Sick Rabbit

[HoppyMeal]

So I had a buck get sick a few weeks ago. He had some clear discharge and he sounded like he was having sinus problems and he was weak and not eating. I separated him from the other rabbits and took him to the vet they gave him 2 shots and put him on antibiotics. his nasal problems cleared up. He is eating and his nasal issues cleared up immediately. He hasn't showed any signs of being sick other than just sitting there. Today I put a doe in with him to see what he would do. He tried to mount her, then I noticed he was wobbly, so I pulled the doe out and he wobbled around and fell over and tried to get up. After about 3 times of trying to get up he got up then wandered around in circles. I thought he was having a seizure. Has anyone else seen this before or knows what this might be?

 

[squidpop]

What kind of shots did he get and what kind of antibiotics? It does sound like a seizure but I have no idea what to do. Did he seem to fully recover is he walking and hopping around Ok now?

 

[HoppyMeal]

I'm not sure what shots he got, but the antibiotic was amoxicillin. He seemed to recover, but he just sits there.

 

[Dood]

It is generally accepted that rabbits should NOT be give oral penicillins - http://www.hrss.net/aar/health/health_drugs.html

From Merck vet manual - http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/exotic_ ... bbits.html

Particular caution must be applied to the use of antibiotics that suppress normal GI microflora and result in enteric dysbiosis and/or enterotoxemia. This has been called “antibiotic toxicity.” Antibiotics contraindicated in rabbits include clindamycin, lincomycin, erythromycin, ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and cephalosporins.

I'd sue the vet

 

[DogCatMom]

An additional source of information re. antibiotics safe to use in rabbits (and those UNsafe to use in rabbits, as well as UNsafe methods of application for meds otherwise safe) is MediRabbit.com .

 

[HoppyMeal]

Dood and DogCatMom, Thank you for the information. Unfortinately I'm not going to sue the vet. I did not know that about the amoxicillin, but now that I have this website to refer to ( Medirabbit.com) I will share that info with the vet. The injections that were given to Oreo were Unasyn and Ascorbate.

 

[jessie15273]

Did it look like this? flip-flopping-doe-help-t17572.html sorry about linking to the thread I am on my phone and can post a video

 

[Hoosier]

Don't know if it applies to rabbits, but sinus issues in humans have the potential to cause balance issues, especially if the infection moves into the inner ear. You may want to do some simple balance testing with him such as laying him on his side and then releasing him to see how well he can right himself. Do on both sides and his back. You could also put a board on a cardboard paper towel roll, put him on the board and tilt it side to side and then front to back. He may have simply been unable to maintain his balance when he mounted the doe and it wasn't a seizure.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Dood and DogCatMom, Thank you for the information. Unfortinately I'm not going to sue the vet. I did not know that about the amoxicillin, but now that I have this website to refer to ( Medirabbit.com) I will share that info with the vet. The injections that were given to Oreo were Unasyn and Ascorbate.

I would think your vet would be more open to you pointing out the info in the Merck Veterinary Manual...just a thought, since it would seem more "professional" to them, rather than just a web page.

 

[Miss M]

Dood and DogCatMom, Thank you for the information. Unfortinately I'm not going to sue the vet. I did not know that about the amoxicillin, but now that I have this website to refer to ( Medirabbit.com) I will share that info with the vet. The injections that were given to Oreo were Unasyn and Ascorbate.

I would think your vet would be more open to you pointing out the info in the Merck Veterinary Manual...just a thought, since it would seem more "professional" to them, rather than just a web page.

This is true, though Medirabbit is an excellent resource. Perhaps you could provide both, and the Merck link would help lend weight to the info at Medirabbit, perhaps, at least in the vet's eyes?

Don't know if it applies to rabbits, but sinus issues in humans have the potential to cause balance issues, especially if the infection moves into the inner ear.

This does apply to rabbits. Inner ear issues can cause balance problems and even symptoms of wry neck.<br /><br />__________ Thu Oct 03, 2013 10:30 am __________<br /><br />That's quite a cocktail your rabbit got... amoxicillin, ampicillin, and sulbactam (to make bacteria less resistant to the cillins).