Is this wry neck?

[dayna]

I treated it with a hefty dose of Ivermectin 1%.

I researched on the internet and decided that was the course of treatment I was going to try. Suggestions welcome though!

If you can't see the photos let me know. I set them to private on my facebook so I didn't get any weird hate mail but wanted to post them on here.

I had 3 that had symptoms this morning, this evening the other two look totally normal after the ivermectin treatment, only this one is still "spinning".

You can see in this first photo it's ears tilted funny:

Rolling:

Can't hold head up straight:

Body contorted:

Is this wry neck? If not, suggestions? I would cull it, but I want to figure out what it is first. Then decide. I'm keeping this litter separate from all other rabbits (except the mom).

 

[Comet007]

Poor bun! Here is a link with a chart of symptoms/conditions. It sounds like you're already doing the treatment they recommend. I have read that you can also give dramamine tablets -1/4 tablet 2-3 times a day until you see it work, then 1/4 tab once a day for about 3 weeks. Not my personal experience, as I have yet to own a rabbit, but this is the info that I have been able to gather in preparation of tending to them.

You can click the links at the top of the page by condition and it will take you directly to the part of the page with more information. http://www.welshrabbitry.com/health.html#tilt

In the info about wryneck on there is a link to an article about treating it (if that's what your little one has), and it looks to me like it has some great information about supportive care so that it continues to get nourishment while it is recovering.

 

[Dood]

Wry neck and E. cuniculi would be my first guess but any neuro-toxin can cause similar symptoms so rule out poisons, pesticides, and moldy food as well

Have you fed any local Hawaiian plants that might be questionable?

 

[BlueMoods]

Agreed, it looks like wry neck or E. Cuniculi. As long as it eats and drinks, I'd try another dose of Ivemectrin in one week. If that didn't do it, I'd cull and, do keep it isolated form the other rabbits in the mean time.

 

[dayna]

No, the kits are only about 2 weeks oldish (I'd have to check to be sure) and they are only on Moms milk. I did feed the Mom a Ti leaf the other day but that's normal rabbit are in Hawaii. Since it's still nursing I can't really keep it isolated either.

Hm. I gotta do some more reading to see how it's spread, what the vectors are, etc.

 

[MaggieJ]

I don't want to sound heartless, Dayna, but I would probably euthanize it since it is too young to be isolated. Putting other kits at risk would just not be worth it for me.

 

[dayna]

Well I guess I should follow up. I did put it down, as well as a couple others. I treated ALL of them with ivermectin.

A bit frustrating since I'm not sure if it IS wry neck, but I don't see any other explanation that I can find via the google.

I am downsizing my herd at this point. Freezer camp, a few being sold. I've currently got 9 does and 3 bucks. I'll keep my bucks (one is free ranging) and I'm going down to 3-4 does.

After I get my herd downsized, I will decide if I want to breed or just keep them as aviary colony pets. I might just selectively breed a couple litters a year for my freezer.

My hope is to get back into rabbits in the future. But what I want to do first is get more testing/staining equipment for my microscope as well as learn how to do blood draws for rabbits so I can send out blood tests and have a better idea of a problem when a bun gets sick.

 

[Miss M]

There are several things that can cause those symptoms, from ear problems to E. Cuniculi. That kit is acting just like Pinto, my wry-neck bunny... and to tell you the truth, I can't say for sure that his was E. C. ...Though that is what I treated for. Treatment brought him back to health again, but he still has his neck turned like that.