Ear mites / Ear infection update

Hi,

Pumpkins face , eye /ear began to twitch very badly again today..... I decided to look in his ear again and this time can see wax .. which I presume is from ear mites again.... He has had them before and had shots, the vet had also given me some canaural.

I have read up on ear mites and it does seem that they can cause facial twitching... Anyway today he has had ear drops and metacam.... going back to he vets tomorrow incase it is an ear infection.

I knew something wasnt right as he trashed his bunny toilet / inside play area and out side hutch... its not like him, think he was just trying to show frustration... Poor little man....

Does anyone have experience of buns ear mites and facial twitching ? I did a search but cant find anything... perhaps Im doing it wrong

thanks

Dawn

Think you are wise to go back to the vets with Pumpkin especially if his face is twitching, let us know how you go on

Good Luck sending Pumpkin lots of Vibes xxxxx

I dont know much about them hun im afraid, but im sending vibes for him.

Good luck at the vets, keep us updated x

Katie x
x

My daughter had to take him back today as Im not well

Vet checked his tooth, well where it was extracted and it looks good ....

Then looked at his ears .... they are both full of wax... she couldnt see any ear mites but reckon there must be some in there to cause so much wax, she does think this is the cause of the ear twitching....

My daughter took Binky to , even though he doesnt have any symptoms his ears are also full of wax... so they have both had shots and will get candaural for 5 dys on then 5 dys off , then to go back and have more shots. I really hope this is the issue and we can get it under control ....

I understand that ear mites are caught off hay.. we changed hay supplier before and clean everything.. but they are obviously back again... I might try one of these online sites for hay. ...

Pumpkin does seem a little calmer today... which is good... thanks for all your best wishes

Dawn

Berts got fur mites from a bag of hay, but I don't know about ear ones. I'm glad she's feeling brighter Dawn, hope she's gonna be ok

Dawn, there's a really good video on ear mites here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoZgnAE7LAY

thaks so much Jay, it was really interesting video that poor bunny was in an awful state...

Its not going well here... after 4 days of candaural and 3 days post anti parasitic shot Pumpkin ear is twitching badly, worse than ever... It does look like some of the wax has come out but no difference... Im wondering if Pumpkin has a secondary infection lower in the ear and this is why the only time the ear stopped twitching badly was when he was on Septrin post tooth extraction... This led us to think it was a tooth issue when in fact it maybe an ear one.. It difficult when they ahve more than one thing wrong with them...

I am going to ring the vets again tomorrow and get Pumps back on antibiotics..

Dawn

Poor Pumpkin. I hope you get to the bottom of this. It must be so irritating for him.

It sounds more like he has an infection deep inside the ear canal to me, it's usually undetectable to the naked eye. I would strongly suggest a course of antibiotics run alongside the Metacam (to reduce pain & inflammation).

If left untreated inner ear infections have been known to cause nerve damage and lead to partial facial paralysis (similar to Bells Palsy).

Sooz wrote:It sounds more like he has an infection deep inside the ear canal to me, it's usually undetectable to the naked eye. I would strongly suggest a course of antibiotics run alongside the Metacam (to reduce pain & inflammation).

If left untreated inner ear infections have been known to cause nerve damage and lead to partial facial paralysis (similar to Bells Palsy).

this is what we are thinking Sooz.. Pumpkin has been on 2 lots of Septrin in past 8 weeks... the first lot didnt seem to help much but he was having tooth issues... the 2nd lot did seems to reduce the facial ear twitching... Metcam also hasnt seem to help at all.

I rang first thing but all vet apps were gone... so vet is going to call me back later today...

Dawn

Little man has seemed better as the day went on, vet didnt call till tea time.. so we are continuing with candaural for another 24 hrs then if he is twitching still we will put him back on septrin.

Pumps does seem to be twitching much less this morning also, its only happening when he moves his ear so he has either learnt how to keep one ear still or he is getting better..

Dawn

Glad to hear it

Glad he seem's better

Just an update.... On day 7 of canaural so much wax has come out of Pumpkins ear in the last 48 hrs ... this seems to have lessened the spasms in the ear . However it is still twitching ... so we are switching to Septrin now...

He seems better in himself and is doing binkies again... he even was playing with next doors cat last night.... and he is eating well.... I know this is unlikely to last once the Septrin has started.

Dawn

another update.... order more septrin and vet called back.

Vet reckons that Pumps either has a deep bone infection in his jaw/where the tooth was extracted (weird as area looks lovely now) or poss inner ear infection.

She explained it can take 3-6 wks of antibiotics to clear the infection , the best antibiotics for this are toxic to bunnies, so she wants to start with 10 dys of Septrin and see him then to reassess. In the meantime in 5 dys we are to start the canaural again, its fine to take with Septrin as the antibiotic in canaural is only topical.

10 dys of Septrin poss 3- 6wks.... poor Pumps he hates Septrin...it will be worth it if it works....

Dawn

Dawnbunny love, I know what a super mum you are and I am sending lots of love and healing vibes. Please keep us posted.

Hugs

Jo xx

things are going so well.... for some reason his ear has started spasming like mad today.. not sure why, its only day 3 of the Septrin probably to soon to work, last time it took 6 dys.

So I have put some canaural down his ear in the hope that this helps. Its really upsetting seeing his ear like this .. Ive hope its just looks worse than it is... its just been going on for so long ..Im worrired , its getting me down and Ive had a real good cry...

Im trying to get a grip... Pumpkins seems ok in himself and is eating , asked to go out twice and looked like he was playing... He keeps nudging for a lot of love ,more than normal , so I know he must be feeling irritated with his ear...

Dawn

Oh honey, I hope you are okay. There really isnt anything quite like bunny worry to make you feel terrible.

The Anti-b's do need some time to work, so fingers crossed its that. Poor little boy.

Sending hugs to you both x x x

How is he today darling?

Hugs

Jo xx

When you put the ear drops in do you give the base of the ear a good massage that helps the drops to get right down into the ears

Hi Katie and Jo,

He is still not any better, the spasming is so bad.... He did manage to sleep a lot this morning and Ive just spent an hour with him cuddling... at least he nudges me to let me know when he wants a love... He has just decided to go and lay down in the garden.... so thats a good sign but I couldnt help but cry for 30 mins.... Im not even the tearful type...

He is still eating ok... perhaps all the spasming just looks a lot worse than it is for him.... just not sure... Ive called the vet and am taking him back tomorrow... as so much gunk has come out of his ear now I am thinking that perhaps she will be able to see something..... and to discuss why it might have gone down hill again... maybe we should try another kind of anitbiotic?

I will let you know what the vet says tomorrow..

thanks for your support.

Dawn

Oh I am so sorry sweetheart things are looking no better hopefully when you go back to the vet's tomorrow they will come up with something.

Fingers and paws crossed here for Pumpkin Bless him xxxxxxxxxx

Tuckerbunnies wrote:Oh I am so sorry sweetheart things are looking no better hopefully when you go back to the vet's tomorrow they will come up with something.

Fingers and paws crossed here for Pumpkin Bless him xxxxxxxxxx

thanks Tuckers... and also for your comments about putting his ear drops in , we have been doing that.. he is such a good boy when the drops go in, as if he understands that we are trying to fix him... He is not so understanding with the syringe for his antibiotics and bites it and hangs on when he has his medicine... good job its not my finger !!!!!

Dawnx

I thought you might to be honest, we have problems with Pud and his ears he will shake his head like mad and we will check his ears and there will be big lumps of ear wax in them which we get out and he will start again a few days later and there will be more wax, he hates having ear drops in he goes mad Bless him .

Oh honey , I'm sorry to hear this.

Have you thought about asking your vet if they will consult a specialist?

Good luck tomorrow, ease let us know how he gets on.

Sending you big hugs Hun, I know how it feels to have a poorly bunny, it's the worst. X x x x x x x