In recent years the ownership and breeding of the domestic rabbit has been increasing exponentially. In many countries it is the third most popular pet, being surpassed only by the dog and the cat. The domestic rabbit is a docile, intelligent, sociable and easy-to-handle animal, characteristics that make it almost perfect for the little ones at home. Of course, the domestic rabbit, like any other animal, needs detailed care that guarantees its quality of life and well-being in its environment.
In this article on our site we will talk a little about vestibular syndrome in rabbits, a pathology that limits the animal's motor skills, putting your well-being and, in the worst cases, your life at risk.
What is vestibular syndrome in rabbits?
The vestibular system is responsible for processing sensory information specific to the animal. It is the one that provides orientation in space and balance In rabbits, for various reasons, this system is affected, resulting in certain signs and symptoms that, when appear together, they are given the name vestibular syndrome. The vestibular system is formed by a set of receptors located in the inner ear, due to this, it is a bilateral system (we can find a group of receptors in each ear).
This condition is quite common in rabbits and it should be taken into account that it can appear in two ways:
- Central vestibular syndrome: When the condition is more related to the brain.
- Peripheral vestibular syndrome: when the condition is more specifically related to the ear.
Symptoms of vestibular syndrome in rabbits
Since it is a condition that alters nerve function, we can notice that the animal will have a lack of position perception and movement, which will show the rabbit slightly disoriented. The most common signs and symptoms of vestibular syndrome in rabbits are:
- Nystagmus: involuntary movement of the eye, which can be horizontal or vertical.
- Head tilt: the animal keeps its head tilted to the side where the condition is found.
- Torticollis: condition of the neck muscles that ends up occurring due to the time the animal spends with its head tilted.
- Ataxia: this is a deterioration in motor coordination. In these cases, it is associated with central vestibular syndrome.
- Circular movements: loss of orientation leads the animal to constantly walk in circles.
- Inability to maintain balance: The animal tends to fall every time it tries to move. This sign is associated with peripheral vestibular syndrome.
- Inappetence: in the worst case, the animal may feel so out of place that it will not be interested in eating. It is described that when it comes to peripheral vestibular syndrome, the animal presents with nausea (although this sign is very non-specific in rabbits), an issue that will further accentuate the lack of appetite.
My rabbit has a tilted head, is it vestibular syndrome?
If your rabbit's head is crooked or lopsided, it could be suffering from vestibular syndrome. However, it is not the only pathology that presents this symptom, since myxomatosis in rabbits can also cause this.
Causes of vestibular syndrome in rabbits
The causes of vestibular syndrome in rabbits are quite diverse, but the most common we can find are:
- Otitis caused by Pasteurella multocida: P. multocida is a well-known bacterium in veterinary medicine that can be found in most sometimes in the respiratory system. In fact, it is the cause of rhinitis in rabbits. In some cases, said bacteria can migrate, affecting other organs and systems, and the ear is no exception. This bacterium is the cause of otitis media and internal otitis in rabbits, resulting in some cases in abscesses, infections and vestibular syndrome (generally peripheral, but it has been described that it can also cause central vestibular syndrome). Sampling of this pathogen must be done with great care, since it has been described that it can become zoonotic.
- Infection by Encephalitozoon cuniculi: this parasite is closely associated with rabbits, and although the percentage of affected animals is very high, only a small part will show signs of disease. E. cuniculi usually causes central vestibular syndrome in rabbits, although it is also responsible for kidney and eye diseases. This microorganism also causes zoonotic diseases, but it has been described that this occurs only when the human is immunosuppressed.
- Neoplasias: are defined as an abnormal formation of tumorous tissue, which can be benign or malignant. A tumor at the level of the brain or at the level of the vestibular system may trigger the characteristic signs and symptoms of the syndrome. These causes are rare in rabbits.
- Traumatism: trauma to the head can end up inflaming the ear, triggering a momentary vestibular syndrome.
Check this other article on the most common diseases in rabbits to know them all and apply the appropriate preventive measures.
Diagnosis of vestibular syndrome in rabbits
Every diagnosis begins with a correct anamnesis that will help the veterinary practitioner to decide which complementary tests to carry out. In these cases, laboratory tests such as hematology, CT scans, and blood chemistries are generally performed. The diagnostic use of antibodies against E. cuniculi to know its presence with certainty has been described.
How to cure vestibular syndrome in rabbits? - Treatment
Is vestibular syndrome in rabbits curable? The prognosis will depend on how quickly the animal's guardian acts together with your veterinarian. An early diagnosis has a very good prognosis. Unfortunately, when our rabbit has already had this syndrome for a long time and it feels down, it is difficult to reverse the situation. Of course, it will also depend on the causes, being easier to reverse if it has been caused by trauma, compared to a neoplasm. The prognosis is usually given in the clinic when the veterinary practitioner has performed his complementary tests
As for the treatment of vestibular syndrome in rabbits, it will also depend on the cause. The glucocorticoids are indicated, as they have an anti-inflammatory effect that is very useful when treating vestibular syndrome. In the case of otitis, the antibiotics at the correct dose are indicated. Some antiparasitics such as fenbendazole are used to treat E. cuniculi infection and, in the worst cases, surgery may be a choice when it comes to neoplasms.
