Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

Mark Rowland — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:01:33 GMT

I would definitely get good bulla rads (nice straight DV and an EC IgM and IgG titre. Blind fenbendazole is immunosupressive and has been shown to cause bone marrow aplasia.

Thats a good start for you and you can base where you go from there on the results of initial diagnostics.

Goodluck

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:01:42 GMT

[quote userid="8663" url="~/f/clinical-questions/30691/is-intermittent-head-tilt-in-a-rabbit-cause-for-concern/241747#241747"] X-rays (rabbits’ heads are so difficult)[/quote]

but by no means impossible.

Or find a practice in reasonable reach that has an Adaptix 3D machine. Cost small, brilliant image, no special interpretation skill needed. The bee's knees for rabbits' heads.

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

alison silvester — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:48:18 GMT

We are outside Glasgow and I think Dick Vet is the nearest place keen to CT bunnies?

If she is worried maybe I'll examine teeth under GA and xray and maybe bloods first.

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

Alasdair Hotston Moore — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:39:19 GMT

It all depends on what all parties want of course. The definition of contextualised care. And selecting what represents good value. Which isn’t the same as the cheapest of course, which is why I suggested CT over X-rays (rabbits’ heads are so difficult)

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

alison silvester — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:32:09 GMT

I will have a chat with the owner. She wasn't too worried but just as she was leaving she said oh she does this and showed me a picture and it was more the asymmetry of the face I noticed vs the head tilt.

I kind of doubt she would travel to the nearest person who would CT a bunny based on current signs but she might do bloods maybe!

Or panacur or bit of watching and waiting!

Thanks all!

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

Clive Ansell — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:19:20 GMT

I'm for a more back to basics approach.

Most of the practices I work for, most of the clients are short of money, so referring a rabbit for a CT scan is about as likely as flying unaided to the moon.

Given that the OP reports the rabbit is otherwise well, no history of ear or dental disease and normal EDDU presumably, I would suggest investigating or just treating for E. cuniculi in the first instance, with a view to further investigation or referral inb.

Referral vs first opinion vet, or Supervet vs Yorkshire as a colleague would say

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

Alasdair Hotston Moore — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 11:09:10 GMT

I'm with Andrea: if funds available I'd offer imaging, especially CT (cheaper if you can find someone who is happy to do it without contrast which wont add much here)

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

Andreas Ege — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:53:23 GMT

Besides e cuniculi I'd think it would make sense to investigate teeth and middle ear, i.e. xrays (including intra-oral) or better ct.

Though this only makes sense if the owner's willing to go for further treatment which might include removal of teeth if there's pathology on the roots. I've pointlessly xrayed a rabbit a while ago with rather strong pathology, not realizing that it had been done a year ago with similar though obviously less advanced problems. Don't know why the owner hadn't mentioned it, would have saved her a fair amount of money, especially as she doesn't want anything more done besides trimming teeth when the rabbit not eating/ having digestive troubles again.

Couldn't convince her rabbit might be suffering even if it's eating ok. Which, to some degree I can understand. Still, I find rabbit teeth frustrating between my struggle definitely diagnosing them and the majority of owners I see not wanting to do more than the glaringly obvious.

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

alison silvester — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 09:33:35 GMT

I almost gave her panacur away but changed my mind at the last minute as it seems so transient but maybe thats a plan!

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

Clive Ansell — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 09:03:56 GMT

May be worth considering Encephalitozoon cuniculi?

Could investiagte for or just treat?

Treatment - Fenbendazole (Panacur) 20mg/kg for 28 days

Panacur® Rabbit 18.75% Oral Paste (noahcompendium.co.uk)

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 21:55:04 GMT

[quote userid="5326" url="~/f/clinical-questions/30691/is-intermittent-head-tilt-in-a-rabbit-cause-for-concern/241732#241732"]Well that explains why I couldn't find the exotics thread?[/quote]

Probably, yes ... I have merged all the different discussion areas into two: clinical and non-clinical. The idea is that it makes it much easier to post a question, because when you come to post you only have two choices, and not 15 subgroups to choose from! If this works as well as I hope, I plan to introduce tagging in the questions, which will allow members to see questions by discipline again.

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

alison silvester — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 21:48:46 GMT

Well that explains why I couldn't find the exotics thread? Or maybe it doesn't! I'll find profile and update but I'm Alison Silvester BVMS MRCVS, small animal GP with a soft spot for the small furries, pain management and behaviour.

Strong believer we are not all brilliant at everything which is why I'm here asking the hive mind!

All opinions welcome from case experience to specialist! Not too worried but don't want it it to become something I missed!

Thanks x

RE: Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 21:20:53 GMT

Hi Alison (alison silvester) thank you for officially christening the new Q&A community! Early days, but I have just installed the proper email digest subscription link on the community home page, and as the number of members who subscribe to it grows, so you'll get a quicker reply, and more replies.

Meantime, would you be happy to display your real name? I think as a community which exists to help each other, it is important we all know who we are (and there is the anonymous login for sensitive questions). What do you think? To display your real name, go to 'My Account' click the 'Post Options' tab and tick 'Display real name).

I think also it is important that anyone who replies to a question should complete the basics of their profile, too. So you know whether they are the UK's leading rabbitologist, or a new grad. Do you agree?

Again, thanks for christening the new system - I'm really excited about this new format - I think it could be an invaluable tool for everyone.