Right before I went on vacation, my rabbit Dewey (8 years old with chronic kidney disease) had a bout of GI stasis. He recovered, but I was jittery about leaving for two weeks. Talked to vet and pet sitter and thought it would be best to keep him on a routine at home. One week into my vacation, I was told that he was only eating part of his food and had diarrhea. The pet sitter took Dewey to the vet. We talked to the vet while Dewey was there and was told that they thought it was bacterial b/c of the smell of his diarrhea. He was given metronidazole at .6 for seven days.
We were out-of the-country and ready to come home, but was told he was doing o.k.
When I got home, I took one look at him and rushed him to the vet. The left ear and eye, and face looked like he had a stroke. I thought head-tilt. The vet he saw was not the same one as previously. She said, yup its an ear infection and that can lead to head tilt. This vet wanted to wait until his other symptoms resolved before giving him Baytril. I asked why the vet did not mention the ear infection or treat for it. I was told that his waning appetite and diarrhea were primary.
He relapsed a bit 3 or 4 days after the last vet visit. So, it was back to critical care and the vet began Baytril (.7 for fourteen days). He is eating more now and does not have diarrhea. His ear standing up, but he does not move it and it is not the same as the other. His eye is more open. The left side of his mouth is still affected and I notice that he has a bit of difficulty chewing on the left side. I notice that when he is sleeping or stretched out he “lists” to the left side. None of these symptoms improved with the Baytril.
Since he has had head-tilt before and completely recovered, I know that sometimes bunnies get better but the physical effects may never get better.
Is this how ear infections are treated? How do we know the ear infection is gone? Yes, vets are bunny experienced. I, however, am not bunny savvy.
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