Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Yantha Smyth — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 11:40:12 GMT

Hi, thanks everyone for your insights. It sounds like imaging to evaluate for OM/OI is needed and I think under sedation it would be possible to do a more thorough otoscopic exam too. Interesting about the cat and dog ear preps- will bear this is mind. Also I found out the age was wrong and he's actually 7yr9m. Finances are limited, and the owner initially preferred to try some medical treatment, but I think she would stretch to the investigation above if needed and no response to current NSAID and antibiotic; but CT highly unlikely.

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

HMC — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 16:30:01 GMT

I agree with Catherine but would add that CT is the best imaging modality for middle ear disease in rabbits. Is the bunny insured? (V cute btw).

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

CatherineThomas — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 11:25:40 GMT

I think you should investigate a little more before looking for treatments. I would take skull x-rays to assess the bullae - a VD view and lateral obliques, apparently the best angle to avoid superimposition is 30 degrees from lateral. You could also take a closer look down the ear canal while under ga or sedation for the x-rays, an endoscope would be useful if you have one. If there is exudate in the external canal you can sample it and culture. If the TM is dark and bulging it would indicate OM, According to my rabbit text book if there is OM without OE a deep nasal swab should be taken along with a sample direct from the middle ear, via a myringotomy incision, using an otoendoscope and a 3 fr tomcat catheter to make an incision through the caudoventral quadrant of the TM. Samples are collected by aspiration. I've never done that though so don't know how difficult it would be.

I'd also take a blood sample for a basic profile and e.cuniculi titres.

If you do find signs of otitis don't use any of the dog or cat topical products because the steroid component will cause immunosupression. Depending on what you see you could try systemic antibiotics and nsaids. You could always post the x-rays and results on here if you aren't sure.

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Nicola Lawlor — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 21:27:05 GMT

[quote user="Suzanne Kelly"]

It's a lop, so deffo facial nerve due to inner ear unless proven otherwise! In chronic cases the lip will draw back like that, it's only floppy in acute ones and the owners often don't notice that.

[/quote]

Is there any treatment recommended?

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

mariette asselbergs — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 20:56:52 GMT

[quote user="Suzanne Kelly"]

It's a lop, so deffo facial nerve due to inner ear unless proven otherwise! In chronic cases the lip will draw back like that, it's only floppy in acute ones and the owners often don't notice that.

[/quote]

Thanks Suzanne, I didn't know that. Thats my cpd done tonight then :-)

Mariette

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Suzanne Kelly — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 23:01:16 GMT

It's a lop, so deffo facial nerve due to inner ear unless proven otherwise! In chronic cases the lip will draw back like that, it's only floppy in acute ones and the owners often don't notice that.

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Yantha Smyth — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 19:16:00 GMT

[quote user="mariette asselbergs"]

Have you considered the possibility that it is not the left side which is drawn up but the right side which is hanging down?

Mariette

[/quote] Yes! That would have made more sense to me, but the owner is adamant the R side is what the rabbit normally is like on both sides!!

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

mariette asselbergs — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 18:59:05 GMT

Have you considered the possibility that it is not the left side which is drawn up but the right side which is hanging down?

Mariette

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Yantha Smyth — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 09:07:47 GMT

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Yantha Smyth — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 08:44:37 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="Yantha Smyth"]after downloading 2 apps for manipulating photos on iPad I admit defeat for today having only managed to crop them which doesn't change their size as such....[/quote]

I know nothing of iPads, but surely any relevant application would have a tool for "size" or "resize"? Or maybe "change resolution" or "change dpi" or something? Maybe it's not in the menu you would expect?

[/quote] You would think so, but nowhere to be found. It's either not there or I am even more technophobic than I thought. I think I will get on a normal computer and give it a go instead!

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 02:17:20 GMT

[quote user="Yantha Smyth"]after downloading 2 apps for manipulating photos on iPad I admit defeat for today having only managed to crop them which doesn't change their size as such....[/quote]

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Suzanne Kelly — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 00:17:29 GMT

As far as I know acute facial nerve injuries cause the drooping. This often goes unnoticed by the owner. In chronic cases the lip gets drawn back. Hopefully you'll get a reply from one of the bunny specialists :)

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Yantha Smyth — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 23:49:18 GMT

I agree, that's what I first thought, but then figured the abnormal side should be 'drooped' rather than drawn up? The system thinks my images are too big, but after downloading 2 apps for manipulating photos on iPad I admit defeat for today having only managed to crop them which doesn't change their size as such....

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Suzanne Kelly — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 22:47:26 GMT

Hi Yantha,

This sounds like facial nerve damage due to middle/inner ear disease. Is the rabbit a lop? I had trouble putting up pics too, but Evelyn Barbour-Hill put me straight. When you type your message, there's a little button on the toolbar like a reel of film, 2nd to the left of the smiley face. Click that and you should be able to upload your pic.

Suzanne

Re: Seeking comments/ input on rabbit with facial asymmetry

Yantha Smyth — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 22:12:29 GMT

Almost got pictures up but apparently file size too large and don't know how to change it- shame as I'm not sure the description is very clear