Rabbit With Head Tilt: Causes and Cure
In today’s video, we’re going to talk about the Rabbit With Head Tilt: What Are Its Causes And How Can It Be Cured?
Rabbits are naturally active, lively, and playful, especially when they’re in a happy mood. However, some rabbits develop a very weird condition known as head tilt, and this can cause worry in pet owners. A head tilt is exactly what it’s like. The rabbit’s head is tilted to the right or to the left. An affected bunny suddenly develops this condition without any pre-existing sign or symptom.
Head tilt is a dramatic presentation in rabbits, and aside from this unusual head position, the rabbit may also suffer from other conditions like ataxia, circling, and rolling of the eyes. It is very frightening to see your pet with a head tilt, especially when it was okay a few hours ago. Head tilt may be classified as severe when there are other abnormalities like cross-eyes and ataxia. The rabbit may have a mild tilt when it has no other symptoms than the actual unusual head position.
The bacteria Encephalitozoon cuniculi or otitis interna is the most common cause of mild and severe head tilt. A vet may conduct diagnostic testing right away, and this includes a CT scan of the head to check for otitis internal while blood tests are taken for the presence of E. cuniculi. Head tilt may be caused by any of the following:
Middle or inner ear infections.
An infection in the middle ear may have begun as an outer ear infection, which may have been overlooked and untreated. The infection may have worked its way to the inner ear or to the middle ear, which has led to an upper respiratory infection. Imaging of the head, such as a CT scan will determine if the middle ears are affected. The culture of discharge from the middle ear is also done. Watch out for microorganisms like Bordetella, Proteus, Pasteurella, Streptococcus and Pasteurella, and more.
To treat head tilt caused by middle and inner ear infections, an aggressive dose of antibacterial agents is administered. Culture should also be done after administering antibiotics to determine their effectiveness. If head tilting persists even after antibiotic treatments are over, then a vet may opt to perform ear surgery to remove exudate, drain the area, and get a sample of the discharge in the middle ear. If head tilt is extreme, steroids may be prescribed to reduce the inflammation. If your pet is not eating or drinking anything, IV fluids may be stored and food given through a tube or a syringe.
Head tilting due to stroke.
To diagnose head tilting due to stroke, a careful examination of the rabbit must be done. A rabbit who has suffered a stroke or paralysis of one part of the body may show signs similar to humans like drooping of one side of his face, poor eye function on the affected area, and drool. Usually, a rabbit with a head tilt due to a stroke may regain normal positioning of its head after a few months. Some rabbits may gradually return to their regular head position and may only have a slight head tilt after a few months, hardly noticeable.
If you notice any of these signs and symptoms in your pet, take it to the vet at once. Caring for a rabbit with stroke involves assisting it with its daily needs, including eating, moving, and defecating. There are no medicines to treat patients; only physical therapy and acupuncture can help.
Trauma resulting in a head tilt.
Severe blows to the head, face, or neck can cause extreme effects and even injury to the brain, causing a head tilt. Most common in rabbits are traumas as a response to a situation or a panic reaction. If this is the case, anti-inflammatory medications may be given by your vet to ease inflammation and speed up recovery. Rabbits that suffer from a fall or have been hit by a vehicle may suffer from terrible complications and injuries, including head tilts. A rabbit with a head tilt due to trauma may survive when the inflammation has been treated, and when he receives treatment right away.
Head tilt due to growths and cancers.
Any abnormal growth or tumor in the brain, face, ear, or neck can cause the neck to tilt. Treatment may depend on the severity of the condition. Surgery may be done to remove a tumor or growth, and cancer treatment may be started as well.
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