Inner Ear Infection – A Few Questions

[stuartb]

Hi Guys,

New to the forum but I feel I have a few questions that I hope others who have been in my situation can possibly answer for me.

 I have a giant french lop who lives in my flat with me called Poppy, she is a lovely character and could eat for Great Britain given the opportunity.

However in May of this year Poppy had acquired a head tilt, We took her to the vets pretty quickly after this and were advised it was a mite infection. After treating her for six weeks, it appears that this wasnt the case. Poppy has slowly but surely gotten worst as time has gone on. We took her back to the same vet at the beginning of June and were advised that she is ok, including a checkup on her teeth and had her nails clipped.

 Just last week Poppy had started to show real signs of discontent and looking totally out of character in that she just moped around in her room and felt sorry for herself. She was still eating and drinking at this time but it started to become a major concern so we took her to the vets last Tuesday. After seeing the Vet, who we felt didnt really look at her properly (including her teeth) We were advised she needed an X-Ray on her teeth and a local anisthetic so that they could file them down to a suitable length, We were quoted quite a cost to do this. This vet also provided us with some eye drop solution (Fucilathmic) to help cure her gungy left eye.

After the head tilting and general problems we were not convinced that her teeth were the issue, So on Thursday we seeked a second opinion from another vet. This vet gave her more of a check over, looked at her teeth and said they were fine. He then looked into her left ear and noticed a nasty smell and a lot of puss in it.

 We were advised to buy some ear drops (Epiotic) that would help clean the ear. The vet also provided us with antiobiotic drops to add to both ears (Surolan).Applying this and the eye solution to her twice a day.

This was on Thursday, since then her condition has gradually gotten worst and she has started to stop eating, mainly because she struggles to eat. She is also starting to breathe quite loudly and the smell coming from her ear is quite unbearable. It is awful to see her this way and I am starting to worry deeply about her. I have managed to get her to eat squashed up foods so she hasnt given up and is shown some bright signs.

I am wondering if anyone has been in this situation before and can maybe provide me some hope and maybes some advice on treatment for my little friend. Particularly advice on how they got through this situation and what they fed their pet when they were struggling to pick up foods.

 

Many Thanks in advance for answers on this.

[Sarita]

I would have the vet do a culture on the ears. I don’t think that just ear drop medication is going to help either. She may need an oral antibiotic in addition to the ear drops. Ear infections can certainly be a challenge and can many times take awhile to treat.

[LBJ10]

If the ear infection is bad, then I could see how it would affect the eye on that side. I think Sarita is right, you need to find out what the cause of the infection is.

[stuartb]

Hi,

Thanks for the replys. So an oral antibiotic could also help her too, I will chase this with the vet.

I am due to see the vet on Thursday but should her condition not get any better I will go see him Monday or Tuesday this week.

So we would need the oral antibiotic, the ear drop antibiotic and the mouth antibiotic.

 Also she is struggling to keep her balance and looks generally dizzy, Should I be concerned??

Could anyone reccomend some soft food that I could feed her?

[jerseygirl]

Poor girl! {{{Vibes}}} for Poppy.

Maybe she might be needing pain relief and something for the dizziness? I think Meclizine is given for this. I suggest asking the vet.

Her disinterest in eating is worrying. Does she like herbs? Perhaps fragrant herbs like parsley served wet would interest her. It will help with hydration too. Things like that she can pick up and pull into her mouth.

Are you in the UK? if you dont mind posting the general area where you are, I may be able to ask some contacts for rabbit savvy vets near by. The 2nd vet you saw certainly sounded better though.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Sorry to hear your bun is so unwell.

I’ve dealt with many ear infections with my Mini-Lop and I ditto Sarita. Get a culture done. The only way to know which antibiotic to use is to know which type of bacteria your dealing with. And she will definitely need oral antibiotics as well since the infection is so advanced, and if it is an inner ear infection, topical ear drops won’t even reach the infection.

(((((Healilng Vibes for your Bunny))))))

[stuartb]

Thanks again for the replies and the vibes, Just hope she can get through this.

I’m trying her with some wet herbs to try get her hydration and digestion going again. Hoping to get her in the vets tomorrow for some pain relief and a swab/culture.

@jerseygirl – I am based in the North East of England, but would love any advice from anyone if and where possible.

Going to try her with some food, But at the moment she isnt entertaining it. Tomorrow at the vets cant come soon enough.

[jerseygirl]

I’ve contacted a member I believe will be able to direct you to rabbit vets local to you. Hopefully she gets my message and can respond here soon.

[RWAF]

Stuart, where do you live? I’m in Houghton le Spring and have just found a super new vet in Durham (also in Sunderland and Spennymoor). They’re Gilmoor Vets and this is their site http://www.gilmoorvets.com/

If you’re in Northumberland, Rieke Hettrick at Croft vets in Cramlington is wonderful too. They have a very well equipped hospital. http://www.croftvets.co.uk/branches/a-e-hospital

I can give you more if that’ll help. Email me if you like at hq@rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Many good wishes for your rabbit, and many thanks Jerseygirl for prompting me to this thread

[RWAF]

I hope this doesn’t develop into headtilt, but if it does, http://www.onthewonk.com/

[stuartb]

Hi there RWAF. I live in Hartlepool, not too far from Hewton Le Spring I guess.
I have Poppy hopefully booked in at “Pets4Vets” tomorrow to get all this checked out. I’m trying her with the wet herbs but not having much look, But she is trying to eat it but struggling away. I am going to keep at her and not give up, seems though she hasnt.

In terms of the “headtilt” she had a slight one in April, we promptly took her to the vets hence my annoyance at the situation we find ourselves in right now.

@rwaf if you could drop me an E-Mail or a PM that would be much appreciated.

[RWAF]

Posted By stuartb on 07/01/2012 02:11 AM

Could anyone reccomend some soft food that I could feed her?

If you mush some of her normal pellets in water, they should be fine, or ask the vet for Recovery Diet.  When my Betty was ill recently I syringe fed her with Recovery Plus and it made a tremendous difference, and got her eating again.  Supreme make special feeding syringes that are included with the Recovery Plus.  Scroll down this page to view Recovery Plus http://www.supremepetfoods.com/zones/vet-zone/

[stuartb]

Posted By RWAF on 07/02/2012 12:17 AM

Posted By stuartb on 07/01/2012 02:11 AM

Could anyone reccomend some soft food that I could feed her?

If you mush some of her normal pellets in water, they should be fine, or ask the vet for Recovery Diet.  When my Betty was ill recently I syringe fed her with Recovery Plus and it made a tremendous difference, and got her eating again.  Supreme make special feeding syringes that are included with the Recovery Plus.  Scroll down this page to view Recovery Plus http://www.supremepetfoods.com/zones/vet-zone/

Thanks for the response and the PM RWAF.
I have taken Poppy to the vets today, It seems that she also has contracted an chest infection . This does go back to when we got her though, she did have sneezes and was treat with baytril but obviously this is a massive weakness.

The vet would like to see her tomorrow and also would like us to feed her some recovery food that they have provided us. We also have to treat her left eye 4x a day to make sure the infection doesnt upset that too. Poor thing is struggling away, But hoping she can fight this.
Very, very concerned about her right now. Especially as I work 8.30-5.30 Mon – Thursday.

[RabbitPam]

I am not as knowledgeable as those who have already helped here, but my first thought was to get some Critical Care in the house so you can feed her by syringe if it becomes necessary. You could also make a home made slurry out of crushed pellets and water, possibly moistened by unsweetened pumpkin (canned) or apple juice, and syringe feed her that, too. Just occurred to me that she’s having trouble eating, so soft foods that are for sick bunnies (the CC) or softened regular foods may go down more easily with help. Food processing greens with a bit of mushed banana to hold it together like a pudding consistency might be something she can lap up, too.

[stuartb]

Well she is drinking alot from the dropper, But the recovery food is just not being accepted by her. I’m liking the idea of crushed bananna and greens. Will give that a try.

I’m not going to give up and plan to spend most of the night with her. Cant help but feel that this infection to her chest could be the end of her. But hoping for the best

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m really hoping your girl gets better. Definitely don’t give up on her! Rabbits can be incredibly tenacious with illnesses. They are strong little critters.

[RWAF]

Hi Stuart

How is your little girl doing? I hope things have gone well

[stuartb]

Hi Everyone, Thanks for all your help and comments on this matter. Wish I could have returned to this forum with better news, but unfortunatley its not good news.

I had to have Poppy put down on Tuesday 4th June. It seemed that the ear infection she had, had spread to her eyes and her chest. She did always have a weakness in her chest and it seems that this infection played on that. We were given recovery food and a dropper for her and dispite us staying up all night with her trying to feed / water her she just couldnt take the food in. It was so upsetting to see.

Took her to the vet next day and he was concerned by the vast amount of weight loss and her not eating or drinking and suggested the right thing to do was to put her to rest.

Very upsetting as she was still young, 18months old in fact. That is what’s upset me the most and I cant help but feel that back in April when we visited the vet about her being out of character that had we had been given the correct treatment this infection could have very easily been prevented. In the end it was just too far in her system and the vet suspected pneumonia got onto her chest too. So heartbreaking and its difficult to adjust to life without her as she was a house rabbit and very much part of the furniture.

Thank you again.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Im so very sorry for your loss. She was a lucky bunny to have someone who loved her so much.

(((((Binky Free Poppy))))))

[tanlover14]

So sorry to hear about your bunny. Binky Free, Poppy. <3

[jerseygirl]

Ah I just came looking for an update. Im very sorry. **Binky Free Poppy!**
She was well loved that is for sure.

We are all learning through our rabbits. Unfortunately there are not enough vets that specialise and continuing learning about rabbits. So it can be difficult sometimes to get the correct treatment. Sometimes it will always be a gamble too. “Correct” treatment is not always apparent. Important thing to remember is you did your very best for her in that initial treatment and this recent one.
Again, Im sorry for loss.

[Author]

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