Throat inflamation

Hi All,

Please can anyone help. My little Daisy has had some problems recently. He had some tooth problems and when the vet went in to have a look he also had an inflamed throat. His tummy shut down and he became very poorly. He recoved after about 3 weeks but is now displaying the same simptoms as last time. Head Shaking, Eating Less, Lethargy (prob due to the eating less) drinking more and eating his paper litter (??) The vet has checked his teeth and nothing wrong but is unable to see the throat. He doesnt want to put him under cos of the danger of his tummy shutting down. So he has had a course of anti-biotics just in case there is a throat infection, but this made no difference.

So my question is - does anyone have any ideas? Perhaps the throat is an allergic reaction to something???

Any suggestions gratefully gratefully received. The vet seems to be drawing a blank.

My daisy is my baby and I cant bear to see him get poorly again or loose him.

Katie

Sorry Katie, I am no help with advice, but someone should be along soon who might be able to help.
Meanwhile sending healing vibes for Daisy, I hope he feels better soon.
x

Thanks jo,

appreciated. Its nice to find a site where people seem to love their Bunnies as much as I love mine! Thought I was the only mad woman out there!

I'm sorry to hear about Daisy. I really dont know what this could be, but is it possible it could be in the ears, If his head is shaking ?

The digestive stasis is not surprising, it's quite common that they stop eating when they are in discomfort or pain, so that could be a side effect rather than a symptom. perhaps ask your vet if they think Metacam pain relief will help...it may not tackle the problem, but if it reduces the pain, then Daisy could start eating agan.

Can I ask is your vet a bunny savvy vet - ie received extra training in 'exotics' . If not, they may not neccassarily know what to look for.

I hope someone will come along who's had this before and help, and vibes for your boy.

Hi

Thanks - He is on meloxydl (not sure how you spell it) pain killer, and it defiantely helps him, within an hour of taking it hes a happy boy munching away.

Its just finding what is causing it thats the problem. The recipe on his bunny nuggets changed just before all his problems started and im wondering if he could be allergic to something in those but cant find any evidence on the net that bunnies even get allergies. I think though once this course of anti-biotics has finished, if they havent worked I might try taking the nuggets away and see what happens.

Dont suppose anyone knows of a make of organic Nuggets I could try?

Katie

Im going to ask the vet to refer us to a specialist I think.

I use Allen and Paige rabbit pellets for my bunnies. As Jay says the stasis is common in bunnies. There tummies shut down really quickly if they are not feeling well. I have never heard of throat inflammation in bunnies before, so that is a new one on me. I suspect that the head shakin is ear related though. How is Daisy today?

He actually seems to be feeling better. Took him for a weigh in on friday and he has hardly lost any wieght. (thanks to his mummy stepping in early I think) and he is eating normally. The vet thinks im making it all up im sure, but Im losing confidence in them fast.

But he is feeling better in himself - So maybe the antibiotics are working. Have reduced his pain killer down and will take him off it on wednesday and see how he does. If he struggles again im going to ask to be referred to a specialist.

Did the vet check inside Daisy's ears....head shaking is a very common sign of an inner ear infection which can track to other parts of the upper body.

No they didnt check in his ears. Im beginning to think I should get a new vet! He has finished his course of Baytril and I am now weening him off of his pain killer and see how it goes. He saw three vets at the practice to see what is wrong with him and not one of them checked his ears!

Do you think that if he did have an ear infection the Baytril might have fixed it?

How long was the course of Baytril.....I would say it's unlikely to have done anything long term as Baytril, whilst broadspectrum, has one of the poorest tissue penetration of all antibiotics making it less suitable for this type of infection.

When Lexie had her IEI the best antibiotic for her (she also suffered acute snuffles) was Oxytetracycline LA injections which she had every three days. She ended up with Bells Palsy (where the nerves in one side of the face are paralysed and the face droops) from her repeat IEIs.

I would take him back and gat his ears checked, though often you may not see anything externally and if you want full diagnostics it might require a skull x-ray.