Help!

[pepperduck]

Hello, I am new, and I have a bunny with an issue.

He is a 2 year old dwarf rabbit named torpedo. He had some weight issues this past summer, when he was placed in with a guniea pig who ate all the food. He is now gaining weight and has been seperated from the guinea pig. He also has always been kind of wobbly  when he’s just sitting there. He’ll kind of sway back and forth.

Today I took him out of his cage and placed him by some hay to munch on. He would fall over on his side and either not get up or have problems getting up. If you push him when he’s sitting there he wiil fall over and just lay there. He can hop around though, and he can balance on his hind legs. He is eating and drinking. He also is very vocal, but over all seems healthy and alert except for being off balance. Any idea what might be wrong?

 

[BunnyLiz]

Hi and welcome! I think he needs to see a vet asap. Thats doesnt sound to comfy for him, I think the House Rabbit Society has a list of rabbit savy vets for your area you could check out.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

You need to get him into a vet ASAP Please let us know what city you live in so we can recommend a vet. It is not OK that he’s falling over!!

[pepperduck]

I am away at school right now, which is in the middle of no where. I have talked to the vet around here and they said they “don’t do rabbits”. The other ones within an hour said they do checkups but they can’t help if there is an actual problem. I called my vet at home and they referred me to a different animal hospital, which refused to talk to me over the phone. My roommate and I have been calling all over and we finally got a hold of a vet who said they think it sounds like an inner ear infection or a neurological issue. I have an appointment for Friday… which is the earliest I could actually get there since I am a college student with no car and the vet office is 2 hours away. I just hope he doesn’t get worse.

 

I have been watching him very carefully and he’s hopping around, eating and drinking. He looks to be fine, is alert. It’s only if you gently push him that he will fall over and just lay there.

[BunnyLiz]

Ear infections can lead to head tilt i believe. Which is very bad, could be a permanent problem if it leads to head tilt

[Beka27]

if he is eating and drinking, he should be okay overnight, but i would try and get him in tomorrow. he needs to be started on antibiotics and they’re going to need to figure out if it’s an ear infection or something worse to determine what the best course of treatment will be.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Yes, I’m thinking it sounds like ‘head tilt’ maybe? They may not talk to you over the phone for legal reasons, ie. they can’t give advice without seeing him. Will they see him if you bring him in?

[Scarlet_Rose]

If he is falling over, be sure to roll up some towels and put against the sides of the cage to prevent him from hurting himself. I am very glad that you are taking him in to see the vet and that you could find one for him. Please keep us updated.

[bunnytowne]

Poor bun sounds like that could be serious. Vet ASAP for bun..   Keep us updated please. 

[pepperduck]

Thanks for all the well wishes. Don’t worry there are a lot of blankets in his cage. He’s very well potty trained and always goes in his liter box so I always have blankets and towels to make it super comfy for him. I will let you guys know what the vet says. The vets around here say they do basic check ups only and can’t help with a problem, so the appointment is later in the week at a specialist.

[Scarlet_Rose]

That’s great news you have a specialist booked. Another thing that I just thought of is that you might want to have a low-sided litter box for him so he doesn’t have to jump in and out of it. Does he have a water crock or water bottle? If he has a crock, you might want to switch to a bottle.

[Scarlet_Rose]

What kind of food are you giving to the rabbit? Was it food for guinea pigs when they wqere togther? The reason I ask is because piggies need a lot of vitamin C in their diet, so their food has a lot of it and if a rabbit eats it, they can get sick form it because they do not need as much vitamin C in their diet.

You also said your rabbit is vocal? A rabbit is only vocal when they are frightened for their lives or are in extreme pain. This is not good.

[pepperduck]

He is getting a combo if alpha and timothy hay, fresh fruits and veggies, and rabbit pellets. He isn’t being vocal anymore. He seems to have gotten worse. Now he won’t even get up and move anymore. He will sit eat if I put food in front of him and he is right by the water bottle. I have seen him take drinks. He doesn’t get up to go to the bathroom though. He’s been going laying down and doesn’t move out of it. I cleaned him off and I keep replacing the bedding so it’s at least clean for a bit. I am going to try to get into the vet office in the morning that doesn’t specialize in rabbits. He just needs to be seen by someone, and I can’t get to the specialist. My boyfriend father is a vet and he said from the sounds of it, it’s a neurological problem and would need to be put down.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

WOW that’s great he’s going to see a specialist!

If you can get your hands on some ‘vet bed’ or ‘faux sheepskin’ (Pet beds are made of it, or you can pick some up in a fabric store) it’s super comfy, and wicks the mess away so even incontinent rabbits can sit on and not get soiled. It’s easy to wash too.

http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-3756612t400.jpg

Please keep us posted, {{ VIBES }}

[Lightchick]

Oh, the poor guy! Thinking of you and him…

[pepperduck]

He passed away last night. I talked to the vet and they said based on how fast he passed and all of his symptoms, they think he had either a brain tumor or an awful parasite, neither of which could have treated.

[kralspace]

aw pepperduck, I’m so sorry to hear about your poor bunny, (((bunny hugs))))

Kathy

[Sarita]

Oh, I’m so sorry for your loss. I will light a candle for him so he can cross the Rainbow Bridge and be whole again.

[Beka27]

i’m so sorry for your loss. sometimes these things can progress very quickly. you did everything you could to make him comfortable in his last moments and he felt your love. hugs for you!

Binky Free Torpedo…

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’m so sorry for your loss {{ HUGS }} It’s very very hard when they go but if they are going to go, it’s best they go quickly and do not suffer

*Binky free Torpedo*

[osprey]

Binky Free Torpedo

I agree with some other posts, this ailment progressed very quickly and his system just could not keep up with it. Hugs to you.

[jerseygirl]

So sorry Pepperduck that Torpedo didn’t pull thru. Please understand you did all that was possible for him. It does sound as thou whatever took him was aggressive and difficult to fight. Small comfort I know but at least he was in his home & you didn’t have to make the heartwrenching choice to have him put down.

Torpedo, may you torpedo over the rainbow bridge putting on a show for all the other buns there.

[kimberleyanddarren]

oh i am so sorry for your loss *binky free bunny*

[Scarlet_Rose]

I am sorry for the loss of Torpedo Pepperduck. 

I lit a candle for you in his memory, you can see it here. So many losses lately, it is all very sad.

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/message.cfm?l=eng&cid=6845428

 

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