Sudden death from unknown Vestibular Disease

[Adam81980]

I just joined this board to post this. Hoping for some information for those more experienced in rabbits.

A week ago, my 6.5 year old Mini-lop, George, became suddenly ill and passed away less than two days later. This was very unexpected and I’ve been a little torn up about it. Feeling like it was partially my fault.

Anyway, here’s what happened… I came home last Monday to find George (a house rabbit) with head tilt. ( I didn’t know anything about this condition until I took him to the vet, immediately) it was very distressing seeing him suddenly falling over, stumbling in circles, rolling, etc. He’d been fine that morning when I went to work.

Rushed him to the vet. The vet immediately found a huge abscess, larger than a golf ball, under the hair of his cheek. They were pulling out huge globs of ear wax and puss from his ears, too. I was informed that he likely was suffering from Pasteurella infection and snuffles. (This was also a new term for me.)

He was scheduled for surgery the next morning to drain the abscess. (At this point I didn’t realize how serious his condition was. Didn’t know anything about URI’s from this bacteria and that complications that come from infection) I thought they’d drain it, and we’d put him on some antibiotics.

He made it through the surgery. Vet informed me we probably hadn’t done him any favors, as he had an acute inner ear infection and central vestibular disease that had likely spread to the brain. There was solid pus throughout his nose and ear canal. So thick, it couldn’t be removed. He also had dead tissue from the abscess that had gotten into his throat and ear canals.

I took him home and 14 hours later he died in his sleep after a long night of labored breathing, wheezing, nasal discharge. This all happened in a time span of about 40 hours from the first sign of problems.

About three years ago he lost his hearing. Two years ago the right side of his face contracted and pulled up. I thought he’d had a small stroke or been stung, but after a few months his face fixed itself and I’forgot about it because he was back to normal. I also thought he’d lost his hearing from old age.

In hindsight, and after hours of research tis past week, I think George had been suffering from an ear infection for several years? This likely led to the loss of his hearing. I assume it progressed to the inner ear and that’s what did him in?

Is this something that could have been stopped had I taken him to a vet years ago when the side of his face pulled up? If this was indeed Pasturella, was there anything that really could have been done for his long term health? If he’d had a progressing ear infection for years, how long was he suffering while,showing no apparent signs of problems or distress? He’d been lethargic for a few months, but other than that, I hadn’t noticed any difference in his behavior.

Just kicking myself for not catching things before it was too late. As well as kicking myself for being so ignorant about something common. I can’t believe how fast he went! I was expecting him to live a couple more years and he is greatly missed.

[Bam]

I’m very sorry that you lost George.

A bunny can carry pasteurella for all of its life. The bacteria is very common in rabbits, for most of the time the bun’s own immune system keeps it in check. But its not rare for buns to get an active infection.

Head tilt means the inner ear and the balance organs (the vestibular system) are affected. Treatment aims to reverse it with antibiotics. In your bun’s case, this wouldn’t have been enough, because antibiotics have poor penetration into abscesses. A rabbit’s pus is very thick and won’t drain through a tube.

There’s no telling if seeing a vet about the face pulling up would’ve helped. Maybe, if he’d been put on antibiotics back then. But its not certain the vet would’ve done that, as you’re saying there are other causes for facial paralysis. There are no guarantees even with antibiotics. Pasteurella is very difficult to eradicate, it can hide deep in the nasal cavity and sinuses and only the active bactive gets killed off by the antibiotics. (There are connections between the ears and the pharynx via the ear trumpet’s on either side so bacteria in the mouth and nose can travel to the ears).

It seems reasonable to think that he’s had off-and-on ear infections. But there’s no telling how much suffering that caused him, because pasteurella can lie dormant and flare up very suddenly. An abscess can form very quickly and grow quickly.

I’m sorry you lost him, but he was very sick. You tried everything once you knew he was ill. Its difficult to detect illness in rabbits because they hide illness extremely well. Hindsight is as a rule 20/20 and the “what ifs” and “if onlys” pile up, because we always feel guilty to some extent when we have lost someone that was in our care. I honestly don’t think he would’ve hung in there for 6,5 years if he’d been really sick all the time.

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