Tree-mendous fest

Q: My two-year-old male bunny has a bad head tilt. The vets have given antibiotics but he still has a bad head tilt, is off his food and water. I don’t know what to do, he can’t play out anymore as he just rolls all over. What can I do?

KATHRINE Watson, Tyneside

A: In the absence of any known trauma or toxin exposure, the two most common causes of head tilts in rabbits of that age are middle ear disease and a parasite called Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi).

Antibiotics are often very useful but if there is no significant improvement with the course, the prognosis is going to be fairly guarded for making a complete recovery, even with advanced imaging and referral.

The only licensed treatment available for E. cuniculi is Panacur Rabbit. This can be obtained from a suitably qualified person at some pet shops, a pharmacist at some pharmacies or your local vet.

Treatment should be continued for 28 days and unfortunately, depending on the amount of neurological damage encountered, there can be some permanent residual signs, particularly the head tilt.

If there is irreversible damage affecting the rabbits quality of life, euthanasia may need to be considered.

Inappetence can lead to gut stasis in rabbits. If the guts stop moving, it can be very difficult to get them to start moving again. This can be fatal.

If you are going to attempt further investigations or treatment I would recommend getting some special rabbit recovery food. This can be made into a liquid consistency, which can be force fed if necessary.

Given the severe neurological signs, this in itself can be risky and could lead to aspiration pneumonia if not done correctly. Further advice and training from your veterinary team would be advisable if you wanted to do this. ST. Hilda’s Church in Jesmond, Newcastle will be hosting their festival of decorated trees on Saturday, December 1.

The festival gives participants the chance to be creative and create a Christmas tree with a difference.

They can look like a tree, be part of a tree or indeed traditional.

This year’s entries will include the carved soldier from the Royal British Legion, carved from a tree trunk using a chain saw to commemorate the 100 years of the end of the First World War.

Viewing and voting will be open from 11am-4pm with carol singing surrounded by trees from 5pm.

Tree entry fee is £10, admission to the event is free.