Balance & Dizziness Issues
Please remember that all information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Information presented here is for educational purposes only and not to substitute for a veterinary consultation
If your rabbit’s head is tilted, they are running in circles or spinning, or they are falling over you need to create a safe enclosure to manage the symptoms and get to a vet ASAP. Your bunny may also be moving their eyes back and forth rapidly (this is called ‘nystagmus’).
Head tilt can progress to running in circles or even full-body spinning quickly. Try to stay calm. There are treatments that can help.
Step 1: Secure your bunny. We recommend putting your bunny in a carrier and using rolled towels to prop them up in a stable position that makes it more difficult for them to spin.
Step 2: Call your vet. Typical causes for head tilt and spinning are e-cunniculi or ear infections. Both are treatable.
Things to ask your vet:
Can we start the treatment for e-cunniculi without doing a blood test? Why you should ask: The blood tests take time and money and aren’t very reliable, and the sooner your start treatment the better.
Does my bunny need extra fluids? Why you should ask: Dizzy bunnies often won’t eat or drink on their own. Ask your vet to show you how to safely give your bunny water and recovery food via an oral syringe. If your bunny needs subcutaneous fluids and might for a while (and you are comfortable with doing some first aid and using needles at home), ask them to train you how to do it.
Do you think this could be an ear infection? Lop-eared rabbits are particularly prone to ear infections, which can be very difficult to get rid of.
Does my bunny also need pain and anti-inflammatory medication like meloxicam (aka metacam)?
Some things we have done for bunnies in our care include:
Meclizine. This is an over-the-counter anti-motion-sickness treatment for humans often sold in 25 mg pills. We use this to help our bunnies with severe dizziness symptoms. Read more about meclizine for rabbits. Dosage according to Wikiwabbit: 2-12 MG per kilogram of body weight every 8-12 hours. Example for a 6 pound rabbit: 6 lbs = 2.7 kg so the dose range is 5 - 32 mg every 8-12 hours. Generally we split a 25 mg pill into quarters. Each quarter pill is around 6 mg of meclizine. We often crush the pill and add a liquid so we can administer with a syringe.
Femabendazle (Panacur). Panacur is an anti-parasitic. We get panacur from our vet. It is possible to purchase panacur without a prescription online. However, we do not recommend you give your bunny any medicines without consulting your veterinarian. Note that panacur can come in different strengths.
Assisted feeding and fluids. It’s important to make sure your bunny gets nutrition, and many will not eat on their own when they are dizzy. We recommend Critical Care or Sherwood Rabbit Recovery food. Use a syringe to give your rabbit water orally. Ask your vet if your bunny needs subcutaneous fluids.
DON’T GIVE UP. It can take a long time (weeks or sometimes months) to help a bunny recover from dizziness.
More detail from volunteer writer Pranjli Pandya:
Dizziness in rabbits, commonly associated with vestibular disease or head tilt, is a significant health issue that affects their balance system. This system includes the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), the vestibular apparatus in the inner ear, and even the pads of the feet, all of which are essential for maintaining balance and proper body positioning.
The causes of dizziness in rabbits vary. Peripheral Vestibular Disease, involving the inner ear, can result from inner ear infections (bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal), physical trauma, foreign bodies, growths, cancers, or exposure to toxins. Central Vestibular Disease, involving the brain, includes causes such as bacterial or viral infections, protozoal diseases like Encephalitozoon cuniculi or Toxoplasmosis, bleeding, blood clots, growths, cancers, trauma, toxins, or liver/kidney disease. Other causes include ear infection or abscess, parasitic infection by Encephalitozoon cuniculi or Baylisascaris procyonis, stroke, brain abscess, tumor, and head trauma.
Symptoms of vestibular disease in rabbits include head tilt or torticollis, loss of balance, rolling eyes, tremors, inability to lift the head, and in severe cases, inability to walk, lying on their side, or rolling. The diagnosis of this condition involves a thorough physical exam and history taking, blood tests, radiographs, ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans to identify underlying causes, and ear swab analysis for infections. Blood tests to detect antibodies for E. cuniculi can also be conducted.
The treatment for dizziness in rabbits depends on the underlying cause. It may involve the use of antibiotics to treat infections, anti-inflammatory medications, and supportive care to ensure proper hydration and nutrition. In some cases, surgery might be necessary to address physical trauma or remove growths.
The management and recovery process involves providing a safe, padded environment to prevent further injury, supportive feeding if necessary, and regular exercise and physical therapy to enhance recovery. In cases of permanent nerve damage, rabbits may retain a head tilt but can adapt and lead happy lives.
Vestibular disease in rabbits is typically treatable, and many rabbits recover or adapt to live comfortably with residual symptoms. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for the best chances of recovery. Continuous care and monitoring are essential for managing this condition effectively.
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