Rabbit had a seizure

The Rat Shack Forum

Help Support The Rat Shack Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Dena

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2018
Messages
377
Location
Texas
hello! My 7 year old Dutch rabbit had a seizure this morning. She has severe, bilateral splay leg in her front two legs, and is unable to groom, so I have to do it all for her. She's spayed, and has been treated for e. Conniculi (sp?) back in December.

I had her on her back like I do every day, and was brushing her butt (she's having a big molt), and she started grooming her front leg, and acting like she really enjoyed it. Then all of a sudden, he body contorted, she let out a couple squeaks, and started spasing. She was chattering her teeth in a very exaggerated way, and paddling her feet. Then she went limp. I layed her back down, and she did an exaggerated hop, then flopped to the side, and started kicking and flexing her back feet. I picked her up with a hand under her chest, and the other under her butt, and held her to my chest until she calmed down. Her nose was wrinkled up, and barely moving, and eyes bulging. When she relaxed, I swear it felt like she wasn't breathing and her heart wasn't beating! I freaked out, and started to lightly massage and jiggle her, and slowly I felt her heart pick up and breathing as well. I rushed her to the vet, but by the time we got there, she seemed fine, and was munching hay. She was just seriously tired. Since being home, she's been eating, and drinking like normal and resting. No answers from the vet. He gave her ivermectin injection for possible ear mites, but I had given her revolution (kitten) on Sunday.

My question is, has anyone experienced this, and any idea what could cause it?

She's free roam, fed oxbow pellets, and tons of hay. Fresh veggies in small portions. Water from bowl. Bottled water. No new environment factors. No new meds. She's almost 5lbs. Healthy eater. Poopsconstantly. Mouth looks good too. So I'm at a loss. I didn't do blood work, since he said it would probably just come back inconclusive, and I didn't want to cause her any unneeded stress after her seizure.

Thank you!
 
Not experienced with rabbits, but... I know Revolution is a CNS antagonist, or whatever you call it. Revolution can affect the CNS, soooooo, a seizure could, theoretically, have something to do with it if given too much. So, idk if your vet should have given her Ivermectin after her experience with Revolution, especially so recently afterwards! That seems pretty dumb, imo.
 
Last edited:
I know little about rabbits ….. there are some good rabbit groups such as House Rabbit Society on facebook where you can ask, and https://rabbit.org/

Imo, giving ivermectin after she had already been given revolution sounds potentially dangerous.
Here is some info on ivermectin http://ratguide.com/meds/anti-infectives/ivermectin.php
and on revolution http://ratguide.com/meds/anti-infectives/selamectin_revolution.php
According to the rat guide, revolution can cause tremors and ivermectin can cause seizures

I hope the seizure was a one time thing and that she will be fine
 
I know little about rabbits ….. there are some good rabbit groups such as House Rabbit Society on facebook where you can ask, and https://rabbit.org/

Imo, giving ivermectin after she had already been given revolution sounds potentially dangerous.
Here is some info on ivermectin http://ratguide.com/meds/anti-infectives/ivermectin.php
and on revolution http://ratguide.com/meds/anti-infectives/selamectin_revolution.php
According to the rat guide, revolution can cause tremors and ivermectin can cause seizures

I hope the seizure was a one time thing and that she will be fine

Glad you have a better way with words than I do, and adding links is always a better way to explain most things. Guess I should just defer to your comments from now on.
 
She has had revolution many times. Especially this time of year. Fleas are bad in the south, and so are flies. She got fly strike last year (I didn't even know it was a thing until then), and was given a shot of ivermectin, and a week later, a second shot of ivermectin, and I was told in the meantime, to put revolution on her. She didn't have any issue then.... So I don't think it was revolution that caused it..... But I'm not a vet either.
 
She has had revolution many times. Especially this time of year. Fleas are bad in the south, and so are flies. She got fly strike last year (I didn't even know it was a thing until then), and was given a shot of ivermectin, and a week later, a second shot of ivermectin, and I was told in the meantime, to put revolution on her. She didn't have any issue then.... So I don't think it was revolution that caused it..... But I'm not a vet either.

Ok well that is very out of the ordinary and downrifdo potentially dangerous, but hey, I'm not a vet either. I WILL say that I would never even consider giving my guys Ivermectin and Revolution in tandem like that, and in rapid succession to boot. That is just asking for trouble, very bad trouble. But again.....I'm not an expert,vor even a newbie, on rabbit health issues, nor am I a vet. I realize that a double dose of Ivermectin is usually not going to be harmful, but it is strongly discouraged.
 
Back
Top