Lapis ISSN 2398-2969

Head tilt

Introduction

• Cause: trauma, bacterial infection, CNS parasitism, meningoencephalitis (rarely neoplasia).
• Signs: range from rabbits with no clinical signs to those with head tilts or circling through to rabbits with uncontrollable rolling.
• Diagnosis: often diagnosed on clinical signs, although the differential diagnosis of a central brain abscess or E. cuniculiinfection may give very similar signs. Radiography using a bulla view often shows a soft tissue density in this area, confirming otitis media.
• Treatment: systemic antibiotics such as enrofloxacin may be used although often the purulent material in the inner ear does not allow sufficient drug penetration to yield a sterile result. Surgery such as a bulla osteotomy may be suggested although results of this are not particularly encouraging.
• Prognosis: depends on cause and severity of symptoms.

Presentation

• Headshaking.
• Scratching at ears.
• Head tilt.
• Circling.

Acute

• Inco-ordination.
• Rolling.

Morbidity

Breed

• Head tilt in Dwarf breeds   Dwarf Lop    Netherland Dwarf  is more likely to be caused by E. cuniculi  Encephalitozoon cuniculi  .
• Head tilt in standard breeds is more likely to be caused by Pasteurellaspp   Pasteurella multocida  .

Cost

Expensive

• Considerable diagnostic work-up is often required including radiography and E. cuniculiserology.
• Treatment can be prolonged and is often unsuccessful.

Pathogenesis

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prognosis