Intas Polivet Vol, 22 (Il): 163-164 Short Communication Diagnosis and Management of Wry Neck in a Rabbit ‘A. Ramakrishnan’, K, Senthilkumar? and M, Palanivelrajan? Department of Wildlife Science Faculty of Basic Sciences Madras Veterinary College ‘Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) Chennai - 600007 (Tamil Nadu) Abstract A rabbit was presented with history of loss of balance, eye rolling and head being sideway. Clinical examination revealed dullness and depression with swelling in middle ear canal, The animal was suspected of inner ear infection. The affected rabbit was treated after separating it from healthy ones in an Isolated cage. Rabbit was treated with intramuscular injection. of Enrofloxacin along with Meloxicam. The long term topical antibiotic treatment was followed for about four weeks, along with conservative therapy. There was a marked improvement in head tilt of the rabbit after four weeks of treatment. Keywords: Enrofloxacin; meloxicam; rabbit; torticalis; wry neck Introduction Head till torticolis/ wry neck can affect rabbits with no predisposition in sex, age or breed. It is a non- infectious condition which can appear gradually or all of a sudden due to number of different reasons, There are two common causes of head tilt or torticolis observed in rabbits. Otitis media/ interna is one of the important causes of torticollis/head tilt which are secondary to bacterial infection. Bacteria commonly isolated from rabbits with Otitis include Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Strepto- coccus spp. Encephalomyelitits caused by Encephalitozoon cuniculi, an obligate, intracellular, microsporidian parasite which is commonly found in pet rabbits (Pollock, 2012). The rabbit affected with otitis having head tit may be severe but with no potential abnormalities. An affected rabbit may initially seem uncomfortable or equally more agitated than normal rabbit. Because the lesion is peripheral, the head tilt is towards the side of the lesion. Pain may cause the rabbit to periodically tit its head with Otitis externa and conversely the tilt can corrected easily (Antinoff, 1999). History and Observations A four month old New Zealand white rabbit male weighing 450 grams was presented. The animal was presented with history of loss of balance, eye rolling 1. Post Graduate Scholar 2. Assistant Professor 3, Assistant Professor and Corresponding author. E-mall: palanivelrajan.m@tanuvas.ac.in a - Brand of Intas Animal Health, Anmedabad 163 and head being sideway. Clinical examination revealed that the animal was dull and depressed with swelling in middle ear canal. The animal was suspected of inner ear infection. The most recognizable clinical symptoms include vestibular signs such as head tit, rolling, circling and nystagmus. Posterior paresis, ataxia and seizures may also occur (Fig.1) (Meredith and Richardson 2015). Treatment and Discussion ‘The quarantine measures were taken for the rabbit. The affected rabbit was treated after separating from healthy ones in an isolated cage. The rabbit was treated with intra-muscular injection of Enrofloxacin @ 15 mg/kg b.wt. along with Meloxicam (Melonext)@ 0.2 mg/kg b.wt. The long term topical antibiotic treatment was followed for about four weeks, along with conservative therapy. There was marked improve-ment in head tlt ofthe rabbit after four weeks of treatment (Fig. 2) (Antinoff, 2009). Pain management is one of the important management because ear infections are painful so analgesia is invariably needed, Administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as Meloxicam, Carprofen reduced inflammation and controlled discomfort. These drugs may be needed only at very beginning of the therapy. Corticosteroids are avoided because rabbits may be especially sensitive to immunosuppressive qualities of these drugs and their use may cause further complications (Fox and Bourne, 2010). Topical medications are based on disease disposition of affected animal. Normally topical medications are inactivated by exudates and excessive cerumen may prevent medications fromWry neck in rabbit Fig. 1: Head tilt on presentation reaching the epithelium. When medications are properly applied, it forms a coat of thin epithelium in ear canal. While the rabbit is monitored for any changes in skin of ear canals during treatment as this may indicate use of different vehicle or base (Lennox and Kelleher, 2009). Systemic antimiorobial therapy is indicated in many rabbits with Otitis including most cases of chronic or recurrent ear infections. Commonly used antibiotics include Fluoroquino-lones, Trimethoprimsulfa, Chloram- phenicol, Metronidazole and newer generation Macrolides such as Azithromycin, as well as injectable Penicilin. Similar treatment was continued for three weeks and re-examination was done for further treatment (Lucente et al, 1983). ‘Summary Otitis media in rabbit is characterized by debris in ear canal of affected animal, head tilt and nystagmus towards the side of affected ear. The evaluation of Otoscopic procedure in rabbit with various diagnostics like cytology and cultures is essential suspicion of bulla involvement. Radiographs or CT scan should also be performed to evaluate the diagnosis. The ear cleaning with steroid-free cleaning solution should be done without rupture of ‘tympanum. For severe cases, myringotomy or bulla osteotomy can be performed. Topical therapy should always be utilized and systemic therapy should be instituted if there is inflammation of ear canal or rupture | of the tympanum. Prognosis can vary depending on condition of the animal. There is possibility that animal can recover from a mild infection with no treatment at all, Head tilts may or May not resolve with treatment, afflicted rabbits will 164 Fig, 2: Recovered animal ater four weeks o eg mem learn to adjust and they live with heag remaining period of their lite. Raboite ty exhibiting seizures or renal disease cary" prognosis of recovery. To prevent sprecg infection, the affected rabbits should be kept ign from other rabbits and owners should ay S0ted advised to quarantine newly purchased anit, be the antibody status of rabbit is determineg. "2! “ll Acknowledgements ‘The authors are thankful to the Dean, Facult Sciences, Madras Veterinary College; He TBase Madras Veterinary College and the Direca” Clinics, TANUVAS, Chennai for facies tendon References Antinoff, N. (1999). Physical examination a care of rabbits, Vet. Clin. - Exotic Anim, Pract ease Antinoff, N. (2009). Head tilts in rabbi, (Proceedings). Diplomate of the American Board’ Veterinary Practitioners. + Fox, N. and Bourne, D. (2010). Bacterial Ottis Med: Intema in Lagomorphs. Wildife Information Newson’? Meredith, A.L. and Richardson, J. (2015). Neurolo diseases of rabbits and rodents. J. Exotic Pet Med 24: 2134 Lennox, A.M. and Kelleher, S. (2009). Bacterial and parasitic diseases of rabbits. Vet. Clin, North Ai Anim, Pract. 12: 519-30. TP Pollock, C. (2012). Presenting problem - Head tit or torical in rabbits. LatebeiVet Website. Co Lucente, F.E., Parisier, S.C. and Som, P.M. (1983) Complications of the treatment of malignant extemal olitis. The Laryngoscope 93: 279-81. Received on: 26. Accepted on: 05.10.2021