injured cottontail

[jo_schmoe]

Not sure if this should go in the er section...my son found a baby cottontail at his job site. He's about the size of a baseball....alert and healthy.... but when he moves he sorta flops on one side. He's calm and quiet for now. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[CritterMom]

Can you tell by the way he falls whether this is neurological based or if there is something physically wrong with his leg?

BTW, hi, stranger!

[jo_schmoe]

I can't really tell....when he moves he lays on one side and sorta scoots....only really fast. I can try and get a video....but I'm on my phone and doubt I can post it here. pm me your email and I might b able to send it thatvway.

[Milo's Mom]

Does the bun have nystagmus? Also, please note as to whether its up/down or left/right.

[jo_schmoe]

His one eye seemed matted...cleaned it out with a damp qtip. Either he is very tired or he has gotten comfortable... or he is....well I don't even want to think about that. He is big enough he shouldn't be nursing..... I did see him eat a bit of clover. I'm thinking I might try and find a vet still open.

[pixiepoo]

I wonder if he has a spinal injury. Those little guys can break their backs so easily. I'll keep my fingeres crossed for him! Those sweet little bunnies often don't do so well bring rehabbed

[jo_schmoe]

I'm starting to think the same thing. I know how hard it is to successfully rehab a cottontail let alone a singleton. I looked for more but no luck. My son who found him said he was under a pile of 2 by 4s....when he picked one up he shot out of the pile and croppy flopped on the ground. I'm worried he may have gotten smashed.

[jo_schmoe]

No luck with a vet yet....I do know a couple of rehabbers in the state I'm in now....BTW I moved. I sent some messages hoping to hear back. I don't want my lack of knowledge of bunnies to hinder this poor guy.

[jo_schmoe]

He made it through the night! He ate everything we gave him and seems more alert today. His movement is still one sided.... but I'm so happy he ate and had a bunch of good poops

[Milo's Mom]

Again, I ask, does the bun have nystagmus? If so, what direction? One direction is bacterial and the other is neurological. Rolling of the eyes is usually pain. Look at his eyes and post if they are moving.

Is he grinding his teeth?

[jo_schmoe]

Its possible. His head does tilt a bit....and one ear seams crooked. One eye is open much bigger than the other. The smaller eye appears seepy and moist. I think seeing a video of his movements may help better than I can describe. His urine was a rusty color today....which I understand to be normal. He ate a ton of clover.

[jo_schmoe]

his eyes are moving.....

[jo_schmoe]

It is his right eye that is not as wide...that's also the side he scoots on and the ear doesn't stand up. He is not grinding his teeth and doesn't mind being handled. I'm keeping the contact to a minimum as I don't know if it hurts. He will fall asleep in your hand.

[Milo's Mom]

just replied to your PM. Yes, please email me the video.

Just by your description (verbal) this sounds like it might be an inner ear infection. Again this is going only by your words as I have not yet seen the video.

[stosh2010]

Does the bun have nystagmus? Also, please note as to whether its up/down or left/right.

nys·tag·mus

noun
rapid involuntary movements of the eyes.

[Milo's Mom]

Yes, bunny pee is alarmingly dark and can look rusty as you've described.

Is he still eating on his own? If so he would probably appreciate some Timothy Hay and of course fresh water along with his greens.

[stosh2010]

Hola Amiga....
I have ZERO bunny experience--but I am sure --somewhere on TSB--are the aid & the answers-that you are requesting.
Sooooooooooooooooooo good to see you posting..
BTW.......I have 2 NEW little ones-J.D. Marx (seizures) and Milagro (paralyzed)

[jo_schmoe]

HOLA Stosh!!!!
He is eating very well....now he is munching on dandelion greens and drinking plenty of water. https://youtu.be/Qn_qSnubHVA
I sure hope this link works....

[lovesmice]

My first thought after reading your description of his symptoms (balance issues and head tilt) was an inner ear infection, too. Although I have never had a rabbit with an inner ear infection, I have had rodents with one and after viewing the video I cannot see that he is displaying evidence of this. Keep in mind this is only my opinion and it is from watching a single video of him. I did notice, though, his back limb turns outward. Does it always do this? I ask because there is a condition called splay-legs in which one or more limbs are twisted with the result being the rabbit has trouble getting around. MediRabbit defines the clinical signs as follows:

"Rabbits affected by a congenital or traumatic splay-leg eat and drink normally, and their health is good. The only clinical signs are deformities at the shoulder and hip joints leading to a wrong position of the limb, difficult ambulation, by wriggling along on its belly or chest."
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Bone_diseases/Genetic/splayleg.htm
(Bone and Skeletal Disorders)
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/index_en.htm
(MediRabbit Homepage)

Again, this is only my opinion and it is from watching a single video. My knowledge of rabbits is limited, but I thought it was worth mentioning in case anyone has experience with this condition and can advise if the idea has merit or not.

[Milo's Mom]

Sorry had to feed the kids.

I've watched the video several times and I also sent it to a highly experienced bunny person.

Right now our best guess is some sort of a bacterial infection, most likely in the head. The best course of treatment would be Baytril.

This is not something where you have time and treatment should begin immediately. The whacky movements are very very VERY stressful for them. Bunnies are very high stress to begin with and his inability to move properly may just take him over the edge. (yes, I am referring to THAT edge...death)

Based upon your verbal description and the video, the other possibility is Encephalitozoon cuniculi...commonly called E. Cuniculi....this, in most cases is not recoverable.

If the bun has a chance his best chance is with Baytril and the sooner the better (like right now). You should also treat him with Ivermectin, as the E. Cuniculi organisims will be killed. However, the damage already caused to the brain is irreversible.

His head tilt is minimal, so again, the sooner the better. Stopping the feeling he's got of "rolling" should do him wonders.

The dosing for Baytril and Ivermectin is done by weight, just like squirrels.

[jo_schmoe]

Sorry had to feed the kids.

I've watched the video several times and I also sent it to a highly experienced bunny person.

Right now our best guess is some sort of a bacterial infection, most likely in the head. The best course of treatment would be Baytril.

This is not something where you have time and treatment should begin immediately. The whacky movements are very very VERY stressful for them. Bunnies are very high stress to begin with and his inability to move properly may just take him over the edge. (yes, I am referring to THAT edge...death)

Based upon your verbal description and the video, the other possibility is Encephalitozoon cuniculi...commonly called E. Cuniculi....this, in most cases is not recoverable.

If the bun has a chance his best chance is with Baytril and the sooner the better (like right now). You should also treat him with Ivermectin, as the E. Cuniculi organisims will be killed. However, the damage already caused to the brain is irreversible.

His head tilt is minimal, so again, the sooner the better. Stopping the feeling he's got of "rolling" should do him wonders.

The dosing for Baytril and Ivermectin is done by weight, just like squirrels.

OK....got some facts from my son who found him. When he first saw the bunny he said he was running all over the place and darted under a pile of 2 by 4s. As the guys were working the were taking boards off....then my son saw the bunny doing the croppy flop on the ground. He's pretty sure a board fell on him or he got stepped on. So now what.....will he live? Will he heal? I'm hoping by his appetite and the fact that he's eating drinking poohing and peeing there is no internal damage....

[jo_schmoe]

Day 3....his appetite is still great....eating way more than I thought for such a little guy and drinking LOTS of water. Today he seems to be sitting up straighter....movements are still wonky.
Knowing now what happened to him...what's my next step?

[Milo's Mom]

Seeing that it is Day 3 not sure if there is anything to do. I don't think there would be any benefit in using Metacam....if there's swelling it's already on it's way down naturally. I will check on this to make sure though.

If he seems more balanced and straighter it might just be a wait and see thing.

If he is still all floppy and moving like he was in the video.....that's really stressful. If the floppiness is still bad you could try some diphenhydramine.

When he is sitting still and eating....is he straight? Is his head on straight?

[jo_schmoe]

Yes he is straight. As I saw him moving towards his food....he seems to be hopping...instead of flopping. Its still off to the side but much better than it was.
I'm off to get him some Timothy hay....anything else that I can think of for his diet? He REALLY loves the spring green mix I fed him this morning.
BTW.....he has been named. Meet Woody! Since he was found under a pile of 2 by 4s.

[Milo's Mom]

Other than the Timothy Hay you may want to pick up some Young Rabbit Pellets.

[jo_schmoe]

Other than the Timothy Hay you may want to pick up some Young Rabbit Pellets.

Thank u so much! And Woody thanks u too!
One more question.... if he doesn't heal correctly.... how well do they do in captivity?

[Milo's Mom]

Thank u so much! And Woody thanks u too!
One more question.... if he doesn't heal correctly.... how well do they do in captivity?

Notoriously not good. Based on my limited experience with them, you usually end up with a wild, highly stressed, majorly pissed off demon bunny.

[jo_schmoe]

Notoriously not good. Based on my limited experience with them, you usually end up with a wild, highly stressed, majorly pissed off demon bunny.

Ohhhhh my! Well let's pray he heals and can be released! If not.....well.....hmmmm

[CritterMom]

Of course they have normally broken something irreparable or died of fright or whatever by now and I get the feeling from you that this little guy is just basically fairly chill, right?

Squirrels get the "wild" knocked out of them all the time - we see it here - car hit squirrels that simply act completely tame from the get go and never wild up. I am sure there is probably someplace in the brain that can be damaged just "so" as to facilitate this, and can't see why the same couldn't happen to a little bunny that got squashed. Let's hope if he can't come all the way back to be released that he maintains his current attitude. He is so darned cute...

[jo_schmoe]

He's is way chill! And I love what u said. He's not like your normal scared bunny.....he doesn't freeze when u touch him and he will even close his eyes in comfort when you scratch under his chin. In fact this morn he ate right out of my hand. I'm hoping for the best....and I will do anything I can to get him where he needs to be.

[stosh2010]

He is so darned cute...

What am I missing here--CUTE ??
I missed seeing the WOODY photos !

[jo_schmoe]

I posted a video a few posts back. Check it out!

[jo_schmoe]

Still doing good! He LOVES the Timothy hay...also found some carrot tops, more spring greens and pellets.
His movements are still wobly but he is moving much straighter.

[CritterMom]

That is great! He may be able to grow right out of the injury!

[jo_schmoe]

Update on Woody the bunny. He is doing absolutely great! He has straightened out and is hopping very well. He does still at times favor one leg but it gets better everyday! Hoping in another week he will be ready for release. Thank you for all your help guys!

[SammysMom]

Great job!!! You go Woody!!!:Love_Icon

[Walwyn]

Update on Woody the bunny. He is doing absolutely great! He has straightened out and is hopping very well. He does still at times favor one leg but it gets better everyday! Hoping in another week he will be ready for release. Thank you for all your help guys!

Hi I was just wondering how the bunnies progress went? I have one with very similar issues, and is starting to stand up again, still wobbly on its legs, but everyday she is getting better. Mine too doesn't seem to mind being picked up and examined. Would love to know how the release went if he was able to be released, and if not how he is doing in captivity?