Head Tilt- encouragement and advice!

[dasilvadrianna]

Hey everyone, I’ve been navigating this site since 2013 but never made an account, I’ve recently just made one because one of my rabbits has come down with head tilt.

Jubilee is around 6-7 years old (she’s a rescue so we don’t know the exact age). We believe she’s a mix between a New Zealand White, and a Rex. This all started last Saturday, we immediately took her into our rabbit savvy vet the moment I noticed her head tilting just slightly to the left. We all seem to think it’s an inner ear infection, due to her never being outdoors, and her bonded mate Hershey has absolutely no symptoms. Her nystagmus is 100% horizontal as well, pointing to an ear infection. She loves to dig, especially in her litter box, and we think she may have been digging and a small piece of hay got into her ear, causing this inner ear infection. Although, that’s what the consensus is, we are still treating her with Fenbendazole just in case. She has been on Baytril (for the infection), Meloxicam (for inflammation and pain),and Fenbendazole since Saturday, and just yesterday our vet prescribed her some Chloramphenicol for the infection as well. We’re waiting on our vet to prescribe us some medication for her dizzyness, as in the beginning this wasn’t an issue with her. She HATES taking anything from a syringe and constantly fights us, we end up tucking her into a bunny burrito, and hope that she forgives us afterwards. But not by any means is she weak, and that’s the good part.

There has been a very slight improvement as she is now eating much more on her own. She prefers wet romaine lettuce, and parsley. Still will not eat her pellets. From Saturday till now, she would barely eat, we’ve had to syringe feed her Critical Care since then, however she drinks regularly, we just have to tilt her water bowl over so her mouth can reach. She’s always been grooming herself (and Hershey), she even still digs at her blanket, but for a very short time. She seems to have enough energy to do so, until she begins to walk, she then rolls. Her rolling has started yesterday and is the most distressing part of this whole ordeal. We’ve had to sleep on the couch near her pen in order to hear her throughout the night in case she rolls. Her tilt has gotten a tad worse since Monday, but since then it has stayed the same.

I’d like some advice from others who’ve experienced head tilt. Advice, reassurance, and encouragement is always welcome- especially with her rolling episodes!

Thanks,
Adrianna

[Bam]

I know we have members who have been through this, butIi haven’t myself. It seems you’re following the standard treatment protocol to the last letter. You seem very up to date and well organized so I’m pretty sure you’re familiar with Disabled Rabbits, the website. (Not that your bun is disabled, but they have tips about how to take care of a head tilt bun.) I’ll paste the link in case other reader’s of tis thread wants to have a look: http://www.disabledrabbits.com/head-tilt.html

I hope our head-tilt-experienced members will see your thread and respond to you.

Don’t worry about her hating you for syringe-feeding her and burritoing her. As you’re saying, it’s a great sign that she’s fighting you. And they do forget and forgive once the whole ordeal is over. We have had countless reports about rabbits becoming tightly bonded to their owners through force-feeding, even if the bun really, really hated it while it was going on. I had that experience with my bunny Yohio, and he was angry with a capital A while the feeding/medication was ongoing.

[dasilvadrianna]

Thank you bam! Although you haven’t had any experience with head tilt, your response is very encouraging to read. My aim with writing that post was to hopefully get an encouraging response from any head tilt experienced rabbit owners, just due to this time being so trying for my family and I. I’ve had a fair amount of experience with sick rabbits as I’ve volunteered for a local rabbit rescue since 2012, but none with head tilt. Once this is all over with and she’s recovered, I do believe she’ll have forgiven me, but right now she’s awfully upset. Sometimes I wish they could understand that this is for their own good!!
Thank you again for your encouraging response! Please send some good vibes to Jubilee

[alcyone]

I’m dealing with head tilt with my bun, Marley, at the moment. It’s so stressful and some days are better than others, but I just keep telling myself he will get better and be okay. He’s been extra loveable since this all started, too.

Marley also hates being syringe fed anything, syringes terrify him. We’re currently giving him Metacam and Albon daily. The Metacam came with a syringe but Marley isn’t a fan, so I’m using a dropper instead and he doesn’t mind it at all. I have no idea why the dropper is more tolerable for him, but maybe you could try that?

I’ll be keeping you and your bun in my thoughts, and I hope for a speedy recovery. Stay strong

[dasilvadrianna]

Thank you alcyone! I will be keeping Marley in my prayers along with Jubilee! I’m glad to hear that he’s tolerating the dropper better than syringes, unfortunately Jubilee hates the dropper just as much. From what I’ve been reading, some days will be good and others will be bad, it’s difficult to track progress due to this. We have to keep reminding ourselves that although this is stressful and upsetting to watch, our bunnies are loved and will pull through. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. I’d love to keep up with your progress, don’t be shy to post! Stay positive!

[jerseygirl]

How is Jubilee doing?

I read this thread before running out the door and had wanted to come back to it. I lost track of it though.
I remember what the rolling stage was like when my rabbit had head tilt. It know, it’s hard to see.

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