Update on Bailey

[BinkyBunny]

I couldn’t post in the lounge because we’re still having goofy problems there. 

So the weakness in her back legs may be due two possible things.  

1. Since she has e.cuniculi, and she’s getting older, she may be showing the symptoms of it. One of the symptoms being weakness and/or paralysis in her hind legs.

2. She also had a crooked spine (was like that when I adopted her) and over time if it gets worse or it changes, it can pinch nerves or she could have disk problems that can cause these same symptoms.

SO, right now she is on two medications.  One for e.cuniculi which is Ponazural.  It’s supposed to be the latest and greatest that the vet said they are excited about. (but she also warned that each time they come up with what they think is a break through treatment, it has not fully lived up to their hopes) So we’ll see.

The second med is to treat her back.  It’s a anti-inflammatory and pain med. 

Since we don’t know which is causing the problem, we are just treating her for both.  If she improves, we unfortunately won’t know right away which worked.   But if we deny her one or the other, it could have negative long-term consequences.  Both conditions if gone untreated can cause permanent damage.

Right now she’s amazing. Her spirits are up, she’s perky and she’s learned to clean her face one front paw at time.  She can’t clean her behind at all, so I do it every morning. I usually have to do it once or twice a week anyway because of her crooked spine she wasn’t the best at it.   She’s really good about and just stays still until I am done.  

The thing that bothers me most right now is the fact she can’t give her ear a good scratch with her hind leg.  She shakes her head, tries to reach up with her weak back leg, and can’t quite do it. Boo HOO!! That”s sad.  I scratch her ear for her the best I can, but I haven’t come up with a technique that suits her.  I guess it’ll just take practice   The vet said her ears were very clean, but rabbits sometimes  just want a good ear scratch,  ya know, like we want a good back scratch!

She’s always had a hunchback sort of schlump walk, but now she’s more of a drag plop walk, but her spirits are really up and she’s spunky enough to give Rucy the stink eye, though the other day I caught her lying next her (with the divider between them), so maybe she’s softening up.

I’ve also put some ramps near her litterbox so she doesn’t catch her back legs while trying to jump in.

So far I haven’t taken her off the webcam, but if she becomes too messy too often or if she gets worse then I will, but for now, she likes to sit near the camera, and she even started grooming it a few weeks ago.  She must love her audience! 

Keep your fingers and toes crossed and continue to send Bailey positive thoughts and healing vibes so she will continue to get stronger and back to her old self again, and at the very least not get worse!  i would love it if she could at least scratch her own ears again!  Poor thing.

[osprey]

Glad to hear that she is feeling spunkier.  The pain/inflamation meds may be helping to improve her mood.  Binky, do you participate in the disabled rabbits group on Yahoo?

[Gravehearted]

I’m so glad that you’re seeing some positive results from the meds, I only wish it was clear which one. I’m betting the anti-inflamitory that’s helping too. Even if the issue is related to e.cuniculi, she likely is more comfortable now. Sending lots of healing wishes her way…

Poor girl, even with a professional ear scritcher (aka you) she’s still got an itchy ear. 🙁

[MooBunnay]

Hi!  I can understand about the ear scratch, my lil buns scratch so much they shake the cage sometimes!  Juli and Kramer are sending healing wishes I hope she starts to feel even better!

[Deleted User]

I’m so sorry to hear about Bailey … I knew she had some problems but not to the extent that you mentioned.  But, I am glad to hear that she still has that ‘spunk’ in her … She’s such a high spirited young girl!

Lotsa warm fuzzies from my four fuzz balls …. Bunnies Sprinkles and Luey, Piggies Tyson and Micky.

You get go em Bailey!

Dawn xx

[BinkyBunny]

Thanks for the well-wishes everyone, and gravehearted, you are right about the anti-inflammatory being also for e.cuniculi. I didn’t know that and just assumed it was for her back until I asked about it on AllExperts. Dana Krempels answer included this in part of her answer “…..anti-inflammatory drug (to reduce/prevent inflammation resulting from lysis of the dead parasite cells)”

I didn’t know what lysis was so I looked it up, it means death of a cell by bursting.

I have even read where some people think the drug Ponazural may be the cure for e.cuniculi that we’ve all been hoping for. But I am cautiously optomistic. (Even if this is a spine thing, at least if her e.cuniculi was cured, that would be one less thing to worry about, but right now, we’re just taking it day by day.

Thanks again!

[poopy]

Bailey is such a brave little bunny! I am hoping for the best for her. She has the best bunny mommy to help her through this tough time. Have you considered herbal treatments as well to help with the pain?

[jellyrose]

I hope Bailey feels better! It’s such a stressful time when your babies are poorly (and they are our babies!). It will be interesting to hear about this new wonder drug for e.cuniculi…. me and my bunnies have everything crosssed for her. On the ear scratching- I had an old bun with arthritis with the same problem, I found that giving his ears a rub with a scratchy towel seemed to help him… he would lean his head right into it : ) He would also rub his head on the carpet! For his litter tray we used and old plastic tea tray which my boyfriend made a wooden frame for so it had high sides but just at the back. Hang in there Bailey!!!!!!!!!!

[BinkyBunny]

Poopy – thanks so much and I am open to herbal treatments, (I do have a vet that sometimes offers herbal remedies.) Right now the anti-inflammatory drug is mixed with a little bit of pain med. Today she’s a bit more wobbly, but I also haven’t done her morning exercise routine and t-touch. Will do that in a minute. I had to spot clean her so I am letting her rest from that. If she seems more wobbley later and tomorrow, our vet office offers acupuncture, and my vet recommended that if she gets worse.

jellyrose82 – Those are great ideas. I was trying to keep her legs strong and moving to prevent muscle loss, so that if she DOES get better, some of the muscles wouldn’t have atrophied, but I also don’t want her to hurt herself struggling, or make her lose confidence, so I made a ramp up to her box and a pillow for a soft landing when she jumps out of her exit door from her cage.
I had been looking around for something that would be lower for her, and my husband said he’d just cut the sides of one of the square boxes so we me end up doing that. And I’ll try a scratchy washcloth to scratch her ears. Good Ideas!

Thanks!

UPDATE:  (10 minutes later)  So I tried a scratchy washcloth and she liked that! It did seem to get the itch!  I have to grab her though to do it, because she isn’t too fond of me right now.  She sees me as the one that forces medicine down her throat twice a day, and sticks her butt under a faucet everyday.  I’m definitely not on her top human list right now.   But she enjoys the t-touch, and she has come out of her pen on her own to visit me with caution, but now that she likes the wash cloth trick, maybe I’ll be able to get back on her good side again.

[x liddo bunny x]

its great that the wash cloth works. and as for u not being on her good side, i bet deep down inside u mean well and u have taken good care of her so far, it would not be very nice not to like you becuase u want to help her. =) keep strong the both of you. =)

mochi emo and i send our best wishes and healing vibes for both u and bailey

[BinkyBunny]

Aw thanks, xliddobunnyx. It was funny because right after I typed that, she came over and wanted to snuggle. I guess she just is guarded sometimes. I try to keep the time that I do meds and the wash at the exact same time so she at least has an idea of when it’s coming so she can relax the rest of the time. She is well aware that late morning that is her med and butt bath time. She runs from me then.

[Hedi]

I have heard of acupuncture for animals but do not know anyone personally that has had it done.

As for humans… I myself had acupuncture for my chronic migraines and it was amazing!!! I felt like a normal person again for those few months. I had to stop though because just like the meds my body started to reject it.

But the relief was immediate so it is worth a short for Ms.Bailey.

BTW…. I really do believe Bailey knows she is on camera! I check on her all day long and most of the time she is right by that camera. lol Sometimes she even sticks her face right up there. So cute!

(and…in my shelter bunny packet I add  binkybunny to my internet list as a 24hr webcame so hopefully that will draw new people here)

[BinkyBunny]

Hedi, well then she must be giving you a big kiss, because she comes over sniffs the camera and gives it a sweet lick!

And thanks for the reference.   There is always about 6 – 8 people on, but some days it gets really busy, so I am happy to see people like watching bunnies!

[Hedi]

I am obsessed with checking on them. It is so sweet to see Jack and Rucy cuddling together. And Bailey always is just so cute sitting near the camera. I have never noticed any icky poos at all. They all are just so cute.

BTW- congrats on the award for the webcam. Very impressive and says so much on how important our buns are!

AND…this website is such a wealth of information! Like you said on the homepage, you continue to learn no matter how much you research. I learn something new everyday about buns and I think having a website like this with the webcam and forum is invaluable and for new bunny owners will give them comfort in knowing they can ask questions without feeling silly.

[x liddo bunny x]

i swear, my bf likes to make fun of me when i watch them. and yea, i think sometimes bailey just knows someone is watching. =P and thats great that she only runs when she knows its comming and when you just want to give her love and affection. and i still bet she knows that u care and she is only running to play with you a little. =P i bet she looks at you and runs a bit and looks at you again etc. lol =P

[Hedi]

I am impressed they don’t mind the vacuum.

Bailey looks cute in her new potty box

[BinkyBunny]

Bailey likes to sit  her litterbox – but it always seems that she hangs out the for longest time around the time that I give her her butt bath, it’s like she’s saying…"See, I don’t need a butt bath, I’m sticking my behind in the litterbox, see…the litterbox, I’m good, I’m good. I don’t need a butt bath!"

(but she always does now – especially with her weak legs, she needs it everyday)

She is not fond of the shopvac if it gets too close to her. She might charge it or get scared – her ears go up as a warning when it gets closer.

Rucy seems to see the shopvac as a hay and food scraps eater, so many times she will start eating faster around it, or she’ll just watch it if there is nothing worth getting first.

Jack hates the shopvac, and will run into his hidey box.

[Theresa Moan]

Its funny how the biggest bunnies are the biggest scaredy cats!

[MooBunnay]

Bailey is so cute I know her back legs are working OK enough right now, but if she’s having an off day and some trouble with her back legs, I remember reading about a bunny owner that had a bunny with splayed back legs. This owner would sit the bunnies bum down on a towel, and then take the two edges of the towel and pull the towel so the bun could run with her front feet and not have to run with her back feet! I remember thinking that sounded so cute, so if Bailey is feeling tired one day, that might be fun for her so she gets  a little exercise!

[BinkyBunny]

Theresa – I know, some big rabbits can be so goofy.   While Bailey and Rucy are hanging out or attacking the shopvac, Jack is hides out in his box – doesn’t seem to matter that the shopvac comes every single day of his life.    He doesn’t like it.

MooBunnay – that’ a great idea.   I’ll keep that in mind.

Today I felt sohappy when I noticed Bailey actually got into the closet with hardwood floors and pooped everywhere. It was the only time I think I’d ever be happy to see that but the closet is rather big, and it had the shop vac and scoops and stuff for her to jump over, so she was able to do that on those slippery floors!     I was amazed AND…..today I saw her use her back feet to scratch her cheek!  I was soooo happy.   She hasn’t gotten her leg high enough yet to get her ear, but I am happy with the cheek!  Before she would just slowly hold her foot slightly up trying to push it up and control it but couldn’t.  So this is big!!

[jellyrose]

I was just watching one of my buns apparantly trying to jam her foot inside her ear and it made me wonder if Bailey is still doing OK? I watched the bunny cam the other day but I didn’t see anybun!

[cookie627]

how is bailey doing? kind of funny how she runs away from you so she doesn’t need to get a butt bath!

[BinkyBunny]

Bailey is doing better. She even scratched her ear the other day!!! She can only do that with one side. She is becoming stronger, but it looks like one of her back legs is still really weak. It could be that now that she’s becoming stronger, and her other leg is getting back to where it was, the weaker leg really stands out.

I was amazed to see she dug in her litterbox. That means she would have to have stronger back legs to lean on in order to use her front feet to dig.

She has become a real poop machine though. Could be due to weakness or feeling insecure now, but I don’t focus the camera on her pen, unless I have just cleaned it. Since the cam is basically at poop level, it would just be too gross. Plus her time that she can run around the house is 10am – 5pm, and then the other two are allowed to come out from 5pm – 1pm, and usually during the time the other two are out, she poops up her pen (maybe to tell them she’s home and to stay out!) so when Jack and Rucy are out, I don’t focus the cameras on Bailey’s cage so not much to see unless Jack & Rucy decide to hang out in their cage.

[x liddo bunny x]

its good to hear that she is doing stronger. =) mochi here believes that it is all becuase of her healing vibes and no one elses but emo is trying to tell her hers did it too. wont they be surprised to find out that everyone has bailey in their hearts. =P (funny how they forgot about me…..=/ )

[cookie627]

lol Cookie sends healing vibes to Bailey!!
{{{{{{{{{{healing vibes}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[BinkyBunny]

AWW. Thanks. Well, all the well-wishes and vibes are doing their job. Bailey is doing better and better. She even tried to wash her face with both front paws. She couldn’t do it, but at least she was feeling strong enough to even attempt it. She may never fully regain her strength back if some permanent damage was done to her nervous system, but so far she is just getting stronger and I am seeing big improvements as she hops around now with ease. Even the last couple of days, I don’t spot her weak leg. She sometimes wobbles just slightly after she gets up from full relaxation. It’s like she has to jump start her leg, but once she gets it movin, she’s securely on the go.

I haven’t figured out if she’s just gotten stronger on the other leg and therefore compensates so perfectly, or if the weak leg is really getting stronger. Time will tell.

She sees the vet on Monday to get blood work to make sure the treatment she is getting isn’t causing liver damage. (just a safety check, she’s not exhibiting any problems that way)

So this is Bailey saying THANK YOU for all the positive thoughts! A loving nose poke coming your way!

[Hedi]

That is a cute pic of Bailey!

 

I miss seeing her when the camera is turned. I love watching Jack and Rucy together but Bailey is just so funny when she sits in front of the camera. Cracks me up. Makes me want to call everyone I know and tell them to log on and watch her. lol

[MooBunnay]

I saw Bailey on the camera today! She was right in the spotlight, it was so cute!

[x liddo bunny x]

thats the diva for you. =) GO GO Bailey!!!

[ubergoober]

Let me start by saying I am addicted to watching Bailey on webcam and I hope she is able to stay on. SO glad to hear she is doing better. I managed to catch her grooming the camera the other day. SOOOOOOOO sweet!

Any Bailey updates recently? Is she improving still?

[BinkyBunny]

Ubergoober thanks for asking. Yes, she’s doing well. She’s stll making a huge mess of her pen, but she keeps her pez dispenser pooing in there, so I am happy. Though she still needs ramps up to her litterbox, and on the outside of her pen door, she is getting faster and hopping around very well. She still can’t clean her face with both paws at once, but I caught her scratching her ear a while back (which she coudn’t do before) and she was even able to raise her weaker leg up to at least touch her cheek.

When she and Rucy used to get into to tiffs through the cage, she would try to scratch at her through the pen. Now Bailey has to just give Rucy the stink eye, but I did catch her putting foot on the pen and actually pulling herself up. So that way she can give an even more intimidating stink eye. She’s a very resourceful bunny!

I have been putting her back on the camera more, but it’s kinda gross, because the camera is at poop level, so you get to view her with all her poops! I do shopvac everyday, but in order to keep up with her, I’d have to shopvac every couple of hours.

Jack & Rucy are very good with their habits, and thank goodness don’t seem to be bothered anymore by all of her territorial pooping near the edge. (so many times one bunny can set off poopwars with all the other bunnies)

[ubergoober]

Poop wars…..is that like Star Wars? lol Too funny. I am so glad that she’s doing better. I really enjoy watching her on the cam…well I love watching the other two too! lol I have a thing for Lops and Bailey is just adorable!

[osprey]

Argh Poop Wars!  As some of you may know, we are fostering 8 little babies for a few weeks, and DJ is NOT PLEASED.  As soon as we let him out, he chases the girls and then proceeds to lay down a stream of marking poops wherever he can.  I was hoping that since they are babies they would be less threatening to him, but apparently not.  The dust pan and broom are getting a workout…..

 

[cookie627]

poop wars! no way not in my house!!!!!! lol

I am so glad bailey is doing better!!!!

More healling vibes!!! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{healing vibes}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[MooBunnay]

I am glad to hear she is feeling better too I saw her on the webcam again today! I feel like I’m seeing a celeb! How much greater would the news be if we got to find out about bunnies instead of Paris Hilton getting out of jail…..

[ubergoober]

Posted By MooBunnay on 06/07/2007 6:28 PM

I am glad to hear she is feeling better too I saw her on the webcam again today! I feel like I’m seeing a celeb! How much greater would the news be if we got to find out about bunnies instead of Paris Hilton getting out of jail…..

 

 

LOL I know!  I managed to catch as the shopvac came out and Bailey took off to hide beside the rubbermaid.  Still the diva though and stayed on camera. lol  Just funny…I wonder if she knows shes on camera.  It seems so.  Her treat bag was set down between her and the cam and she promptly moved and put herself in front of hte bag as if to say…"hey now…..they come to see ME not that stinky bag!" lol

 

Now if htat doesnt make me sound like a geek I dont know what else does.  Yes I sit here stalking the cam off and on all day.

[BinkyBunny]

LOL I know!  I managed to catch as the shopvac came out and Bailey took off to hide beside the rubbermaid.  Still the diva though and stayed on camera. lol  Just funny…I wonder if she knows shes on camera.  It seems so.  Her treat bag was set down between her and the cam and she promptly moved and put herself in front of hte bag as if to say…"hey now…..they come to see ME not that stinky bag!" lol

 

i wonder if she knows she’s on camera too  She loves to stand by it, she chins it and grooms it often. She is such an intention seeker anyway.  When she’s out, all she wants is to be pet the whole time.  Sometime she chins the camera so hard that she pushes it up so it focuses up  on the ceiling.  

[Hedi]

I think Bailey knows she is on camera and I think it is just so cute!

[ubergoober]

I am just obsessed is my problem lol She is just too cute and I have such a soft spot for her for some reason lol. Mind you dont get me wrong I get really excited to see Jack and Rucy too! lol Just that Bailey seems to KNOW shes being watched lol

[Author]

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