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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.
My 6 year old female mini-lop has severe head tilt, the left side of her face seems…”off”, and her left eye is dull and slightly cloudy. Does anyone know what I can do? She was diagnosed with Pastuerella (sp?) and was on antibiotics for over a month– the left side of her face (the uneven side) was paralyzed and she couldn’t blink before, but the antibiotics healed that…. She’s eating and drinking fine (as far as I can tell), but its stll scary to see… HELP!! Does anyone know about bunny strokes and their symptoms?
In the pic attached, she’s in the middle being loved on by her boyfriends.
Has she been to the vet lately? I think head tilt is a permanent thing, but I’m not sure. Anyways welcome!
One of our members who has Boston has just been through this so hopefully she will see this. I’m so sorry you are going through this.
awe thats so sad time 4 vet trip again
oh no. i would take her to the vet and see what they can do. how long has she been getting treatment for the head tilt. from what i understand, it can be corrected, unless left too long. i don’t know anything about stroke, altho i kind of remember hearing it happens in lionheads sometimes, so i guess it’s possible.
your bunnies are beautiful. that’s so sweet that they love her so much!
Oh poor baby! I’m a bit confused – is the head tilt new or was it already existing? And when you say left side, that’s the side of her head that’s facing the floor, right? Sometimes with headtilt, the “floor” eye can get infected and might not close properly so it needs to be checked and be treated if it gets bad. What you describe sounds like the effects of head tilt unless she has had head tilt for awhile and the “paralyzed” face is new…
Get her to a rabbit-savvy vet. Was she treated for the head tilt or just the pasteurella?
Initially, the Pasteurella caused a really bad ear infection which caused the head tilt and paralysis on the left side of her face (the side closest to the floor in the picture i posted). She was treated with antibiotics for a month, and the head tilt looked like it was getting better. She regained movement in her left eye and side of face, but it still looked… different. Then she had a relapse (which I think was the stroke) which caused the head tilt to be severe and for the eye to become cloudy and dull. Poor little hippity hop.
Poor baby. I think you need to see the vet again, perhaps she needs some more aggressive treatment for her head tilt.
Did she have a culture done which determined she had pasturella?
((((vibes)))) hope she gets better soon! i think if you take her to the vets the vet should be able to tell you whats best for her
Hi!!
She definitely needs to get checked out by a RABBIT SAVVY vet. I know it looks scary to see them with head tilt, but with the RIGHT treatment they can have a good life. It sounds like, that she might need to go back on her antibiotics (why was she takin’ off???), and probably a higher more aggressive dose. Do you have a rabbit savvy vet???
I hope, she’ll get betta!! I’m sending healing ((((((vibes)))))) to her!!
And its so nice to see her so well loved by her boyfriends
I think they can sense, something is wrong…
GOOD LUCK!!!
*hugs*
Back to the vet you go. I would suggest treating her for both the ear infection (baytril) and e.cunniculi (panacur). Even if an ear infection was the initial cause, stress can aggrivate e.c. so it may be a contributor. If she was on baytril before, ask your vet about zithromax – it has had wonderful results for head tilt. FYI, I am NOT a vet so please discuss any and all treament with a RABBIT-SAVVY vet…I am only sharing what I have learned when my little Fluffy had head tilt.
Don’t give up on her – recovering from head tilt can take a long time. Sometimes a bunny’s head will never go back to normal but there are MANY rabbits who live long happy and healthy lives living this way. Poor sweety – get well kisses are sent your way!
aw the poor dear. (((((((((vibes for your bunny)))))))))
vet trip time!
I agree with rabbitsmba. Has she been treated with fenbendazole (for e.g panacur) I would have her on a six week course as a precaution. Her symptoms very much point towards e.cuniculi…more so since she has teh cloudiness in one eye.
I do not have much experience with head tilt, however, I do have a bunny that has a cloudy eye, and the vet told me it was from an external injury to the eye. Is it possible that since her head is tilted she might have hit her eye on the floor or something that would have caused an abrasion?
I’m so happy to see she’s got some boyfriends lovin’ on her!
BunnySlave,
Just wondering if you’ve found out anything from a vet yet? My bunny Boston has a case of head tilt. She was on baytril until we determined it wasn’t an ear infection and is now on oxybendrazole (much like panacur) for the head tilt. This first happened in April and she now only has a slight head tilt as oppossed to a tilt so bad she could only lay in one position.
Talk to you vet about an eye cream too. My bun’s eye on the tilted side was pure red from infection because she was rolling so much in her hay.
Good luck, keep us updated and let us know if you have more questions.
hi – have you been able to get into the vet yet?
update?
**UPDATE**
So Snickers (mini-lop I suspected of having a stroke) was brought to the vet yesterday and here’s the diagnosis…
Not certain for sure it is E. Cucunculi (sp?) without a culture, but sent me home with an arsenal of bunny meds to include: Baytril, Panacur, Meloxicam, eye ointment, and penicillin injections. I’m supposed to follow-up in 2 weeks, or sooner if she gets worse again. I’ve isolated her to a cage by herself to minimize her need to move around, and she seems to be relieved to be up there. OP (one of her boyfriends), has been trying to climb on top of it to get in there with her, but since he’s a humper its probably best she doesn’t hang out with him until she can walk around with minimal falling.
Patches (the other of her holland lop boyfriends) has been having sneezing fits for months now and Baytril only quieted it down for a little bit. While I was at the doc’s yesterday I requested (and they gave him) Zithromax to nip in the bud. Although its hilarious to see his ears helicopter around when he gets into the fits, I feel bad for the little guy.
Thank you all so much for the guidance and advice you’ve bestowed on me. The recommendations for specific meds really gave me confidence to ask for them from the Doc. I know the bunnies appreciate it too
Thank you for the update! It sounds like you are on the right track.
The only way to check for E. Cunniculi is with a blood test and it has to be sent out for the titer which can take a few weeks so most vets just start the treatment as a precaution until they get the results anyway.
Sending healing vibes to Snickers.
Is your buns head always tilted? Does she still move around normally? Just curious so I can compare symptoms.
So glad you got to the vet!!! Sounds like you are on the right track! Kisses from my baby to yours!
So did the doctor at least do a blood test to see if it is e.cuniculi? At least that way once the results come back , the meds could be focused as opposed to loading her up with everything for a long period of time.
I, too, would reccomend the titer test for E.C. – at least this way if it comes back negative, you can stop treating for it.
It does indeed sound like you are on the right track – remember, recovery can take a while, so don’t lose hope, she will get better! Also, I understand your concern for keeping her from her boyfirends but please do allow her time with them if that is what she is used to. When my Fluffy had head tilt, he got unbelievable love and support from his girlfriend Binky – it can really keep her spirits up.
Good luck and keep us posted!
No, no blood test. He (the doc) seems to be more of a “wait and see” mentality. Snickers is only in the cage by herself at night and when I’m at work, the rest of the time, she’s out with her boyfriends. The head tilt is still very pronounced and she doesn’t seem to be doing any better, but then again it has been only a couple of days since the meds began. The good news is that her ear infection is gone though– there nothing to clean out. Hooray! So hopefully I’m on the right track…
No, no blood test. He (the doc) seems to be more of a “wait and see” mentality. Snickers is only in the cage by herself at night and when I’m at work, the rest of the time, she’s out with her boyfriends. The head tilt is still very pronounced and she doesn’t seem to be doing any better, but then again it has been only a couple of days since the meds began. The good news is that her ear infection is gone though– there nothing to clean out. Hooray! So hopefully I’m on the right track…
hmm…I really don’t know about that “wait and see” mentality. that usually does NOT work well for bunny rabbits!!
they are masters in hiding diseases.
I agree with having the titer test for E.C. done…
When Boston had head tilt, Rabbitsmba told me to rub her neck. If Snickers lets you pick her up, I hightly reccomend giving her nice gentle neck rubs. It’ll help you two bond (and her to realize your hands aren’t just for meds). Not only that, it will help you to feel like you are doing something while you figure out what is wrong. If her head is very tilted, i’m sure its sore, so it can’t hurt to rub a little.
Snickers has gone to heaven. OP and Patches are comforting each other. I stayed home from work because of a migraine. When I finally emerged, I found Snickers cold in her cage and Patches laying next to her. So sad. Well, at least she’s not in pain anymore.
Oh, I’m so sorry. These things are so hard.
I will light a candle for Snickers so she can cross the Rainbow Bridge and be whole again.
i’m sorry to hear this. *hugs* for you and the boyfriends…
((((((Binky Free Snickers!)))))
Oh no I’m sorry for your loss Binky free snickers
Binky free, Snickers.
Poor girl, they can go so fast when they develop an illness. Hugs to you and the boys.
sorry for your loss
Oh I’m so sad to hear about Snickers. It’s so scary when they are ill. Now she is pain free. Hugs to you.
Binky free Snickers. I am so sorry for your loss.
I am so so sorry to hear about Snickers. I’m glad your other buns have eachother and you have them.
Oh this is so sad – I am so sorry to hear about Sweet Snickers. You did everything you could for her. The Rainbow Bridge is all the more brighter with her rays of sunshine….
oh, Bunny Slave, I’m so sorry to hear about Snickers, it is so hard to lose a furbaby.
(((soft bunny hugs)))
I’m so sorry for your loss. You and the boys are in my thoughts and prayers
I’m so sorry. I wish there was more I could say that would help.
I am so sorry to hear about Snickers, you are right that she is no longer in pain now. Now she is having binky parties in heaven! Bunnies are so fragile that illnesses can be very tough on them, even when their owners do everything that they can. I am glad that OP and Patches are comforting each other. Brian and I will keep you in our prayers tonight.
I am so sorry for your loss. It’s obvious that you loved and cared for little snickers. I’m sure that migraine was brought on by all that stress. Take care of yourself and the bunny boyfriends. All our thoughts are w/ you.
This is very sad indeed, but blessed be, she is not in pain anymore.
I’m so sorry. I know this must be very hard. I’m sending peace and healing vibes your way.
Thank you all for your kind words and vibes sent our way. The boys are doing alright, but they keep looking for her. I take comfort in knowing that Snickers is in heaven with my other passed bun Cinna-Bun and I’m sure they’re sharing stories about me and the wires they’ve attempted to devour. I will miss them.
Thank you for all your support, wisdom, and guidance.
~Fara aka Bunny Slave
belated condolences… i’m so sorry for your loss. ((((((binky free snickers))))))
I’d also like to add my sympathies to you and your other two buns. (((((((((((Binky free, Snickers!))))))))))) I am so sorry.
Hi all, I know this post is old but I just want to assure new readers that if their rabbit does have what seems like a stroke, it’s not all doom and gloom.
My rabbit had the wonky head, falling all over the place,very unsteady on legs but was still eating/drinking/pooping fine. At the time we had no idea if he’d make it through the night without vetenary help but he did. After weeks of tlc and determination he is back to his normal self! He used to lean against walls to get his balance but now he doesn’t need to. It looks like a completely different rabbit during the healing process but now my rabbit it running round with his head up nearly completely straight and looks so happy and full of life. Don’t give up on your rabbit, I hope yours can make a full recovery like my rocky xx
Rockyrabbit, we ask members not to revive old threads. It’s very good of you to want to reassure other bunny-owners though. If you like, please start a new thread on the subject. I will lock this thread now.