Baby bunny doing the alligator roll thing, possible head trauma?

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I am not sure what's wrong with this little cottontail that I just got in and was wondering if anyone had any ideas?

The little bunny looks to be about 100 grams (haven't weighed him yet) and is not able to sit up or hop, but appears to be alert. I have to test his pupils for response to light still, but what I have seen him do is kinda like the alligator death roll thing. He'll flip all around like a dog rolling over, but does it really fast over and over, like he's trying to get upright but doesn't know what way is up.

I am not sure if it is head trauma or an ear infection or something else :dono. For some reason I keep thinking torticolus (sp?) but I can't remember what that even is, just keeps popping in my mind for some reason, I guess I should look it up at least :).

I don't see or feel any punctures or wounds and his head doesn't look swollen and he is alert.

Not sure what the problem is, anyone have any ideas?

I'll try to get a video and post it tomorrow.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Torticolis is on the domestic bunny pages for head tilts, that must be where I remember it from. Doesn't look too good for the little fella based on that info. :(, but hopefully metacam can help this little tyke.

[gs1]

:grouphug

sometimes treatable..depending on what's causing it.....but a wild bunny??? i don't know....

pm runestonez... (she of the 11 domestic bunnies and counting :D )

http://www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

Head tilt in rabbits is seen with some frequency and can be caused by a variety of diseases.
Another common name for head tilt is "wry neck".
The correct medical term is vestibular disease (which can include other signs besides a head tilt).

Another term that is often used is "torticollis" which means that the neck muscles are contracted and if this occurs, it develops as a consequence of the disease which keeps the head in a tilted position where over time the muscles may contract. This does not occur in all rabbits with vestibular disease, therefore the term "torticollis" is not the best term to use for the cause of the disease because in reality it is a potential consequence of the disease.

Rabbits with vestibular disease can have a head position that ranges from a few degrees to 180 degrees off the normal position. They can fall over, circle, have difficulties standing and develop eye injuries because the prominent eye globe (especially of the "down" eye) is prone to trauma.

The cardinal signs of true vestibular disease in the rabbit are a persistent head tilt and a loss of balance.

In this article I will discuss the causes and treatments of the diseases that can cause head tilt in the rabbit. Causes of head tilt can be divided into peripheral (not involving the brain) and central (involving the brain). Being able to make this distinction is critical to determining a plan of treatment and prognosis.

(i didn't copy the rest of the article you could look it up if you wanted to.)

:grouphug

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Here is a video of the bunny. He seems to be a little calmer today, but still does the alligator roll. He is actually eating a little greens on his own which is surprising! His pupils don't seem to respond to light and do the small back and forth motions.

Here's the link to the video: http://youtu.be/AtPmk5kgBYQ

[mugzeezma]

Here is a video of the bunny. He seems to be a little calmer today, but still does the alligator roll. He is actually eating a little greens on his own which is surprising! His pupils don't seem to respond to light and do the small back and forth motions.

Here's the link to the video: http://youtu.be/AtPmk5kgBYQ
As soon as you said alligator roll I thought of an adult cottontail that I had found on the side of the road. He rolled violently an obvious head trauma.
Was this kid found near the road?

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

He was found in the person's driveway. They didn't hit him, but they weren't sure about their boyfriend since he had left for work a couple hours earlier. The bunny wasn't far from the road, but not really too close to it either. Hard to say for sure, he's so tiny to have been hit and survive (he weighs 116 grams).

How did it go with your full grown rabbit with this issue? Did he make it? What meds. did you treat with?

[Truexjr-fanNY]

I will check in with my domestic rabbit rescur group to see if wild
bunnies can get this. It could be ecuniculli (I will check spelling)
and you might be able to find it at www.rabbitrescue.org
Let me do a little research, I will come back in a bit, hopefully with
something..
Domestic bunnies are treated with panacur for like 6 weeks.. and
sometimes there is improvement, sometimes it stays the way it
is.. and bunnies can get along if they can eat and drink on their
own, but wild bunny cannot be released.
There is also a med. that I think also helps with any dizziness.. Will
find out more.

[mugzeezma]

He was found in the person's driveway. They didn't hit him, but they weren't sure about their boyfriend since he had left for work a couple hours earlier. The bunny wasn't far from the road, but not really too close to it either. Hard to say for sure, he's so tiny to have been hit and survive (he weighs 116 grams).

How did it go with your full grown rabbit with this issue? Did he make it? What meds. did you treat with?
This was years ago and I will never forget how his eyes were rolling in his head...there was blood in his ear so I was certain it was HBC. He died before I could do anything for him.
There is a possibility that she bounced off a passing car. How many times have any of us thought we hit something and then not see it happen?
Also
It's quite possible that this bunny has inner ear issues from the article gs1 sent. If that's the case a long course of antibiotics would be the course of action. Perhaps an anti inflammatory may help short term as well. I am not going to pretend I know what to do. you certainly have more experience than I.

[mugzeezma]

I will check in with my domestic rabbit rescur group to see if wild
bunnies can get this. It could be ecuniculli (I will check spelling)
and you might be able to find it at www.rabbitrescue.org
Let me do a little research, I will come back in a bit, hopefully with
something..
Domestic bunnies are treated with panacur for like 6 weeks.. and
sometimes there is improvement, sometimes it stays the way it
is.. and bunnies can get along if they can eat and drink on their
own, but wild bunny cannot be released.
There is also a med. that I think also helps with any dizziness.. Will
find out more.

Meclizine or Antivert also Dramamine? Don't know if this can can be given to rabbits

[Truexjr-fanNY]

I heard back from my vet who specializes in domestic rabbit
medicine, and she is not sure if wild rabbit can get E Cuniculi
but she said it could be possible..
She was thinking if not HBC, it might be Baylisascaris, which
she said would have similar symptoms and presentation.
Very possible a wild bunny could be exposed to Baylis.
She has seen domestic bunnies housed in outdoor hutches
contract Baylisascaris, and unfortunately they had to be
euthanized.
I had experience with 2 pre-release squirrels in outdoor
pen, getting Baylis, and they were euthanized and bodies
sent to Ward Stone, NYS Wildlife Pathologist for exam and
they both were positive for Baylis.
Is the little rabbit still with us?

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I am thinking this little tyke has head trauma. He seems to be responding well to the Metacam and this morning he can actually hop :thumbsup. His head seems to have slightly less tilt to it and he isn't doing the alligator roll thing today :thumbsup. He is also eating like a little pig. He was 116 grams when he came in and is now 137 grams and weaned. He is quite the little pig.

[mugzeezma]

I am thinking this little tyke has head trauma. He seems to be responding well to the Metacam and this morning he can actually hop :thumbsup. His head seems to have slightly less tilt to it and he isn't doing the alligator roll thing today :thumbsup. He is also eating like a little pig. He was 116 grams when he came in and is now 137 grams and weaned. He is quite the little pig.
:wahoo :wahoo :wahoo

[gs1]

:wott :wott :wott :wott :wott :Love_Icon

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

The little tyke is looking pretty good today :thumbsup. He is now up to 150 grams and the head tilt is starting to go away :wahoo. His head is slightly tilted, but not really even that noticeable. I am probably going to move him to a bigger cage this afternoon so he can have more room to hop around :). Here is the video from last night (he still had a pretty pronounced head tilt then, but this morning his head is pretty straight):

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/th_029-8.jpg (http://s877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/?action=view&current=029-8.mp4)


Some pictures from last night:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/027-15.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/028-11.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/030-12.jpg

Here are some pictures from this morning:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/035-8.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/036-6.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/037-8.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/038-9.jpg

You can see his eyes are still a little dull like he isn't quite with the program, but he is much more responsive and alert than before (notice the ears twitching during the video :thumbsup).

[mugzeezma]

What all are you giving him?
He may just recover from this :thumbsup

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

He's on sulfa-trim twice a day and Metacam once a day, that's all :). I moved him to the bigger walk in cage in the rabbit room and he is hopping all over the place :). I can't believe how much he's improving each day. He's one tough little tyke :thumbsup

[mugzeezma]

He's on sulfa-trim twice a day and Metacam once a day, that's all :). I moved him to the bigger walk in cage in the rabbit room and he is hopping all over the place :). I can't believe how much he's improving each day. He's one tough little tyke :thumbsup
That's pretty amazing for a wee bunny
He was definitely not in good shape when he came in.
What made you decide to put him on Sulfa-trim?

[stosh2010]

Great Job....WOW..so much improvement...Ya-hoooo !

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

That's pretty amazing for a wee bunny
He was definitely not in good shape when he came in.
What made you decide to put him on Sulfa-trim?

One of the few bunny safe antibiotics. Put him on it incase he had an infection causing the issues. Not even sure it works on ear infections, but decided it couldn't hurt :). Something is working whether it is the meds. or just time, he is doing great. Hopping like crazy and so happy to be in the big cage. He's alert and already found the hiding places and uses them :thumbsup

[mugzeezma]

One of the few bunny safe antibiotics. Put him on it incase he had an infection causing the issues. Not even sure it works on ear infections, but decided it couldn't hurt :). Something is working whether it is the meds. or just time, he is doing great. Hopping like crazy and so happy to be in the big cage. He's alert and already found the hiding places and uses them :thumbsup
Must have been all those good vibes you we're putting to him....he had no choice!:D

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

The little guy recovered and went free a couple days ago :wahoo. Here are some pictures of him and a video of him right before he went free.

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/019-12.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/023-11.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/029-9.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/th_015-11.jpg (http://s877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/2010wildlife/?action=view&current=015-11.mp4)