Epileptic rabbit....

[CleoJo]

Hi,
I have an adorable 6 year old Netherland Dwarf silver fox rabbit, she has the kindest nature and loves to be held etc..
However, about 4 years ago she started having fits which at first we thought were panic attacks.
Our vet is not too sure whether he think it is epilepsy... but I am pretty sure it is.
I was wondering if anyone else has a pet with epilepsy and how they cope with calming their pet down and stuff?
Ive seen her fit in front of me quite a few times and its very distressing to watch her hit her head against the side of her hutch and her eyes non-stop twitching, with her cherry eyes fully 'popped out'..
I'm not keen on putting her on medication, as apart from when she is having a fit, she is perfectly healthy and happy.. plus I don't want to deal with any side affects especially as she is quite an old rabbit.
If anyone has any tips or advice I would be very grateful,
Thanks,
Cleo

[tinkerbell21]

I've never had a pet do that. But I think that hearing that she hits her head on her hutch etc during the fits sounds like it could be potentially very dangerous. In my life I would think of one thing, quality of life. She is 6 years old, if medication could help her I would do it, otherwise I wouldn't make her suffer, I would put her down. I would rather he go painlessly than by hurting herself during a fit.

Leslie

[kyukidojen]

Nobody likes it when their beloved furbabies are sick or hurting... I'd look into medication for epilepsy... also, i know some humans are able to greatly reduce the number of seizures they have by altering their diets... maybe there's something out there about that for bunnies, too? You should be able to find information out there about side effects for medication and stuff. As far as putting the bunny to sleep... i agree that it's sometimes better to do that than let them keep living life while sick... but it's definately a decision nobody else can make for you... thoughts are with you on this one...

[CleoJo]

I know for sure that putting her to sleep is something I am not happy with doing, and I posted this message on another forum, and someone has an epileptic rabbit too.. but hers in on medication.. which is something I am going to consider.
My bunny doesn't have many seizures, around 2 a month.. and anyone with epilepsy.. whether its a dog, rabbit or human.. never goes through any pain when haivng a seizure..
I just don't like how distressed she gets after them, and putting her down because of 30 seconds of fits twice a month is not what I want to do..
I will do some research on chaning her diet though,
Thanks for your replies.

[AnimalFriend]

While there is no pain during the seizure, there can be much of it following the seizure especially if there are things around which can possibly harm the bunny, like the wood on the side of her hutch. I have epilepsy and I can tell you, more often than not I come out of a seizure with some kind of injury. Seizures are also not good for the brain as each one kills more of the brain by cutting off the oxygen supply. Two per month is quite a lot of seizure activity actually. Medication is probably your best bet. The only diet for slowing down seizure activity is called a ketogenic diet - it is very high in fats and requires tons of fatty foods which draws me to believe that it probably could not be used on rabbits. Try putting up some kind padding in her hutch to lessen any chance of your bunny becoming hurt on something inside her home. This should keep her from injuring herself - the only way to stop the brain from dieing piece by piece each seizure though is to get them under control. I hope this helps and I am sorry that you and your rabbit have to go through this. I know how hard it is from both sides - the one having the seizure and the one seeing the seizure and feeling helpless to do anything about it. :)

[bunny boo]

I agree i would put her down if you dont want to put her on meds

[zig zag zoey]

I just found out that my bunny has epilepsy :( her breed is prone to it. Im so glad that there is no pain when she is having a fit! what makes animals have the fits? I have never seen my bunny do it unless I have been holding her for about 30 mins. I have decided that if/when she starts having them about 1 time per month I will put her down (unless others think I should do it sooner). I am not puting my girl on meds-what ever happens happens. I talked to the breeder I got her from and she told me that I should just put her down now but I cant do that. its so sad watching her!

[beasgal]

Why wouldn't you put her on meds? IMO, if the seizures can be controlled by meds, it is better than putting her to sleep!

[Julia423]

I agree with AnimalFriend...seizures are in the brain and doing damage each time they happen...they need to be controlled in some way. I have a dog who has seizures (different cause, not epilepsy) and I control his with diet. I don't know of any dietary controls for epileptic seizures only medication.

[vix506]

I am not a doctor, nor a vet and I don't know anything about bunnies, however, I am a paramedic and I would think epilepsy in animals is just the same as in people. Epilepsy is caused by abnormal electric impulses in groups of nerve cells (neurons) found in the brain. When someone seizes (or has fits), while it is not painful, and likely animals, like most people, do not remember the incident afterwards (which is called a post ictal state), the brain is deprived of oxygen, which is...well simply, a very bad thing.
Putting your bunny on medication is, more than likely, your best bet. Your bunny has a chance to live a long healthy life if taken care of with medication. I would do that way before putting him down.

Good Luck to you.

[vix506]

I am curious to know why you are against medication though...

[tiffers]

Epilepsy is caused by abnormal electric impulses in groups of nerve cells (neurons) found in the brain. When someone seizes (or has fits), while it is not painful, and likely animals, like most people, do not remember the incident afterwards (which is called a post ictal state), the brain is deprived of oxygen, which is...well simply, a very bad thing.

Putting your bunny on medication is, more than likely, your best bet. Your bunny has a chance to live a long healthy life if taken care of with medication. I would do that way before putting him down.


I completely agree. Putting her on meds will extend and better her quality of life.

[Jennicat]

Ditto again. I think it's wrong to explore putting an animal down for a condition which may be easily treated with medication. Lots of epileptic buns live a good quality of life, and if you accidently breed it into your rabbits, I feel like you have an even stronger responsibility to do right by your buns!

[tiffers]

I feel like you have an even stronger responsibility to do right by your buns!
I'm sorry...but this sentence totally cracked me up! :D

[Kat Lover]

First of all, I want to say, I am sorry your bunny is having possible seizures. I have never raised bunnies, but own cats and dogs. I myself have had Epilepsy since I was 16 and I am 47 years of age now. I myself, had to teach my family to support me. I know it is a bunny, not a human. But the words fits and attacks, are a negative conotation. Your bunny is having Seizures.

I am so glad that I wasn't put down for having seizures, especially when I was having over 50 seizures a day. They are now totally controlled. I work full time and drive a car. There is hope, so don't give up!

[vix506]

But the words fits and attacks, are a negative conotation. Your bunny is having Seizures. !
well put I used fits in parenthesis for some who may not understand what a seizure is, I meant no offense)

I am so glad that I wasn't put down for having seizures, especially when I was having over 50 seizures a day! Again, very well said and I'm glad to hear your have yours so well controlled :)

To the OP, putting your bunny down is not the answer

[celia]

Sorry to hear about your nethie , i have a nethie doe and she has had her first fit today . She is in the vets as we speak for observation , vet said her fits have calmed down a bit . Today she was having them every couple of minutes , its very distressing to watch . I will not say either way what anyone should or should'nt do , its up to the individual person . I was woken up by my hubby at 5 am this morning with toots ramming into her cage full force it was terrible . I have spoken to my vet and been told rabbits dont do well on the type of meds needed to control this . I have tried it in my dog and guinea pig before with no luck i had the PTS . I feel this is a long shot to try treat and she must have done some dammage to herself crashing full force on her cage .I cant be with her 24/7 and the way she was ramming her cage this morning she will kill herself . I love her to bits and its going to hurt me to let her go but i cant be selfish she deserves better than this . If she is still having fits in the morning i will let her go

[mynameislola]

So far, nobody has mentioned having bloodwork done on the bunnies with the seizures. Our Spotty was a dog, not a bunny, but his seizures were caused by a deformed liver which was determined by a blood test and his seizures were well controlled with meds. He lived out the rest of his days in a padded area.

The concept of providing health care for companion animals is new in society, only a few hundred years. Sad but true, there are people who just don't see the need.

I am thankful that we have laws now that require people to provide things like food, water, shelter and health care to the animals they choose to own. Judicial decisions for people who continually refuse to provide care for their animals can include never being allowed to own one again.

[celia]

The concept of providing health care for companion animals is new in society, only a few hundred years. Sad but true, there are people who just don't see the need.

I am thankful that we have laws now that require people to provide things like food, water, shelter and health care to the animals they choose to own. Judicial decisions for people who continually refuse to provide care for their animals can include never being allowed to own one again.

What do you mean by that ??? people can only go with the info they get from their vet . It is down to the owners what they want to do with their pets , we all have different views on quality of life ;)

[celia]

I am so glad to say toots my nethie has had no more fits :D