Bilbo's EC thread. UD Going to Camp Nibble: Arrived safely.

[marleyNfriends]

Isla and Bilbo are the two buns that I took out of the 7 that needed a home as they were smaller, weaker and lethargic. Bilbo, especially was unwell with a slight head tilt, nystagmus and general disorientation.

They have been treated for mites and are now on a 28 day course of panacur. I would like this to be extended to 6 weeks though, to be on the safe side.

Both buns are passing poos, albeit some excess cecals and their normal poos are small and dark. They are eating hay and their pellets, but at 9 weeks old there isnt a great deal else that they can safetly eat at this point. I did offer them a mint leaf each today as a peace offering, but cant offer any veg or anything.

They are bright enough, most of the time. Isla especially seems pretty health and has showed no clinical signs of EC. I feel she may have been over heated and stressed when we went to collect her, she is however one of the smallest of the lot. Bilbo on the other hand, hes the smallest of the 7. After work yesterday, his nystagmus had stopped, but unfortunately, he had also stopped responding to movement around his cage. We now fear he has lost his sight. We were not prescribed metacam initially, as the vet wanted to see how he got on over the next 7 days. I really feel this is something he MUST have, to help reduce the swelling on his brain. I called last night after work, but got home late and there was no vet on the premesis to prescribe it, so I will call back today to try and get a dose for him.

Ill keep this thread updated as frequently as possible.

[c.bolduan]

Oh that is horrible, poor Bilbo( love the name!). Hope you get all necessary drugs prescribed and that he responds to them too.
Certainly will send vibes for both of them and hugs to you for taking care and looking after.    

[FluffSlave]

Oh, the poor little boy

Thank you for taking these two in and giving them the best chance possible. I really hope that with your help they can turn around

Sending vibes for you, Bilbo and Isla xxx

[marleyNfriends]

Thanks guys. I hate having to separate them, as they love each other and Isla grooms Bilbo, but with us not being certain about their age, i dont want to chance it. Bilbo has a good pair on him for a bun thats 8 weeks, but hes so tiny.

Both of them are so much better when they are together too, i dont know what to do for the best.

Been on the phone to the vets this morning, and now have a metacam dose for him. Lets hope this helps.

ETA: I got a couple of photos, they look a lot bigger than what they are here.

Isla:




Bilbo:




Unfortunately, they cant currently go on the grass, or in the house. Ideally, I think Bilbo should be a housebunny, which is why I hope to find them a home, but they can stay as long as they need to and Ill get a proper setup sorted once they have finished the panacur. Im trying to keep them on concrete and substrates that are easy to clean out and disinfect daily.

[jolovesbunnies]

Firstly thank you for taking them on love and we all look forward to updates. Please give them a hug from their auntie Jo Jo.

Hugs
JO xx

[Thumper2001]

Aww! They're gorgeous!!

Fingers crossed for them. They're lucky to have found you

[Tuckerbunnies]

Aww they are so cute Bless them    

[marleyNfriends]

Well they couldnt stay in a 120 and a 3ft dog cage, a Facebook friend has let me borrow an old hutch that she wont be needing for a few years. You can probably tell its an ex breeder block, but the partitions have been taken out and they now have a 5x2 hutch each. They arent 2ft tall, but neither are the bunnies and they have enough space for Isla to be bouncing off the walls doing binkies.



I also bought a couple of digging mats and jingly toys to help Bilbo, as I thought different textures and noisy toys would help him get used to his surroundings and gage where everything is....not that he needs it They now have to be separate due to Bilbo suddenly finding his mojo and trying to hump Isla. Its not causing a problem, but we dont want any more rabbits, thanks very much!

Bilbo loves his meds, probably because he gets metacam after panacur, and Isla hates me I am going to get bitten before this course is over I also think Im going to have to beg my bunny savvy neighbour to medicate Isla for 3 days when I do my exams as I know Mum wont do Isla if she bites her. ...Yes, Im lucky enough to have a bunny savvy neighbour, and I have met all the neighbourhood pets before their owners

[FluffSlave]

That looks great for them

[jolovesbunnies]

Sorry love, I forgot to say how cute they were, they must think they are in heaven.

Hugs
JO xx

[marleyNfriends]

Unfortunately I think Bilbo's nystagmus is back. He is otherwise bright in himself, fairly active, eating, pooping, grooming himself and making a mess, but Im just worried about him. Not having had a bunny with these sort of issues before, its tough knowing what to do for the best.

Do I risk stressing him out and booking an earlier vet visit, or wait until our follow up in a week and continue with the metacam. We were told to give him it for a week and then see how he is, but im going to continue for the extra 5 days until we see the vet. That is, providing he doesnt go down hill. We were told he could get worse before he gets better, and that he might not get better at all. He is a tiny thing to be fighting something like this. Im also going to ask about middle ear infection. I know EC and this are often treat along side each other, but our vet decided against it due to his age and small size.

We will just have to wait, and see how he goes.

[KatieB]

Oh poor Bilbo - bless his little heart. It so unfair.

Im glad he has you in his corner though hun - he is getting the best.

I think so far as the vet is concerned you need to go with your gut hunni - its all you can do. Maybe give him another day and see how you feel tomorrow.

[c.bolduan]

Agree with Katie on this. Take it day by day and reassess. Others than that we can only send strengthening vibes for all of you.
Please keep us updated.  

[FluffSlave]

Oh, the poor little guy

He is up against it but he is in the best possible hands

I hope he is brighter today? xx

[KatieB]

How is he doing Hun ?

[jolovesbunnies]

I am so very sorry to hear this love, everything crossed here and lots of vibes are on their way.

Hugs
Jo xxx

[c.bolduan]

How is Bilbo?

[marleyNfriends]

Both buns were back at the vets tonight (getting 2 carriers into a Mazda MX5 was a challenge! DONT ASK, mum had to cancel on me last minute!).

Anyway, its not fantastic news. Although Bilbo is adapting well, he is most certainly blind in both eyes. Not only that, but he does still have slight head tilt, and I also noticed a twitch, which the vet feels is neuro damage due to EC causing granulomas on the brain. We know it may improve, but it also may not. She is also concerned that it may develop into seizures, especially if we try to vaccinate or put him under GA to neuter him. He is becoming a sex pest though, but is much better with his sister, and so Ruth said that we will have to reassess when he is a bit older and has gained weight. Its a case of balancing risk with quality of life for this little guy, but obviously the risk is higher.

As for Isla, she also has some neuro damage, I can only describe it as a very slight trembling, which you can only notice by looking at her ears and feet when she is off the floor.

Its a case of reassessing them when they have finished their course of panacur. Please can we have vibes that Bilbo has some improvement. Id really like to have him neutered so that he can be paired with Isla, as he copes so much better when he is with her.

I am concerned for their future, as they are going to need a special home, with someone who knows what they are doing. Something that is few and far between around here. I imagine a sanctuary is probably better for them, but failing that, they can stay here. The only issue is, that's 4 bunnies ill be leaving for other people to care for when I go back to uni in year 3. I suppose all I can do for now is my best, and hope to find them a suitable home, whilst also preparing to be in it for the long haul....You know, apart from the fact I was starting uni, its buns like these that made me stop fostering, because I knew sooner or later, some would come along that Id have a real problem finding homes for, that would need special considerations and care.

[c.bolduan]

Of course you can have healing vibes for both of them. And regarding the re home situation I guess it's best to wait to see how far they will recover or not and take it from there. So best send vibes and hugs for you too   

[Tuckerbunnies]

Oh Bless them both, Helen has e.cuniculi and has had sizures coming round from a GA after a dental   

[jolovesbunnies]

I am sending all the healing vibes I can muster and lots of love too.

Hugs
JO xx

[marleyNfriends]

Thanks guys.

Oh Bless them both, Helen has e.cuniculi and has had sizures coming round from a GA after a dental   

This is what concerns me, Maysie. I think I need to take the risk to have him neutered, as it comes down to quality of life. Hes a little sex pest with Isla if hes in with her, so they are permenantly seperated now. They are so good together, and she really looks after him, its lovely to see them playing ...They need to be together though. Its not fair for him to be blind and alone.

Its something my vet and I discussed on Tuesday, and are going to talk about it in more detail once hes big enough. I think Im going to ask about having a referral to someone with a bit more experience. Credit to her, shes very good, and she is honest, if she doesnt know, or isnt sure, she will say, she wont fob me off with something, and shes very open to suggestions. Perhaps Honor could do it.

[jolovesbunnies]

That is good love, many will not admit it if they don't know about something.

Hugs
Jo xx

[FluffSlave]

I am sorry to read about this

I hope both bunnies make improvements and you can find a good place to try and neuter Bilbo. I agree with what you have said, it is a risk worth taking in my opinion when weighed up against the prospect of living alone as a blind bunny

[jolovesbunnies]

Are they any better today hun?  

Hugs
JO xx

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