6 year old dwarf’s ear won’t go forward

[pogothebunny]

Ok so long story!
We had contractors at the house today doing electrical stuff. They needed to do stuff in Pogos room so I moved him to the living room. Pogo is a free roaming bunny but never leaves his room even if the doors open. I gated him in the living room by the couch because the living room isn’t bunny proofed. I dropped my grandma off at church for a meeting and was gone about 20 minutes. When I got back they had moved the couch, there was a giant hole in the wall behind it and Pogo was nowhere to be seen. I finally found him behind the bookcase in the same room. He was terrified! They never told me they were doing any work in the living room. They released my rabbit when clearly I had him penned up for a reason! Then he had to endure the terrible sounds of the power tools! He could have chewed any of the cables! I was furious!!! I still am furious! Also I’m dog sitting a few Maltese dogs for a good friend for the next couple days. They’ve known the rabbit all of their lives and haven’t had an issue before but I’ve always supervised. So he was also loose unsupervised with 3 dogs. Now his ear seems strange. His right ear moves forward back around etc. His left ear doesn’t move with it! It always had before. Pogo is 6 years old, 1.8 lbs, and by the way only has one eye. He had his left eye removed when he was about 2 years old. When I call him or shake his treats he puts his ears forward together normally and only one does it now! I felt it and moved it and didn’t feel anything abnormal and he didn’t SEEM to be painful. He hides pain very well tho. I tend to overreact when I even SUSPECT my pets are in pain or something is wrong. Should I take him to the vet or is he maybe just upset by the rough day he had? I’m worried that the loud sounds could’ve hurt his ear inside or one of the dogs could’ve bit it. OR! What if the workers picked him up by his ears! OR! What if they “accidentally” kicked him. Oh geez I could go on and on with possibilities! But am I overreacting? And how much of my anger should I express?!

[Mimsy]

I’m hoping Pogo is ok. I’d be so angry if they released one of my animals that was clearly penned or caged. They have no business going near your pets. Too bad Pogo isn’t an attack bunny.

[Bam]

I hope Pogo is better now. My only advice would be to observe him and if he won’t eat or poop or if he limps or sth else is obviously wrong, you take him to the vet. Have you felt him all over for tenderness? Will he take a favorite treat?

Poor little Pogo. It’s awful that the workers let him out. I’m so glad you found him.

[Eepster]

Since he’s under 2 lbs, I’m guessing his ears are really small. Though picked up by the ears was one of my first thoughts too, the really tiny ears of such a small dwarf would be hard to get a hold of, so I think it is pretty unlikely.

I would be torn about taking him to the vet. If the problem is that he is stressed, the vet trip would add more stress. Unless your bunny doesn’t mind going to the vet.

[BB & Tiny]

People such as workers seem oblivious to a rabbits distress when they come into your home. Mine was literally bouncing off his x pen walls when he saw a person reading the gas meter outside. Ever since then I let no one in unless I’m home and even then they were cleaning the furnace ducts and it happened again and the guy laughed ?!?! I shrieked at him to cease what he was doing until I could transport BB upstairs in his carrier. Totally insensitive people.

I hope your baby will be okay !

[pogothebunny]

I did feel him all over and nothing else seemed abnormal but like I said he wouldn’t show it if it hurt. He is eating and pooing normally. He acts especially fearful when I go to pick him up tho. He normally might jump away a little just to tell me he doesn’t want to be picked up at the moment but he usually doesn’t really mind being picked up. Since yesterday he RUNS if he even thinks I might be coming to get him. He has always been big on eating no matter what’s going on with him! He LOVES food! Through all the pain and discomfort he had with his eye he ate like a champ! So it’s extremely hard to tell if he’s uncomfortable. The only other thing that’s different is he is digging his litter box up. He only does that if he’s irritated. This morning he’s still not moving that ear. ?

[Bam]

If he eats and he’s not limping or refusing to use one of his legs or his head is leaning sideways or anything really obvious like that, I’d just keep observing him and feeding him and try to make everything as normal as possible. He was probably stressed out by the whole incident, but rabbits do recover from stress as long as they keep eating and pooping, first and foremost. I’m sure the experience was terrifying to him, but there’s very little a vet or anyone can do about that. I’m glad he’s a bunny with a hearty appetite, that probably was a great help for him getting through the ordeal with his eye, but even bunnies normally crazy for food will stop eating if sth is really wrong. I’d keep a good eye on him, and I’d offer some extra treats, just to make him feel comfy and safe again.

It’s normal for a bunny to be extra skittish when something scary has happened to it. Like when you’ve been to the vet for shots or something, the bunny will be suspicious of you when you come home and be reluctant to go near you in case you should try to repeat that horrible vet-visit.

The ear thing is weird though. Once when my bunnies had been in a fight, my up-ears bunny’s right ear lopped. It stayed lopped for like 5 days or so, then it went up again. There were no sores and no tenderness to the touch, I’m thinking he must’ve been smacked on that ear or something.

You sound really worried, which is quite understandable. If you have a good vet that you trust you could call them and tell them what happened. If they think a visit is of need, they’ll tell you to come in. If they think the best thing to do for now is to observe him, they will tell you to do that. You seem like a very observant bunny mommy.

Many vibes for (((((Pogo)))))

[LBJ10]

He can’t move his ear? Hmm, maybe they tried to move the pen and accidentally let him out. They were like “oh crap” and tried to retrieve him from behind something and they pulled his ear or something (think squirming, frightened bunny just out of reach). I suppose anything could have happened. You weren’t there, so there’s no way to know for sure unfortunately. My only other thought is that he got into the hole in the wall and got something in his ear like drywall crumbs.

[pogothebunny]

Thank you for all your advice and ideas! I think he is ok. He is pretty much normal now. His ear is the same tho. He has an appointment Monday to get his molars trimmed so I’ll have them check his ear out then. I am utterly obsessed with my bunny! He is my world! I knew if I came here i’d find some other bun lovers who would understand my extreme worry lol. I’ve had Pogo since he was 4 weeks old and been through a lot with him. I’m extremely protective!

[Bam]

I’m so glad to hear it! Hope his ear will get back to normal too.

I’m pretty obsessed with my bunnies too =)

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