Seizures in rabbits can scare pet owners for good reason. It can be very scary for your rabbit to start experiencing seizures but not all seizures are even that visible to owners. The wide range of symptoms that can indicate seizures in rabbits can confuse owners as well when it comes to what needs to be done related to rabbit seizures.
Rabbits might experience seizures for a variety of reasons, and rabbit owners will need to take their rabbit to the vet if they have noticed that their rabbit is seizing. Even disordered movements might indicate seizure activity, which is why a vet examination can be so important when it comes to rabbit health issues. Rabbits are prey animals, and they tend to hide that they are not feeling well, which makes the diagnosis of some of these conditions complex.
What to Do if Your Rabbit Having a Seizure
First of all, rabbit owners should know that not all seizures are violent or noticeable. Some seizures can be really small or barely noticeable unless you are watching your rabbit intensely. Brain activity that is not flowing correctly leads to seizures, which means that the symptoms of a seizure can vary widely from case to case, depending upon which part of the brain is affected by the seizure disorder.
If you have noticed that your rabbit is having seizures, you will need to make sure to call your vet and have your rabbit looked at right away. Make sure as well that your rabbit is not getting access to any kind of toxic substances or plants. There is a wide array of plants and food items that rabbits should not ingest, which can cause seizure activity.
There are other reasons for seizure, like low blood sugar, bacterial or parasitic infections, or even problems related to brain tumors or spinal injuries. While rabbits often live in cages and do not have the chance to suffer a fall or be hurt by other animals, there are instances where your pet rabbit might get injured when you are not at home or watching them play.
How Does a Vet Diagnose and Treat Rabbit Seizures?
If you take your rabbit to the vet, your vet will likely recommend a CT scan or an MRI and check to see if there are tumors or brain activity issues that are related to an obvious cause. Some seizure types are easier to identify than others, which means that your vet will likely also run some basic blood tests to look for infections and parasitic issues.
Your vet will also examine your pet for physical injury and make sure that they do not have a spinal problem or some other issue that might be leading to the seizure symptoms. Sometimes your vet will ask you to monitor your pet for a time to see if you can get a seizure recorded on your phone or to see if there is a link between certain activities or foods and your pet’s seizures.
Your pet might also need to stay at the vet clinic for a while so that they can be monitored. If your rabbit is experiencing seizures regularly, your vet will likely be able to witness the seizures and see what they think is causing them to happen. This can be very valuable related to diagnosis and can make it easier for your vet to figure out a treatment protocol for your pet.
Are Seizures in Rabbit Life Threatening?
Seizures are scary for you and your little bun, and you might wonder, can a rabbit die from a seizure? Well, in some cases, seizures in rabbits can be life-threatening. This is often a symptom of some kind of exposure to a toxin, which can lead to a serious health issue over time. In other cases, seizures are related to other kinds of health concerns that might grow worse over time but can be managed along with the seizure activity.
Your vet will be able to tell you how severe your pet’s seizure disorder is and help you to treat the condition with the right protocol. This can make all the difference in your pet’s comfort and overall well-being, so you should lean on your vet for assistance with this kind of condition. If your rabbit has a spinal injury or a brain tumor, or another significant issue that might need special treatment, you will need to take your vet’s advice about what kinds of specialty care will be needed to treat your pet.
Call VEG Animal Hospital if Your Rabbit is Having a Seizure
If you are not sure what to do about rabbit seizures, you are not alone! This is not a common problem for pet owners to have to attend to, and it can be scary to see your pet experiencing this kind of health issue. You will need to take your rabbit to the vet to seek support for the care of this kind of condition.
In some cases, rabbit seizures are so mild that you might not even notice that they are happening. This can make the process of diagnosis and treatment of seizure disorders complex in some cases. Contact your nearest VEG location if you have any questions. You will always speak directly to a qualified veterinarian.
