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Got the test results back. She’s an e. cuniculi carrier, but does not have it herself. Yay! Vet says its definitely an ear infection.
Scary thing, though. Her head is now at a 90 degree angle, and she can’t eat or drink on her own. We have to force feed her now
And she can’t stop rolling, so we have her bundled up in a carrier. Poor Smudgie -
Oh poor bub!
The rolling stage is the worst, but it will pass. Hang in there!
Do you have one of those rubbermaid storage boxes? I used one of these to keep Mimzy in so he’d not hurt himself yet still have a bit of room to turn in once he got more stable. I put puppy pads in the bottom so he didn’t have to climb in and out of a litterbox and just put hay over the top, lined it with towels to buffer him. I kept it by my bed so I could put my hand into it when I heard him rolling overnight and he could stabilize himself by finding my hand.
Veggies will help with the water intake, or you could do sub q’s to keep her hydrated. It’s harder for them to retain water with the warmer weather now.
I’m sorry she’s having so much trouble. Head tilt is terrible. Mimzy still has residual tilt almost a year later and the vet thinks it’s due to nerve damage now.
But he’s still full of spunk so they can get through it. You can always email me if you want someone to talk to if you need to. (((((((Hugs))))))))) to you. xxxx -
Thanks
TB, my vet does know, we gave him a full update today. Rolling is common with the inner ear infections too, as it gives them major vertigo. She doesn’t know up from down right now.
JG, he did do the titer test, not sure if he did anything else along side it, but his results said she’s a carrier, but not infected herself. He’s an awesome vet, and actually teaches exotic pet medicine here, so I trust him
MM, I have had her in the mini carrier today, but her and monkey both were getting bummed, so she is back in the little pen we set up in the living room for them. She’s much more comfortable in the corner propped up with her blankie and her monkey than she was cooped up. We’ll see how she does int he morning, if she needs to be more confined again. She isn’t trying to move much beyond to the water bowl a couple inches away, at any rate. I may just email you, it’s been awhile! And that reminds me, still have htat painting to send… i’m so blonde, i keep forgetting.
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Thanks all! Today was a rough day. I had to work today, and had to feed Smudge when I got home. The feeding went well, but after, when I put her back on the floor, she couldn’t stop rolling, and just went limp in my arms when I picked her back up. Took her about 45 minutes to find her “up” so to speak. Was super scary
She’s doing okay now though, ate a couple pieces of parsley on her own and drank some water. She’s now snuggled with her Monkey. -
Lolz…no worries about the painting.
I just remembered, if you can get a script for meclizine (generic Dramamine) you can crush those tablets up and syringe them to her and that may help with the rolling. We used 12.5 mgs twice a day…I think…maybe it was just one. Your vet will know better than me.
Mimzy had to get his while bunny burritoed and tranced, which I hate to do, but he wouldn’t take it properly otherwise and it really helped him stay on his feet. He got so much of it on his mouth at first that we started calling him “Your Blueness” after the Chief Meanie in Yellow Submarine. (eyeroll)
It did take his fur off his face if it got caked on…probably because he couldn’t wash it off. It didn’t hurt him, but his cheek was bald on the down side for a bit. 0_0Nice to hear she is more comfy near ‘her Monkey’…
I’d be more comfy near Monkey too! xD
More healing vibes coming your way. -
This is where it gets hard. Mimzy was violently rolling by the end of the first week and, to be honest, it took at least another week before he wasn’t doing that as much. And sadly at least two months before he could find his feet and directions without help.
I was ready to PTS by the end of seven days, but my vet and the support I received through other bunny mums kept me going.
This is one of those things that gets worse before it gets better. There will be plenty of sleepless nights ahead, but I would encourage you to hang in there. I know it is really REALLY difficult and heartbreaking to watch. And I know Smudge-bug wants to be with Monkey, but as her symptoms worsen you may find you have to separate them, not just to keep Smudge from crashing into things, but to keep Monkey from feeling threatened enough to possibly begin having problems with Smudge. Sometimes the bonded mate will begin to attack the ill bunny and if you do have to part them, don’t worry… they can be rebonded after Smudge is feeling better. I’ve spoken to a few folks who have accomplished it with their head tilt pairs. Mimzy is not rebonded to Pip because they were separated too long before he got sick.
You probably haven’t had a chance to ask your vet about the meclizine with the holiday weekend, but please call him/her and see about getting Smudge a script. It could make all the difference for her once that heavy inflammation in the inner ear is calmed down.
If she cannot stop rolling, putting her in a large container with rolled up towels to buffer her will go a long way to helping her feel more ‘normal’. Mimzy actually learned to use his towel buffers to lean up on when he was eating and one time when he tried to periscope a little too soon, it sure helped to have them there so that he didn’t crash hard when he fell backwards. 0_0
Do you have her on metacam for the CNS symptoms? If so, how much? Mimzy was up to .25 mls twice a day and he now takes .3 mls twice a day without side effects. It really helps with the swelling in the ear canals that aggravates the balance problem.
What other meds is she on? Did the vet want to use fenbendazole on Smudge? Usually with head tilt that is added to be sure all infectious agents are covered.
As always…plenty of healing vibes and prayers for wee Smudgie. Thinking of you. xx -
Well, the girls are now in separate pens. It was just getting too hard for Smudge. Monkey would jump int he litter box, which would startle Smudge and cause her to roll. So its for the best. We do put Monkey in there now and then for some snuggle, so hopefully the bond will remain.
No real changes yet, except that Smudge is getting more comfortable with it. She takes advantage of me now, when I help her to roll back over, she’ll stop and wash her side that she hasn’t been able to while I am holding her. Opportunist that she is I guess
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Continuing to send vibes for Smudge (((((((Healing vibes)))))))
How cool that she knows you’re trying to help and takes care of what she can while you snuggle. I’m sorry to hear they needed to be separated but hopefully they’ll bond back together just fine once she’s better. A good idea to give them ‘visits’ so they stay acquainted.
Thinking of you all. xx -
I’m glad to hear she’s appreciating her meds more and seems to be having a good day.
This illness has quite a few highs and lows…sending vibes for more highs than lows ((((((((((Smudge)))))))))) xx
I hope you’ve been able to get some rest. I was the only one looking after Mimzy so I was on 24/7 for months…it was exhausting! 0_0 -
Just checking in to top up more vibes for Smudge-bug (((((((((((((((((healing vibes)))))))))))))))))))))
When I had Mimz in the storage tub/hospital bed it was lined with towels which helped give him back some sense of spatial recognition. I’m sure the bunny hugger will help Smudgie. (As long as she doesn’t like chewing on fabric, this is still an issue with Mimzy, can’t get him to leave the towels-or bunny beds-alone and they are all threadbare from him pulling them apart with his teeth!)
So sweet that she still wants to be near her Monkey. How is Monkey doing these days? Has she gotten used to Smudge being tilted yet? -
Monkey is oblivious to the difference…lol. She still climbs all over the place, sometimes steps on Smudge’s face when they visit.. same stuff to her
Smudge is still about the same though. She doesn’t chew on fabric, which is good. sometimes she will tug on it, but not chew. She’s a good little girl
I did pick up some more baby blankies for her yesterday, as she likes the feel of them on her little feets… heh -
Happy waddles are good. Mimzy does many of these.
How is she eating and drinking now? Any change in the tilt?
I know it’s a lot of hands on. But it really brings you closer to one another. And I wish I’d kept it up with Mimzy because he doesn’t really like being touched now, if I’d kept holding/fussing over him he might still want my attention.
Thinking of you and sending more vibes. -
The tilt is still the same, no change in that. We still have to hand feed/water her, but hopefully that will change when she’s got the new box and can waddle around on her own again. We’ll see how she does with the bowls
The box is on the truck for delivery today… was supposed to be here yesterday grr. -
Yes, the new box has been here a bit now, and she’s doing great with it
SHe can get in and out of it easily. AND we have improvement! She hasn’t rolled in days, and can now drink on her own! Head is still massively tilted, but she’s ont he move. And she did her customary thump for dinner the other night too.. was so cute. It was so quiet compared to what she normally does, but it was there
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