our rabbit who survived Head Tilt.

PQ was one of our first Dwarf Show Bucks. He did well for us taking many CC'S and Best of Breed on a number of occasions. We stopped showing him just as he was reaching his prime. He was seen hunched in his cage at a show in South Wales, and looked very withdrawn on the judging table - most unlike him as he'd normally sit up looking for how much attention he was attracting. He was never shown again. He became a pet.

PQ was a RABBIT WITH ATTITUDE, having very firm opinions about ownership of his boss and the place of women -one in particular! He was a one man rabbit.

He never had a day's illness in his life until May 2002 when he developed Head Tilt. We kept a diary of what happened and this is included in the hope that it may be of use to someone else who goes through what we did then.

Head Tilt or Wry Neck is initially a very frightening and dramatic condition. It can take weeks if not months to see your rabbit through it, and that leaves you as owner feeling terribly useless. Often medical advice is to have the bunny put down since the prognosis is not good or the vet is uncertain about what is going on. The care needed is terribly time consuming.

Since PQ we have had a couple more bunnies with similar conditions. PQ taught us to give each bunny a chance because they can come through - but they need their owner more than at any other time in their lives. It will mean a 24 hour commitment for days; you are tired, feel isolated and begin questioning yourself and your motives. We feel that if the bunny is not in pain then we will always give it our best shot and I am convinced that we were more distressed at what was happening to PQ than he was himself. Bunnies are so good at adapting, they never cease to amaze us. To get the bunny through, it is essential that you have a vet with a good understanding of rabbit medicine and that is not guaranteed at every practice. So if necessary start hunting...

We were helped a lot by emails from all over the world encouraging us to keep going and certainly not to give up on the little fellow. It was then that we really learned a lot about the rabbit community, the big hearts and generosity of people we will never meet except through email. We have also been privileged to be able to provide some advice and support to a number of bunny owners who have contacted us having read PQ's story and know of several rabbits who owe their lives to their owners having stumbled across our site.

CAUSES OF HEAD TILT:

There are a wide range of causes, including:

e.cuniculi
pasteurella
central nervous system damage
parasites and toxins
middle and inner ear infections
fungal diseases
vitamin deficiency
brain damage
tumours or abscesses within the neck, brain or ear

For a more complete list see:
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/head_tilt.htm

Later on this website there are further references to articles on the Internet that we have found.

	PQ- a rabbit with attitude!
	"It's like this, boss..."
	He spent many hours lying motionless, before going into spasms. Trying to steady him as he twisted uncontrollably.
	Early efforts to stand.
	He often rested curled up in a ball.
	PQ was like this for several weeks unable to straighten up, but he could stand & eat independently.
	Out and about - at last!
	Unsupported he was liable to fall over.

P.Q.Diary

May 8th 2002:
We found PQ in his cage late at night with his head bending round at an angle. We suspected head tilt/wry neck and on taking him into the house this developed fully within a couple of hours. He was cold, appreciative of warmth and breathing was shallow. With the benefit of hindsight we had noticed over a couple of days that when he was sitting up he did seem to be leaning over slightly. At the time it seemed nothing to worry about. These must have been the first signs, and we missed them.

May 9th;
To the vet first thing, and this was confirmed. No sign of problems in his ears.
He was given emergency medication and sent home with Baytril and Albendazole- twice daily. He was unable to support himself and the slightest movement would send him rolling uncontrollably over and over.

May 10th:
Having been unable to support himself we notice some efforts to self-support, but with his head twisted over. Eating well - vegetables and Recovery Mix. We notice that his eyes are wide open, but not reacting to light. We see none of the nystagmus (darting eye symptoms) often reported.

May 11th:
He seems to be drinking a lot and sleeps deeply in a twisted ball shape. We add Poly* Aid as extra nutrition.
We begin to feel very concerned as we can see no progress. He spends most of his time lying down and shows no signs of coming through this.
Problems are developing with his eyes as they are getting sore from being open and rubbed. We use Tiacil ointment more regularly.
On email we were recommended to try massaging his neck and body. He certainly enjoys this, becoming totally relaxed and his body goes floppy.

*PolyAid is "Emergency nutrition for sick and injured birds and animals": The BirdCare Company: Tel 01453835330

http://www.birdcareco.com/DrSquiggles/drsquiggles.html

WEEK 1 was very depressing. Time was spent mainly sleeping or lying. We felt there was no improvement at all until late this week. As he rolls he finds a position where he feels secure and can rest there - often upside down.
He is able to use a water bottle if it is held in contact with his mouth. If not, his head circles around it.
He seems to respond when rolling if his hind feet are supported or held. By the end of the week he is beginning to try to stand.

May 17th:
Making more effort to stand, especially early this morning. This is the first sign of improvement.

May 18th:
For the first time he was able to stand and pick up tiny pieces of parsley and lettuce from the floor without over-balancing. His 'under' eye seems less red and inflamed - a sign we feel that he is beginning to adopt a more normal position rather than rolling and rubbing the eye.

Midday we notice a far more 'normal' look about his eyes, not so staring.

P.M. while trying to pick celery off the floor he overbalanced. Normally he would sort himself out by rolling over and getting up again. For the first time we saw him use his hind leg to push himself out of this fall.
Is able to locate vegetables from the fold of a towel, and for the first time was trying to wash his chest.
Is beginning to move his head up and down, not just in a circling movement.
Responding visually to a hand being moved over the top of his cage.

May 20th:
Is able to take food from the ground for several minutes at a time, moving head up and down without losing balance. Washes front and even feet without overbalancing.
Visited the vet for anti-inflammatory. Eyes were normal. Suggested we try Piriton Syrup to counteract the giddiness.
We feel pleased that he has made progress, yet are starting to feel quite desperate that we cannot make things better for him. We question the vet about whether blood tests or x-rays would help. He feels that these would possibly let us know a bit more about what was happening, but since we would still be treating the symptoms in the same manner it is not going to achieve a lot except, he felt, expense.

May 22nd:
Has sat up all afternoon. Not overbalancing and rolling over quite so much.

May 23rd:
Head is still tilted over as bad as ever. This does not seem to be clearing at all now. We read of bunnies left with a permanent tilt, and become grateful that he is still alive.

May 24th:
We are aware of how much weight he has lost. Vegetables seems to go down well, but not mix. Trying Russel Rabbit Junior - seems to be preferred.

May 25th:
Was nose to nose with the cat. Chinning the side of the cage. Has started to increase the amount of mix eaten. Droppings getting a bit too soft due to too much fruit - concerned that we get him back to a more balanced diet.

May 28th:
Has sat on hind legs only, to wash front paws and nose, and did not fall over. His front end seems more mobile and less stiff. He can now change direction without falling over, and is beginning to manage shuffled hops with his back feet.
Making contact with us through cage. Washing his flank. Aware of things outside the cage. Was looking at the curtains.

May 29th:
Tossing paper towel around and looking at his reflection.
p.m. was making jerky and exaggerated hops around the cage.

May 30th:
Scratched behind his ears with a hind foot without falling!
Finally have stopped hand feeding - we feel he can take sufficient himself. All medication continues.

June 1st:
Was allowed out of the cage and managed to hop unsteadily around the carpet - needs to use those muscles!
Enjoyed being outside in the sun.

PQ had always been a one-man bunny and hated his 'mother' with a vengeance. However while he was ill his attitude altered dramatically, as Mum was able to handle him, feed him and even stroke his nose with no attempt at nipping.

However...once he was able to get out and about across the living-room carpet things soon changed. As his cage was being cleaned and food put in, he came across the floor with wobbly hops and bit his 'mother' on the ankle, hanging on tightly - in fact being lifted off the floor and swinging from her leg until he was shaken off.

Is there a moral?

PQ lived for a further two years, and apart from occasionally being aware of a slight weakness in one front leg, people were unaware of what he had been through. In the end he died as a result of a mass associated with his kidneys. He became a house rabbit until the end of his days, but enjoyed hours of freedom outside as well as the attention of a devoted boss.


All these pictures were taken after P.Q. had recovered from Head Tilt.

That is why we will never give up on a bunny - each one has a chance and we fight their corner for them.

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