Rory head tilt :( * photos may be upsetting*

Guys, Rory has taken a turn for the worst :-( after a few weeks without drama following his neuter, his eye problem has flared up again, and he now has a head tilt :'-( it's quite pronounced. He is back on 2 types on anti-biotic for his eye, back on the Panacur (though 28 days of it didn't kill it off) and back on metacam. The vet has advised that as he is still eating (thank god) and seems quite interested in things, and is pooing and weeing, also managing to groom a bit (he has a very clean bum still) she feels that he isn't suffering too much, and I can give him some time to see how he goes. I don't want to lose him, bit I won't have him suffer. He has had so much misery in his short life I won't prolong his suffering for our benefit :'-( The vet told me that some bunnies she has seen are worse, and actually fully tilted on their sides, and running in circles. It's so awfull he is disoriented, he can't het in the litter tray, he doesn't seem o be able to do what he wants to do, I can't bare it, he is in a right pickle. I'm so upset, he has had such a **** life really, the poor little thing didnt stand a chance really. He is nibbling a variety of things, drinking from his bottle seems unachievable so he has a water dish too. He looks so confused and frightened, it's the most upsetting thing I have ever witnessed happen to an animal, my Rory :-(

Oh no! Poor Rory! Mega vibes coming his way

Poor Rory, sending him lots of recovery vibes and x

Once the infection is gone I know someone who did carrot therapy with her rabbit and she only has a slight tilt now

So sorry to hear he has got head tilt . I really hope he can make a recovery of sorts and live comfortable. Sending lots of vibes xx

Theo had a bun that was very badly affected, but it did make a big recovery so it can happen. Hoping that this is the case with your wee fellow. xx

Oh what a sad month this is turning out to be so much sadness, all I do is cry now

Poor Rory but I have seen a few head tilt bunnies in my time and some have made complete recovery's.

My fingers are crossed for this very special little fluff ball .

Sending Rory mega mega mega mega Vibes xxxxxxxxxxxx

NickieM wrote:Theo had a bun that was very badly affected, but it did make a big recovery so it can happen. Hoping that this is the case with your wee fellow. xx

She does indeed that would be the lovely Flopsy here she is now (a lazy bones)

to you and to Rory. I really hope he gets through this.

Sending mega get well soon vibes

Thanks guys, this morning he has eaten the huge amount of assorted goodies I left him last night and is pottering about a bit. At least he isn't at the back of his log roll like he was yesterday. Rory has never seemed to ne as 'rabbity' as the girls, but he behaved like a prey animal that was waiting to be eaten yesterday, hiding and being very cautious before comming out, heartbreaking. He can't seem to get where he wants to go easily, and is peeing next to the litter tray as he can't seem to get over the slight lip. The vet and I have said that we hope to see improvement by friday, or I should let him go, this is no way for him to live. He is having all our time and care and I'm a long way from giving up x

Oh im so sorry to hear this, poor little guy.

I really hope he can fight his way through this, he is such a special boy.

He could not hope for a better bunny mummy than you, and if anyone can bring him through this you can.

Sending love to you, Rory and Yasi x x x x x x

thanks so much Katie- really hard having to go to work, we have had a domestic homicide and Reading and I was working with the victim- really can't have the day off, though staring at him hasn't cured him so far xx

I'm so sorry to hear this
Do you know what's caused it? - head tilt can be a symptom of an ear infection, or respiratory issues, which cause ear issues which cause head tilt.

If it's any consoloation, his vision is porbably ok. At the RWAF conference, Richard Saunders was talking about head tilt, in relation to E Cunniculi (which I realise may be different). He said that the head tilt is brain issue, not a neck one. and that the head tilts because the brain has decided that sideways is the way up. This is from my conference notes ( https://happyhoppers.forumotion.co.uk/t14309-rwaf-conference-2011-my-notes )

Head tilt. – This was interesting, he talked a fair bit about it – I didn’t realise that there are no neck muscle issues with head tilt. The rabbits brain is simply saying that ‘this’ is the right way up, so the head has moved accordingly – so they are seeing the right way up, just not looking like it. He said that head tilt shouldn’t be a reason to euthanise.

If it's an ear infection or inner ear trouble, he may well recover, or may not.
Is he having any medication? Metoclopramide, the gut stimulant, is also an anti-nausious drug, used for travel sickness in people, so can help with balance problems, if he's having any.

Has he been X-rayed? Cos this may help determine the cause.

It must be an awful time for you, I'm so sorry. Keep us updated, and if you need any extra veterinary advice from either John or Richard Saunders, let me know, I can but ask.

It must be so difficult, big to you and Rory xx

Thanks so much Jay, I read your notes from the conference just last week, and it is indeed down to econiculli. The fest symptoms we had of it some months ago was the eye infection and he saw a specialist eye vet in Abingdon. He had 28 days of Panacur and the vet advised that his eye was very scared bit didn't need to be removed. He has two lots of ointment into his eye which they have started up again now, I can't remember what they are called bit when I get home I will post the names of them. His head is soo tilted that he can't get into his litter tray, drink from his water bottle, eat from his hay rack, or be sure footed when he trys to go anywhere. If things stay the same I can't imagine him ever being able to enjoy binkying, bunny 500, periscoping etc. It's heart breaking. I posted photos of him looking thenpicture of health last week, now in less than 48 hrs he is shaking under a log roll petrified he is going to be eaten as he is so vulnerable. I will take some photos and see is I can video him later and post them with a warning, just incase it's useful to people learning.

On the plus side he is eating and although he is very afraid when I try to pick him up at the moment, once I have him on my arms he calms right down and purrs, he obviously wants the affection when he is over the fear. Poor little guy he is so young and had more than his fair share. Bit he was named Miracle after all... Maybe he can recover xx

I'm so sorry, I didn't remember it was EC It's just the most complicated disease to treat. Is he spinning at all?

I know you'll do what is best and right, he's so lucky to have such a caring mum. They can recover, stay positive for now xx

Felix&Willow wrote:Thanks guys, this morning he has eaten the huge amount of assorted goodies I left him last night and is pottering about a bit. At least he isn't at the back of his log roll like he was yesterday. Rory has never seemed to ne as 'rabbity' as the girls, but he behaved like a prey animal that was waiting to be eaten yesterday, hiding and being very cautious before comming out, heartbreaking. He can't seem to get where he wants to go easily, and is peeing next to the litter tray as he can't seem to get over the slight lip. The vet and I have said that we hope to see improvement by friday, or I should let him go, this is no way for him to live. He is having all our time and care and I'm a long way from giving up x

Oh I'm glad he is eating, no don't give up on him, I have seen bunnies with their head on one side and to the floor and in week back to normal, in fact there is a video that someone took once of their rabbit with head tilt and about a week later the rabbit's head was back to normal and the change in the rabbit amazing but I think it must have been on another forum.
I'm a great believer that rabbits sometimes recover because of the good intensive nursing and care they recieve.

Topping up those Vibes for my Furry Godson xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jay: he does spin but only when I try to pick him up and he wants to get away but can't seem to zoom off forwards awfull isn't it. I put my hand in his cage and he normally comes to
me and is happy to be picked up, but not now.

Maysie: I'm really pleased to hear you say that you have known of buns who are worse and have recovered- makes me feel there may be some hope, as I can't imagine leaving him with his level of disability perminantley, to me it looks far more torturous then having disabled back legs, or being blind, it looks so cruel and really looks like it must be unbearable for him. I will keep you updated godmummy xxxx

Felix&Willow wrote:Jay: he does spin but only when I try to pick him up and he wants to get away but can't seem to zoom off forwards awfull isn't it. I put my hand in his cage and he normally comes to
me and is happy to be picked up, but not now.

Maysie: I'm really pleased to hear you say that you have known of buns who are worse and have recovered- makes me feel there may be some hope, as I can't imagine leaving him with his level of disability perminantley, to me it looks far more torturous then having disabled back legs, or being blind, it looks so cruel and really looks like it must be unbearable for him. I will keep you updated godmummy xxxx

I have seen rabbits roll with this and it is quite horrific to see and you can't help but cry and feel helpless in a way. Wild rabbits also roll the same when they are in trauma usually after being hit by a car and I have to walk away as it upset's me so much but Mike always stay's with them to calm them and be with them untill they pass as they very seldom live Bless them.

There's always hope Beki, there are quite a few video's with Rabbits with head tilt and E.cuniculi on You Tube and they are amazing to see and all seem quite happy.


Roly our tiny Netherland Dwarf started with Nystagmus ( uncontrolled movement of his eyes ) and also he was scanning with his head going slowly left to right and back again. Mike rushed him to the emergency vet as it was at night and that was on the 13th February 2011 and we put him on Panacur and he is brilliant now, his eyes don't dart and he doesn't scan anymore else we thought that was it.

Keeping my fingers tightly crossed for him xxxxxxxxxxx

So sorry to hear that you and Rory are going through such a traumatic time

It must be an awful thing to witness, and I hope that he starts to get well soon.

If he is nervy, does he have somewhere really cosy to hide (a box full of hay?) where he might feel a bit more secure?

If vibes help, I'll send as many as I can

I am so sorry to hear about Rory He has come through so much already.

I wish there was something I could do to help.

I've got everything crossed for him. Sending for you.

Thanks very much guys xx He has a log roll with a blanket in that he likes and has spent alot of time on there- normally he lays flat out on his belly in the middle of the floor fingers crossed guys xxx

Fingers and paws x

I'm thinking of Rory all the time now and I'm going to sit down later and read my book 'When Your Rabbit Needs Special Care' it's about Traditional and Alternative healing methods and I may fiind something in there that may help you never know .

Those long fabric draught excluders that you put at the bottom of a door to keep draughts out are handy to put round inside the indoor cage/hutch for if bunnies roll ( just make sure they are not filled with those beads or the polysterene ones if they are a nibbling bun) or get a thick towel and roll it up and put a couple of long knee socks on either end that's what we use to do for Baby Saint when she was a bit wobbly.

Tuckerbunnies wrote:I'm thinking of Rory all the time now and I'm going to sit down later and read my book 'When Your Rabbit Needs Special Care' it's about Traditional and Alternative healing methods and I may fiind something in there that may help you never know .

Those long fabric draught excluders that you put at the bottom of a door to keep draughts out are handy to put round inside the indoor cage/hutch for if bunnies roll ( just make sure they are not filled with those beads or the polysterene ones if they are a nibbling bun) or get a thick towel and roll it up and put a couple of long knee socks on either end that's what we use to do for Baby Saint when she was a bit wobbly.

Thanks Maysie, that would be great thanks, I don't actually have that book although I have kept meaning to order it. The draught excluder is a great idea too. I have just sat and watched all the utube videos and they just make me cry, I hope I hope I hope he can get his head back up, it's really distressing me and he just looks so miserable I just can't imagine him enjoying life unless his head is straight. I'm going to stay up and just watch him tonight in the dark and see what he gets up to. It's the cruelest thing, I feel really bitter on behalf of Rory to be honest, and really angry that this is the hand he has been dealt- well 'up yours' cruel fate and neglectfull breeder- we aren't beaten yet xxx

I had a quick flick through that book in response to this thread earlier today. The only thing i really thought was useful specifically to head tilt was that the more active the bun is the better they recover so they shouldn't be confined. I have been looking for my copy of how to have a relaxed rabbit - the massage book - but have obviously put it somewhere safe since the other day. I am sure I read a bit about massage being beneficial in there. It is in the back end of the book.