Advice needed please!

[Mollysmummy]

Hi All

I have a beautiful 10 yr old bunny who I absolutely adore.

About 3 yrs ago she had a bout of GI Stasis triggering the dreaded E-coniculi. She was very very poorly but amazingly pulled through and has been happy and healthy ever since. Until recently…

A few weeks ago I noticed her limping slightly which then quickly turned into more of a lean to one side. I’m not a vet, but I’d say more neurological than muscular/bone related if I had to hazard a guess. The vet gave her a steroid shot and we started a 28 day course of panacur in case it was EC re-emerging.

I didn’t see much improvement and at times it seemed worse. We’ve therefore been doing a strong dose of metacam since too, alongside the panacur.

For a while she was really improving but now it’s very up/down. Some days very wobbly, others you’d barely know there is anything wrong. She is happy and enthusiastic, still wanted to hop around the garden despite it being tricky, eating well and so on.

The vets now think I should have her xrayed to try and establish cause. I don’t want her to be out under anaesthetic at this age but she’s quite calm and we agreed it might be possible to get some decent shots without. However, it’s still pretty stressful for her and I’m not sure it would really change medication.

I’m thinking of putting it off at least for a few more days but in terrified I’m doing the wrong thing. My gut instinct is EC and we’re only about a week away from finishing the 28 day course too.

Advice welcome? I’m so worried.

[Aki]

I’m guessing your vet wants to xray her skull to rule out an otitis or a traumatism, which can both give that kind of symptoms. It’s normally done without any anesthesia so it shouldn’t be a problem – it’s quick and you can ask to come and hold her with the vet (I did it for Aki when she had x rays done back in December and she was surprisingly calm). After that, they can do a scan or an MRI which are under anesthesia. Some analysis to rule out parasits other than e cunicuili or bacterias or often done too in that kind of situation.
Of course, e cuniculi is an option too – it’s a pain there is no definitive test to make sure of its presence in the rabbit’s organism. I researched treatments recently because one of my rabbits suddenly became blind and I suspected e cuniculi. I found that Panacur is sometimes associated with Toltrazuril or Ponazuril with good results. You probably know you have to bleach everything to get rid of the spores. But from what I’ve read, the Panacur should be given for AT LEAST 4 weeks so the 28 days treatment is just the one that is initially given to every rabbit suspected from being infected. Discuss it with your vet, but you can continue with it for longer if the problem is not settled… the difficulty here being knowing for sure that it is an e cuniculi related issue…
If it’s e cuniculi, the damage done probably can’t be repaired – she will still lean on the side even if the parasit is not active anymore.
I understand why you are reluctant to put your rabbit through the stress of the tests. 10 years old is not young for a bunny… I guess it depends about her general state and if you feel it’s worth it to put her through tests and treatments (if you feel she can stand them too)

[Mollysmummy]

Thanks so much for your advice.

I don’t think they want to X-ray her skull, they were seeming to suggest specifically her hind legs and spine to rule out arthritis or similar. My gut just doesn’t think that’s what we’re dealing with here and I worry that it’s unfair to put her through that just to convince a vet otherwise. BUT I’m not a vet so maybe my gut instinct is totally wrong. It just ‘looks’ neurological and is v similar to my past experience of EC (albeit that was a lean at the front with head tilt – fortunately she totally recovered from this).

She’s been a little better (touch wood) last night and today. Right now I’m thinking I won’t take her in the morning and wait a few days. I just really hope I don’t live to regret it.

I also think I might speak to the vet about agreeing next steps verbally, as I feel like taking her every time is really of little value. The decisions are based off my description which I could do without putting her through the stress of being there. Is that unreasonable do you think?

Its so heartbreaking. I wouldn’t change having animals for the world but I find this so difficult to cope with. I really appreciate the support xx

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