Possible Stroke.

[KookieKing]

Its been quite a while since I've been on this forum.

Two nights ago I noticed Mitsuki struggling to get up with her back legs from lying down. I brought her upstairs (they are housed in the basement in the winter instead of outside) and gave her a bath too clean up the poop that was caked into her fur. I tried to get her an appointment that night but the vet wasn't open anymore. I called the next morning first thing to see if I could get an emergency appointment but they referred me to UPenn's vet. After taking her over there and spending a fortune I came away with the knowledge that he possibly had a stoke but from what their exotic vet said is recovering very well from what he's seen from other rabbits. She eats, drinks and uses the bathroom well. they recommended she stay on soft surfaces for a few weeks so I'm housing her upstairs with me where I can keep an eye on her in a large Tupperware container with fresh towels every few hours. She hops around ok, not really long and tends to rest on her back legs a little awkwardly still. Anyway my question was Mitsuki is about 6 years old and I was wondering is there was anything I can do to help her recover. I'm worried that if she lays around all day her muscles will deteriorate. Should I encourage her to exercise?

 

[LakeCondo]

How large is the container & is it ventilated well enough? An xpen would be so much better for exercise etc. It would need a floor covering under it, which could be a tarp & some flattened cardboard boxes.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

It also could be arthritis pain like some of ours had--our vet treated with steroids and they regained their mobility. The only one that didn't was Coal, but, she was almost 14.

 

[missyscove]

Did they take any radiographs to rule out a spinal injury?

 

[tonyshuman]

:yeahthat:

A spinal injury can eventually heal with rest, but a stroke leading to loss of mobility cannot.

 

[KookieKing]

Not sure on the size of the container but its big enough for her to lay down and turn around with no problem with extra room for a toy and her food bowl. Shes a very well behaved rabbit so I don't put a top on it so it's well ventilated. They didnt do any test because they wanted a fourtune to do any and I didn't have the money I already paid them 260 just to hear it was possibly a stoke, they said her one pupil was bigger then the other which was an indication.

The problem with an xpen is is very cold in NJ in the winter for her to be outside and I live with my parents, my mother won't allow something like that in the house.

She took a downfall again in the last few days and is barley standing and not walking at all, I think she had another stoke or something. She still eats, drinks, and uses the bathroom regularly. Does anyone have any ideas of what to do?

Sorry for the really late reply, I had a baby back in December and went back to work last week so I don't have much time for the internet.

 

[JBun]

Was the possibility of it being e. cuniculi, ever mentioned? It can be a cause of sudden hing limb paralysis in rabbits. It can be treated with antiparasitic meds, that aren't very expensive, but it does have to be given for a month. Metacam may also be helpful as well.

Another RO member, has a rabbit that developed hind limb paralysis, and treated for EC. Though it didn't completely reverse the damage done, it did halt the progression of the disease.

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/paresis.html
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f27/what-up-fuzzy-72804/
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f27/fuzzy-update-73348/

 

[valaria243]

Was the possibility of it being e. cuniculi, ever mentioned? It can be a cause of sudden hing limb paralysis in rabbits. It can be treated with antiparasitic meds, that aren't very expensive, but it does have to be given for a month. Metacam may also be helpful as well.

Another RO member, has a rabbit that developed hind limb paralysis, and treated for EC. Though it didn't completely reverse the damage done, it did halt the progression of the disease.

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/paresis.html
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f27/what-up-fuzzy-72804/
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f27/fuzzy-update-73348/

I have Fuzzy, who is the one JBun is talking about. At first I too went along with the obvious solution by the vet (arthritis). However when I took her back in with the printouts about the parasite, she was super receptive. We gave Fuzzy the Panacur for about 31 days and it really did help. It only cost us about $40 total for the month's supply, which we bought 2 weeks at a time so that helped.

Fuzzy is now back to herself attitude wise. I don't think the right back leg will ever be even remotely the same but she does attempt hopping both in her cage (which is filled with old pillows covered with fleece) and on the floor. She can hold herself up on all fours if she balances just right and if she falls over she can pull herself along like nobody's business! Her appetite is very good and she is even back to eat her nightly treats! I am so glad I went back in and got her on the panacur. I really believed it saved her life!

 

[valaria243]

She took a downfall again in the last few days and is barley standing and not walking at all, I think she had another stoke or something. She still eats, drinks, and uses the bathroom regularly. Does anyone have any ideas of what to do?

Sorry for the really late reply, I had a baby back in December and went back to work last week so I don't have much time for the internet.

This is exactly what happened with Fuzzy. She was fine for a while and then had another episode of hind leg paralysis.
I would urge you to ask your regular vet about getting her on Panacur! I went from having a bunny that one of the vets suggested that I put down, to having my old bunny back (a bit wobblier but back all the same).

Feel free to print out my posts about Fuzzy to show them.