My rabbit falls over and can't hop. Is it floppy rabbit syndrome or e cuniculi?

Usually these signs are compatible with a neurological disease caused by a parasite called E.cuniculi. Once a rabbit has E.cuniculi it passes on the infection through spores in its urine. Other rabbits pick up the disease by eating these spores in urine-contaminated food and water. Unborn kits — baby rabbits — may also be infected during pregnancy. 50mg/kg of panacur once daily for a month is the standard treatment but once signs are evident the prognosis is guarded to poor despite the treatment. I would recommend to isolate sick rabbits and maintain hygiene standards very high. Please find further informations about the disease here: http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-2/e-cuniculi.html Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I am sorry to hear about Bun Buns! Rabbits unfortunately are prone to developing back injuries which can cause weakness or paralysis in the hind legs due to neurological damage. I would recommend confining Bun Buns and getting him to the vet as soon as possible for evaluation. The vet will do a physical examination, test reflexes, and may recommend an x-ray to help determine what is causing his symptoms and how best to treat Bun Buns.

Hello there! I'm so sorry to hear that Flop is sick. Her condition sounds very serious, and I strongly suggest that you get her to a veterinarian immediately. Loose stool is abnormal for a rabbit, and can cause dehydration if it continues for more than a couple days - especially if she hasn't been drinking. Dehydration may be what is causing her to be lethargic, but her symptoms are relatively vague so I can't tell you from the information provided what is wrong with her. Parasites, bacterial or viral infection, foreign object ingestion, nutritional issues, and hairball impaction could all be possible causes, and without a veterinarian's help, a diagnosis will be difficult. At the vet's office, Flop will receive a full physical exam, and they will likely recommend x-rays and/or bloodwork to determine the cause of her illness. She will likely need fluid replacement therapy at the very least. Something you can do to detect dehydration at home is a turgor test. When an animal has good skin turgor, it is hydrated - skin that snaps back into place when picked up has good turgor. Pick up a small amount of skin behind Flop's shoulders, and drop it - if it stays standing up or is slow to return to normal, she is likely dehydrated and needs immediate help. Do not force her to drink liquids as she may aspirate it into her lungs. Good luck, and I hope that Flop gets well!

Thanks for reaching out about Poo-ah and including a photo. By the picture and position of Poo-ah's body a back injury is concerning. A veterinary visit is recommended this evening, as back traumas are more difficult to recover from, the longer you wait. The position of his neck/head, lend to believe this is painful. Seek an emergency visit this evening, for best outcome. Good luck.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Roger is unwell. It sounds like he has a neurological issue causing a head tilt and partial paralysis. Rabbits are prey animals that are very good at masking their pain, so even if he seems okay to you, I would still assume he is in some pain and take him to the vet within the next 24 hours. Causes of head tilt include an inner or middle ear infection, or a neurological parasite called E. cuniculi. Causes of hind leg paralysis include spinal or head injury. The vet can perform a full physical exam, and may recommend taking x-rays. They can prescribe medications to help with pain and inflammation, and treat for infection if suspected. I hope this helps, and that Roger is feeling better soon.

Thanks for reaching out about Junior. It sounds as if she is uncomfortable and restless. Possible causes include gastrointestinal disease (obstruction, GI stasis, infections), urinary problems (kidney/ureteral.bladder/urethral stones, infections), reproductive problems (endometrosis, neoplasia, other) and more. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Monitor food and water intake, defecation and urination. If possible, offer water via a syringe. If Junior continues to seem uncomfortable, an emergency visit tonight might be needed. Good luck.

It sounds like your bunny might be having trouble seeing, if he is running into everything. There are a few causes for the blindness, including a tumor, abscess, cataracts, or an infection caused by E. cunniculi. He needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine what might be the cause, because if there is treatment available it should be given soon so the damage doesn't become permanent.