Head Tilt, Trauma, or What?

[mmsa417]

I'm only mentioning head tilt, because it was the only thing I could find that is even close to the actual problem, and it says it can be caused by trauma. Head Tilt usually looks pretty severe though and that is not the case here. Well let me explain first anyway, because I haven't been able to find any information by my own search terms, but I worry somethings wrong.

I have a really great buck - I have used him before no problem - he gets to business! I recently decided to pair him up with a doe that I got - I bought her bred - but you couldn't palpate any kits in her. I figured I'd let her wait out the whole time just in case she actually was prego, because when I tried to breed her she was REALLY not into it. The time came and went with no kits, so I got ready to breed her.

So, in preparation, I put the buck next to her cage and gave her some apple cider vinegar water (as was suggested to me) for a few days prior. Checked her vent on the date, and she looked ready to go. I put her in his cage and they bred instantly, after that they bred a second time after a long chase. I typically let them go 3 times and things weren't looking too bad, but after the second time the doe got REALLY crazy. I was trying to get her out and it was just nuts. She was biting the heck out of his side and face and she would not stop long enough for me to grab her. I finally got her out, and put her back to her cage - completely at a loss for the behavior.

After that, I noticed the buck was doing this weird head thing..where he would just space out and his head would sway from side to side. Not a whole lot, but just enough to weird me out. It was barely noticeable then, but now that I have been watching him a lot, it seems to happen quite often with periods of complete normalcy in between. Does anyone know what this is? Anything I can do for him?

 

[grumpy]

It "could" be possiblythe beginning stages of "wry-neck".

Or....with the antics of the doe, your buck could have gotten "whapped" on the side of his head....left-hook? right-cross? Sucker-punched?

Keep a close eye on him....

Grumpy.

 

[caroline]

you might want to look at this website
http://www.barbibrownsbunnies.com/ecuniculi.htm

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have a Siamese Sable Jersey Wooly buck that sometimes looks like he is watching tennis- he will very rhythmically look back and forth, like a little metronome. I spoke to his breeder about it, because I too was worried about wry neck.

She told me that in JW's there is something called "scanning", usually seen in REW rabbits. Their eyes are unable to focus properly, so they "scan" back and forth in an attempt to get a good sight picture. She had never heard of it in other colors.

She showed me a link about it on her phone at a show we were attending. I tried googling it just now, but can't find it. It might be something on FaceBook, and I don't "do" FB. I will email her and see if she can send me the link.

I know that ND's have been used in some JW lines, so there may be a connection there.

 

[Dood]

Since it seemed to happen after the doe acted up then i think it is likely trauma and the doe may have damaged his inner ear and this is causing the tilt.

As others have stated, ear infections, ear mites, and E. cuniculi can also cause a tilt.

Some colours of rabbits are also associated with neurological issues, what colour is the buck?

 

[mmsa417]

He's a Siamese Smoke Pearl. He doesn't have any REW in his background though, mostly Siamese Smoke Pearl, Smoke Pearl Marten, and some black otter way back on the sire's side. I'll read these other topics right away too, thanks for the replies! It is not severe at all, it is kind of like what Mama said about watching tennis. His head just goes gently from one side to the next. I will get a video of it today so I can show you guys what I mean. I have a thing to go to today, but will get it uploaded when I get back. And please do find that link if you can Mama. Thanks again!

__________ Sun Aug 18, 2013 12:55 pm __________

Oh might I also mention that these rabbits are indoors.<br /><br />__________ Sun Aug 18, 2013 1:09 pm __________<br /><br />Oh and I don't think it's ear mites either as his ears are super clean. I do a pre-breeding health check with both rabbits, and then I was looking him over again after the pairing once I noticed him acting a little off. Still reading on wry neck and it sounds like the symptoms of either stargazing or weaving his head from side to side, although it's hard to know if that's the same thing without seeing it.

He was in perfect health prior and still seems to be fine physically. He is drinking and eating as well. The buck is about 3 yrs old so he doesn't fit into the too young or too old category. Before I start looking into any of these treatments, let me get that video up so you guys can give me an opinion first. Aside from the encounter with the doe, there have been no problems to debilitate his immune system either.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have emailed a request for the info on scanning. I'll post as soon as I hear back.

 

[mmsa417]

Ok guys, I got a video up, I hope you can see what I'm talking about. It's actually WAY better today - it's so slight you can barely see it. Maybe it was just some trauma to his equilibrium from the attack and he's getting back to normal now that he's had a few days to recover? I hope that's all it is anyway http://youtu.be/3yM8RU18reQ

 

[skysthelimit]

Yes my REW Angoras scan. Siamese can have a ruby cast to the eye, maybe that is why that color is associated with it. Something about the ruby eye doesn't see as well.
I had that problem with a Sable Marten JW kit. But then she started sneezing, so I culled her.

 

[mmsa417]

That's a good point, sky. You can even see the red come out when you try to take a picture that's not perfect lighting. Well I will try and find an article on scanning and eye issues associate with ruby-eyed too while Mama is waiting for her friend's response. Scanning at least is a better search term than I initially had which was 'spacey' LOL.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

This is what she sent me so far, but this is not the article I was looking for...:

Good scanning article:

http://old.sandiegorabbits.org/health/eye_scanning.html

Note that scanning is more common in ruby-eyed-whites, Pointed Whites, blue-eyed-whites, and those with a ruby-tint to the eye such as Siamese Sables, Smoke Pearls, and chocolate or lilac-based varieties.<br /><br />__________ Sun Aug 18, 2013 6:03 pm __________<br /><br />Oh- I haven't watched the video yet- I can't get YouTube to load, so have to wait for my IT guy to get home.

 

[mmsa417]

Thank you so much, Mama! Did you see the video? It doesn't look so bad, just a little strange how his head goes back and forth like that.

__________ Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:03 pm __________

Oh, sorry, posted too fast and didn't see where you said you couldn't see the video til later! xD

__________ Mon Aug 19, 2013 8:52 pm __________

Anyone get a chance to check out the video yet?<br /><br />__________ Tue Aug 20, 2013 9:52 pm __________<br /><br />bump - do i need to get a better video ? xD