Head twitching/shaking after eating new fruit

[Horlicks]

This evening, we cut up a small piece of apple for Horlicks to try. It’s her first time trying apple so we were pretty psyched to see how she is liking it.

After she devoured the apple, she started a couple of episodes of head twitching/shaking. I have taken a video and attached the link at the bottom of this post. We were naturally quite concerned about that and quickly took a look at her ears. Her ears look mostly OK to me but deep inside the ear canals, we did see quite some wax. But that is really deep inside.

We have been sitting anxiously beside her for the past 2 hours and haven’t noticed another episode. Could somehow this head twitching be related to the apple? I’d take my rabbit to the vet in a heartbeat if any of you thinks this is a concern!

https://youtu.be/V6kxx0YJjyQ

[Deleted User]

Looks like there might be something irritating his ear? Lops I think have more difficulty keeping ears clean because they flop. Might be worth a vet check to make sure he doesn’t have a developing ear infection ?

[Wick & Fable]

I’m not familiar with how lop rabbits head movements differ from upright ears, but based on context, it seems like a lazy, half binky. Wick does a head twist when he’s excited or frustrated. Have you experienced this with your rabbit before?

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.

[Deleted User]

I would have said head binky but Ophelia’s are usually fast flicks back and forth. To me he looked like, for example, when we try to tilt our head and shake to get water out? I could definitely be wrong, but better safe than sorry right?

[Horlicks]

Wick, I’ve never seen this before so I got a bit anxious about it. But then horlicks has gotten a mild yeast infection in her ears before and the head shaking episodes back then were a lot more vigorous than what I am seeing now. I’m not sure what to think.. Plus she also seemed to have stopped the head twitching after the apple treats stopped..

BunNoob, I think you’re right, better safe to be sorry. We will try and schedule the next available appointment with our vet. Not sure when that can be though seeing the new year holiday period is coming up soon. We will definitely keep an eye out for any more of such head twitches.

[Horlicks]

Wow I meant to say better safe than sorry. Definitely did not mean better safe to be sorry.

[Deleted User]

hahah, I knew what you meant! Yes I would just monitor him and make note of when the twitching starts and see if you can identify a trigger. Like if it is only after he has eaten, maybe it has something to do with chewing and inner ear? If there is some irritant stuck in there maybe the chewing further irritates it? Just a thought!

[Horlicks]

Update: I have only noticed one more episode of head twitching after the apple incident but that is one time too many. I’m bundling little horlicks up to the vet as I type now. Fingers crossed that everything turns out OK at the vet!

[Horlicks]

It’s an ear infection. ? we are given a 2 week course of medication. My poor bunny must have been suffering. Well at least we are glad to have caught it early.

[Author]

Messages