Help please. Wry neck

[Ivory]

A couple of weeks ago I was given some rabbits, they were in very poor health and about four of them have died.

This evening when I went to feed them, one of the rabbits, that was fine 24 hours ago is obviously sick. I think he has wry neck, but as I have never seen it before I'm not sure.

Is it fatal? Should I go and KOH him?

If it isn't fatal what is the treatment?

Is it infectious?

If it makes any difference, he is a Checkered Giant. I don't know his age.

Any help will be most welcome.

Thanks

 

[LindseysWoolies]

Ivermectin injectible 1% 1/10th cc per pound. I've treated two rabbits and both did very well. Good luck. Most rabbits carry e culculi it is just in times of stress usually that it can pop up. If they were in poor health when you got them that makes sense. A preventative is ivermectin same dosage every 3 months.

 

[SatinsRule]

Here's a test to find if it's really wry neck.

Is his head constantly moving side to side?

Are his eyes constantly shifting side to side?

If the answers are no, then chances are good that he has an inner ear infection due to ear mites.

Believe it or not, I just went thru this with a blue satin doe. Her head was sudddenly starting to cock sideways in mid-Spring, but she displayed no constant shifting of eyes side to side or head movement the same direction. I checked her ears over and noticed there was some caked up ear wax in the bottom of the ears. I used daily doses of mineral oil for about 5 straight days, cleaning out any accumulated wax with some cotton swabs (q-tips) prior to putting the next dose of oil in. After the first 5 days, I began administering the treatments 2X per week.

The first few times of cleaning out the ear canal, there was alot of pus, but as I continued to treat it, the pus soon disappeared and after about a month of routine treatments and cleanings, her head went back to normal. Last weekend, she took Best Reserve at a local show.

Although I never had to do so, it may be prudent to give some ivermectin as a preventative treatment measure. Just be sure you go with the doses recommended by the previous posters.

 

[ottersatin]

it may be prudent to give some Ivermectine as a preventative treatment measure. [Billy]

Sorry Billy but though I agree with the majority of what you have to say
on most any rabbit related subject. I NEVER use any medication as a preventative.
I only use a Med for what it has been recommended and is necessary.
Improper use of medications/using them Prophylactic-ally
leads to disease resistant germs and the treatment soon becoming obsolete/useless.
Once an illness is cleared up allow the rabbit to heal and perhaps develop a resistance
to what came before. As always, JMPO. Your mileage may vary.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[LadyKarli]

I am having a problem with this right now! My little red is weaving like Ray Charles & I feel so bad for him

 

[SatinsRule]

it may be prudent to give some Ivermectine as a preventative treatment measure. [Billy]

Sorry Billy but though I agree with the majority of what you have to say
on most any rabbit related subject. I NEVER use any medication as a preventative.
I only use a Med for what it has been recommended and is necessary.
Improper use of medications/using them Prophylactic-ally
leads to disease resistant germs and the treatment soon becoming obsolete/useless.
Once an illness is cleared up allow the rabbit to heal and perhaps develop a resistance
to what came before. As always, JMPO. Your mileage may vary.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

Dennis,

The appearance of pus indicated the strong possibility of an infection. That and that alone is why I suggested using a treatment of ivermectin, which would have given the rabbit an extra boost in fighting it off. Perhaps I worded it poorly (I was up @ 2 a.m., & sometimes I make much less sense at that time of the night), but the intent was that of helping to deal with what is very likely an infection of the inner ear. As stated, I never had to do so as the pus in my blue's ear began to completely disappear after a week of intense, daily treatment, but that may not always be the case with every rabbit.

I personally don't like using injections of any kind unless they're absolutely neecessary. Something about me and needles has never jived. :groooan:

 

[LindseysWoolies]

Most wry neck is ccaused by e culculi. Mine were cured with ivermectin orally. One was so bad he layed on his side for 5 days before he could even stand up. (mostly because the vet gave him wrong medication) the other one who is his cage mate couldn't walk for 3 days and then
was very wobbly for 2 more.
Here is a great website. This is what helped me fix my rabbits.
http://www.barbibrownsbunnies.com/ecuniculi.htm

 

[Diamond]

great link, Lindsy. Thanks!