Sprained hind leg, or possible head tilt?

[lonelyglow]

Hey everyone. Yesterday me and my spouse noticed Flapjack, our 2yr old Holland Lop was hopping strangely, leaning to the right and seemingly not putting any pressure on his left leg. When he sits down, he leans to the right and sometimes falls over. He seems slightly lethargic but he is eating and drinking okay, but he has trouble getting around and hopping over things. His head is not tilted in the slightest, and he doesnt look disoriented. One thing I do notice is that when he sits, he sort of extends his leg out as if not to put pressure on it. My husband picked him up and let me feel around on his legs, and I didnt see any cuts, bruises, or sores on his hocks. I tried testing the range of motion, and it seemed fine. When I felt around on his right leg, however, he didnt flinch at all but was grinding his teeth.

Does anyone have an idea to what this could be? I fear the early stages of EC, but I’m not sure if it could be that or just a sprain to where he doesnt want to put pressure on that leg.

[Bunny House]

You should take him to your rabbit savvy vet to do xrays. You said in the title head tilt, not you didn’t say if he has it in your text. And if EC is suspected, tests often can’t test it positive or negative so I’m pretty sure Panacur or some other medicine will be administered for a couple of weeks to see if that is what was causing the head tilt and limping. I haven’t had experience with EC, but I know a lot of members have on here. I would also suspect maybe an ear infection-causes head tilts too.

[LBJ10]

Just going by what you’re describing, it could be EC. Not all bunnies that are symptomatic have head tilt. Hind leg paralysis is also a symptom. The way you describe how he sits suggests to me there is weakness rather than an injury. MediRabbit has a picture. If you scroll down to the white rabbit, you will see what I’m talking about. That rabbit has it in both legs, but what you are describing sounds similar (except it’s only in one leg so far).

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Differentials/paresis.htm

[jerseygirl]

EC is always a consideration.

Or there may be a sprain or even dislocation?

I tried testing the range of motion, and it seemed fine. When I felt around on his right leg, however, he didnt flinch at all but was grinding his teeth.

Im curious if he was holding all his weight on his left hind leg when you did this? Or his left was braced against you if you were holding him?
It seems he is favouring the left so it would make sense if he felt some discomfort if he did bear weight on it or pressure pushed against it.

One thing I do notice is that when he sits, he sort of extends his leg out as if not to put pressure on it.

Is he popping out to the side more or forwards?
My almost 12yr old lop would do this. The vet said it was due to discomfort.

[lonelyglow]

Posted By Bunny House on 11/11/2018 6:54 PM
You should take him to your rabbit savvy vet to do xrays. You said in the title head tilt, not you didn’t say if he has it in your text. And if EC is suspected, tests often can’t test it positive or negative so I’m pretty sure Panacur or some other medicine will be administered for a couple of weeks to see if that is what was causing the head tilt and limping. I haven’t had experience with EC, but I know a lot of members have on here. I would also suspect maybe an ear infection-causes head tilts too.

Possible head tilt I mean, i wasnt sure if it was just the symptoms of head tilt without the head actually tilting. He was completely healthy before this and did not have any symptoms. My husband is taking him to our vet in the morning.

[Author]

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