Hind leg paralysis

[Candice]

Hi I used to be a member a while back when I first got my buns but can’t log into my old account. Anyway my buns are coming up on 6 this year. A few months ago my bunny shamus suddenly developed hind leg weakness. It started with one and got worse. We treated it with catrophen (spelling) injections and metacam. He showed some improvement for a little while then got worse. Then about two weeks ago he had a week of being able to stand and walk and I thought oh it was just and injury he has healed! But then he got much worse again and went off of his hay I had to give him CC. The vets all agreed that it was arthritis. But now as he is showing signs of more pain in his upper body too and some eye shaking and a little head rocking (only occasionally) they believe he’s got some neurological issue possibly even from a stroke. They say he seems like a very old bunny. However until now they haven’t even mentioned e cuniculi. It was only today they said we could test for it and see. What do you guys think? Other than testing for it and giving him stronger pain meds they said anything else we do would just be prolonging his life not healing him. I really don’t know what to do. I love him and don’t want to give up on him but I also don’t want him to be suffering.

[Sirius&Luna]

It sounds like classic EC symptoms to me. EC is normally treated with a 28 day course of panacur. You can test for it, but it often brings up false positives, so it’s easier to just treat on suspicion, as the medicine won’t do him any harm if he doesn’t have it. If he seems relatively happy, then I think it would be worth trying to treat for it.

Unless he’s a large breed, 6 isn’t very old, so I think it’s worth pursuing this avenue, as long as he doesn’t seem to be suffering too much.

[Bam]

EC is the first thing that cropped up in my head when I saw the title of your thread.Tests are often inconclusive though and can produce both false negatives. Most buns have been exposed to EC during their lifetime, so the mere presence of antibodies doesn’t say if there’s an active infection or not. Very high Torres would suggest an ongoing infection though.

Treatment is 28 days of fenbendazole (Panacur) together with symptom-alleviating meds like Metacam (for pain and inflammation) and antihistamines if there’s vertigo/suspected nausea.

6 years isn’t ancient, but illness does take a toll and can make an individual seem much older than its actual age.

[kurottabun]

Sounds like EC to me too. Like the others have said, there’s no harm in giving a shot at Fenbendazole and see if he improves.

[jerseygirl]

Did they ever do x-rays to confirm arthritis or any other skeletal condition?

ETA: Was your username Floppybuns (Australia) ?

[Candice]

No they haven’t done x-rays yet.
Yes that’s me!

[jerseygirl]

Ah, okay! Welcome back !   Do you want me to see if BB can help you get back into old account?

Xrays would help confirm or rule out some things. It’s even possible they’ll be able keep him conscious to do them.

[Candice]

It’s okay but thanks

I had to say goodbye to my other bunny Spencer today I just posted in the rainbow ridge forum. I’m gutted.

[Bam]

I read about Spencer, I’m so. very sorry.

[Author]

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