Dill is Tilted. Rest in Peace

Rabbits Online Forum

Help Support Rabbits Online Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Pipp

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2005
Messages
12,878
Reaction score
58
Location
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
My baby Dill has head tilt. :(He was feeling poorly last night and when I got up first thing this morning, he was tilted to the right at about 2 o'clock. I can hand feed him a bit, not much.

As much as I love Pipp, Dill is my heart bunny.I'd say he's the most awesome rabbit on the planet except that I'm pretty sure he's actually a midget in a bunny suit.

I suspect it'san ear issue, will be heading to the vet in four hours or so. Trying to get up to speed on meds.

I've been off this week with limited computer access, figures that I'd have a bunny problem.

Sorry for being MIA all.



sas :nerves1
 
Oh no! First our Pebbles and now our Dill!

I'll be praying its a slight ear infection just throwing him off a bit. Maybe ask about trying Zithromax to really kick this thing in the butt?

You probably havent had time to read Randy's recent post in Pebbles's thread so I'll copy it here:

"A culture would be the real way to diagnose and treat this concern. We have assumed pasteurella for years but we are seeing both new pathogens coming into play along with pasteurella becoming resistant. Zithromax is the drug of choice of most exotic specialists. I have used it extensively here. Other drugs that are usually effective are Penicillin or Chloramphenicol. A drug just approved for dog/cat use in the US is showing great promise. The drug is called Convenia. This drug is in a family of drugs that work like penicillin so it should be considered as an injectable only. A huge benefit of this drug is that it is only dosed one time and the drug is effective for two weeks."

Hope that helps. I'll be thinking of Dill all day. Let us know as soon as you get home if you can!

Haley
 
OH! The poor little man! Here's hoping it's a silly ear infection that clears right up!

Come on Dill! Stop scaring Mom! :nosir:
 
Oh no! I hope you seethis post before you leave.

As I am going through the same thing with Pebbles, the condition can develop very rapidly over a few hours. Get him to a VetASAP. I spoke to some of our local breeders and they told metreatments with injections of Ivermectin and Baytril would show signs of improvement within hours. Keep him in a warm room and feed plenty of fresh greens soaked in water. I would put the greens in his water bowl for hydration.

Check this link... http://www.barbibrownsbunnies.com/ecuniculi.htm
 
Oh, Dill, get better soon, buddy! I hope he recovers quickly, head tilt is so scary :shock:
 
I used to use Barbi Brown's methods - but they're sort of outdated and they're based on suppositions that aren't always true now that we know more. (I know Pipp knows this but I want this in the thread in case it gets pulled in the future by others doing research).

Randy and I have discussed her methods before and the thought behind them and what they're finding out now about head tilt - and his information is much more updated.....


 
Good luck.

Prayers-2.jpg

 
Poor little bunny. :( (And he is little, he weighed in at 1.6 kilos). He's not that tilted but he'sfeeling poorly andhe's holding his ear funny.


100_5382.jpg



My vet followedthe usual regiment -- Chloramphenicol, Panacur and Acidophilus -- and also prescribed CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10), which I found interesting. Although I found it more interesting when I got home and looked at the invoice (which I should have looked at while still at the clinic but I'm stupid)and realized the stuff was almost $85! :scared:It accounted for almost half the $175 bill. :shock:

I didn't know what it was -- the bottle or bill said something about tissue regeneration after surgicalremovals. :? But I started reading about it and I think I'm good with it on the off-chance it may be a vascular issue. Here's a report excerpt:



[align=justify]Rabbits induced with Symptomatic Cerebral vasospasm, a tightening of the arteries, were treated with CoQ10 immediately after the hemorrhage was induced (5). Ischemic lesions, areas of tissue lacking oxygen from the depravation of blood, induced by an artificial blood clotting mechanism were prevented from causing permanent damage by the supplementation of Coenzyme Q10. The researchers found thatrabbits induced with hemorrhaging in the brain survived and were neurologically unharmed when they were nutritionally supplemented with CoQ10. The researchers imply that the hemorrhaging, and blood clotting occur because of LDL being oxidized, and that aggravates the effects of the blood clot (5). This is prevented from happening with the CoQ10. Without the nutritional supplement the rabbits inevitably develop neurological disorders and may die. [/align]
I still think it's likely inner ear-related, but the exam didn't show any signs of an ear infection, although I know that's common. He tilts when he eats, so I was afraid of a tooth root abscess, although I suspect an inner ear issue would also be uncomfortable when chewing. The vet said his teeth were good, but although I didn't say anything when I said that, I don't think a visual exam can spot a tooth root issue, either.

Too late to take the CoQ10back -- the vet gave him one of the capsules in the office to demonstrate the administration, and they have a sign in the office saying it's illegal for drugs to be returned to the pharmacy once prescribed. Of course both those things maybe intentionally in done to make people like me figuratively swallow $85 meds. :grumpy: But I'm going to be asking around more about CoQ10, I'll add that to the title of this thread.

Hope all this stuffworks. :pray: I love my baby Dill. :hearts Thanks all for your good wishes.

Hope Pebbles gets well soon, too. :clover:

100_5389.jpg




sas :cry2
 
You can buy Co-enzyme 10 at the drugstore over the counter here . I have taken it for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome although I really didn't know what it did and I really didn't take it for long... something to do with energy metabolism

It didn't cost that much!

Some drug company must have been in the veterinary clinics in your area a pushing it.

Well it sounds like Dill has a full course of meds. can he eat or do you have to feed him?

Geez I hope that he comes around soon.
 
angieluv wrote:
You can buy Co-enzyme 10 at the drugstore over the counter here . I have taken it for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome although I really didn't know what it did and I really didn't take it for long... something to do with energy metabolism

It didn't cost that much!
Yay AngieLuv,maybethe bill is a mistake and it was supposed to be $8.50. I'll check into that, thanks. :) I've been reading more about it and it is basically a vitamin available in foods like broccoli, spinach, peanuts and whole grains.

[font="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"][size=+1]angieluv wrote:
Well it sounds like Dill has a full course of meds. can he eat or do you have to feed him?
He's eatingwhen I'm hand-feeding him stemmy things like carrot tops and parsley. Not much, though.

Thanks again.

sas :hearts
 
Poor Dill! Ive been thinking about you guys all evening.

I wish I had some advice to offer, but Im inept in that dept, never having to deal with any inner ear or tilt issues. Although I can say that with all the horrible tooth root issues Max had he never once tilted, but then again that was on the lower jaw...

Has Dill ever had this happen before?

He's in my thoughts and prayers. We all know he has the best nurse in the world.

:sickbunny:

-Haley

 
Poor Dill. :(

Poor Pipp. :hug:

I wonder about Coenzyme Q10 too. I used to take it (years ago) as a daily regiment of vitamins and supplements froma local Health Food Store. I don't think I gained anything from it except it made the store richer. I stopped using it when Coenzyme Q10 became popular and the price shot thru the roof.

My vet bill was $50 for the visit, and $40 for Doxycycline. I didn't let the fill-in vet exam Pebbles as I feltshe was not experienced enough to handle rabbits.The main thing was to getPebbles inrightawayand havesometreatment started.I will take Pebbles back for a check-up when I am sure the regular rabbit savy doctor is available.

Pebbles isgetting betterexcept for the slightly tilted head. She is eating like a pig (oats and junk alfalfa stuff) and she gained weight! 1195 gon Monday, and this afternoon she weighed 1245 g.

Get better Dill. :pray:

 
Dill is much worse... not tilted, but looking very very sick and lethargic. He's totally limp, glassy-eyed and breathing veryheavily.

I'm wondering if it's some kind of poisoning or the fumes from the oil base paint we're renovating the house with. They've been staying outside on the porch but came in the last couple of nights.

I'm praying that the inital diagnosis was right and it'san ear issue and he's just taking it hard. He's looked like that withbad gas attacks before and snapped out of it.

But he looks so bad. :tears2: He's not due for a second dose of meds for another 4 1/2 hours, at this stage I'm just hoping he makes it that long and it helps.

I don't even want to think aboutlife without Dill..
 

Latest posts

Back
Top