Help any advice please

Our adult lopped ear bunny has a head tilt which as soon as it appeared she was taken to the vet and put on meds for ecoli. Two weeks on she hasnt improved and has trouble standing and rolls. She is still eating and drinking but she is not herself. The vet she saw is not very rabbit savy. What I really want to know is if there is anything else we can be doing? She is a very loved part of the family and we are hoping to get some sort of advice

There'd is a website called On The Wonk that is all about buns with head tilt. Several here have been through it and highly recommend it. Good luck!  

Hi there, what medication is she on. We have a few members with experience of this and hopefully they will be along soon

That's e.cuniculi (Encephalitozoon cuniculi ) when their head tilt's and they start rolling and is due to a parasite in the brain.

In affected rabbits the inflammation and release of spores results in clinical signs, particularly affecting the target organs (brain, spinal cord and kidney). Treatment is aimed at reducing inflammation, using anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids and killing the parasite. Treatment generally involves anti-inflammatory medication together with Panacur (anti-parasiticide) daily for 28 days.

Response to therapy is dependent on duration and severity of infection at the time of diagnosis and starting treatment.

The organism can survive in the environment (e.g. house / hutch) for 1 month. However the parasite is sensitive to routine disinfectants. Although more research is required, our current knowledge is that the parasite is killed off by 28 days of once daily dosing with Panacur.

Disinfecting household environments can be tough because of the surfaces that are involved. Encephalitozoon cuniculi is quite hardy and can live in the environment for prolonged periods of time. It is susceptible to a several types of disinfectant, including bleach, 70% alcohol and 1% hydrogen peroxide. In general, bleach is highly effective and is probably the standard for disinfection of surfaces that can tolerate it. Obviously, bleach isn't a good option for many surfaces like carpets. Steam cleaning might help, as much for the thorough cleaning.

I'm sorry to hear your bun is unwell

I will leave advice on the condition to those who know more but I will say that you really need to find a rabbit savvy vet.

Where about are you? If you can let us know that then perhaps someone can recommend a good vet.

I am sorry to hear this love and am sending lots of cuddles at this worrying time. Healing vibes on their way too.

Hugs

JO xx

Has an ear infection been completely ruled out? Or has she had a precautionary course of antibiotics just in case?

Is she on a full 28 day course of Panacur? I think some vets who are not very rabbit savvy still only give 9 days and that is not enough.

Is she on anything to reduce any inflammation, such as Metacam / Loxicom?

Where is she living, indoors or out? We might be able to suggest some things to help with her environment while she is unwell.


Lots of vibes for her and    for you - we have been through EC with a bun and know how stressful it is.


On The Wonk are really helpful - they have a Yahoo group and a FB page, I'll post the links up in a little while

I have no advice but maysie (tuckerbunnies) has given great information I hope your poor bun gets better       

On the wonk - https://www.facebook.com/groups/431955683587283/?fref=ts

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/OnTheWonk/info

They are really knowledgeable.

And if you can give us an idea of where you are we may well be able to recommend a good vet.

Thank you everyone she has had the precautionary antibiotics and is on a months course of panacur. I was really worried that she had not got better already, so should I be expecting recovery to take till the end of the month? Im in Auckland New Zealand, and even in making enquiries havent come across a vet that has been to helpful. Our current vet is alright but it is the knowledge I am finding that is directing her.
I had not been informed about bleaching and steam cleaning so thats on todays agenda.

She is living indoors while she is unwel.

EC can be a loooong recovery, unfortunately  

I believe symptoms (tilt and rolling) can persist even when the course of treatment has finished. On The Wonk will be better placed to give you more specific advice, and they are really, really helpful.

It does sound like your vet is giving the right treatment, except for perhaps an anti-inflammatory.

You could try emailing our Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) - they are really helpful and might be able to help track down a more specialist vet hq@rabbitwelfare.co.uk

(Ros from the RWAF actually runs OTW and has quite a lot of experience of head-tilt herself. Well, not herself, but in her bunnies... you know what I mean  )

Thank you very much getting on to some anti inflamitary today and will check out the other page

Please keep us updated with how she is doing and don't be afraid to come back and ask anything else you need.

We're pretty good at moral support too when things get a bit stressful

As well as being a really helpful forum on the wonk has some really useful literature that you could take with you to the vet.

After the advice I got on here earlier the vet has just perscribed flopsy with anti inflammatorys. Thanks everyone will keep updating

I hope the new drugs help  

All the time she is eating, drinking and pooping I think it is just a case of helping her to manage it and waiting.

The House Rabbit Society has a good article on head tilt and it's causes. HRS

Sending healing vibes! for you.

Lots of healing and loving vibes are on their way love, please let us know how you get on.

Hugs

JO xx

Just a bit of an update flopsy still not over her sickness however she is still fighting it and being on the anti inflammatories have helped her. We are remaining positive as she is still eating, drinking and going to the toilet.

That's great news x.

Hang in there and give her a nose rub from us.

Anything we can do please ask xxx

Sending mega healing vibes for precious Flopsy:love: ! Sounds like you are seeing improvement.  A  4 u!

Thank you for all your support. We are still having good days and bad days but as long as she is prepared to fight so are we. Luckily there are five people that are taking care of her so she is well monitored and possibly a little pampered and spoilt

I'm glad the extra meds are helping and that she is still fighting  

It might just be a long, slow haul now but it sounds as if she has the best possible chance

Hello!
Sooo sorry I didn't see this sooner, I can completely relate and sympathise with you, E.C really is a horrible thing, and the recovery process is incredibly slow.

My rabbit Domino was diagnosed with E.C, almost exactly a year ago and a year later he is 90% better, so it does happen. But, his progress was slow. The parasite needs time to be elimated, and unfortunately E.C can cause permanent damage because it can't reverse the effects it has caused, but Domino also had head tilt, and he doesn't suffer with it now so recovery is possible.

If you go onto YouTube, and search "Domino E.Cuniculi" you will fidn two video diaries from when he was first poorly, which might help you.

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