I have to express him, when I pick him up he goes, is that what is going on? 🙁

Fleece sounds great, I’ve been using towels so far and molding it to him a bit for comfort.

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