Pet Forum / Mammals / Rabbits / September 2008

Well, he's bouncing back from this fly strike incident better than he
did the first one.  His appetite has returned and he's trying to
bounce around the hutch area.  He's much more alert and his skin,
while still reddish in places, is in much better shape than it was.
He's got more energy than he did last time at this point.  Oh, and we
don't have any poopy butt--so far.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that his balance is totally screwed up.  He's lost
muscle tone in his rear end to the degree where he has problems
hopping in and out of his regular litter box.  I'm wondering as well
if he's lost bladder control in general because he's not using the
substitute litter box with the lower entry very much.  He falls over a
lot when he starts trying to move too fast.  No symptoms of head tilt,
though--just not able to control the muscles in his rear end as well.

But hey, he's got a twinkle in his eye, even though he's got a major
bout of weepy eye going (being treated with drops).  It's getting
better in one eye but not the other--yet.  His overall affect is
cheerful.

Differences between this time and last time--this time I didn't put
him down in the basement away from all flies.  Yes, it's safer from
that point of view, but it's also colder and more isolated.  I think
he got depressed down there last year.  He was happiest during the
first week when I lit candles and played music while I was working in
the office (where his cage is).  I have fly screening wrapped all
around his cage inside and I'm checking him morning and night.  He
likes having his behind washed with warm water now, especially when I
dry it with the blow dryer on the next to lowest setting.

This time we used OTC triple antibiotic ointment instead of the stuff
the vet gave us.  Same thing, just a stickier gel rather than a cream.
Same results.

And then there's the chondroitin/glucosamine supplement he's on.  I'm
wondering if that isn't helping with the activity level.

Overall, I'd say he's out of the woods, although I think we've got
more long-term physical impairment with his hind end.  Sigh.  Must
take incontinence precautions.

jrw