Lapis ISSN 2398-2969
Head tilt
Synonym(s): ear infection, head tilt, wry neck, torticollis
Contributor(s): David L Williams, Hannah Orr, Sharon Redrobe, Molly Varga, Vetstream Ltd
- 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
Cost
Expensive
- Considerable diagnostic work-up is often required including radiography and E. cuniculiserology.
- Treatment can be prolonged and is often unsuccessful.
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Keeble E (2006) Common neurological and musculoskeletal problems in rabbits. In Pract 28 (4), 212-218 VetMedResource.
- Hillyer E V (1994) Pet rabbits. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 24 (1), 25-65 PubMed.
- Kunstyr I & Naumann S (1985) Head tilt in rabbits caused by pasteurellosis and encephalitozoonosis. Lab Anim 19 (3), 208-213 PubMed.
- Bjotvedt G & Geib L W (1981) Otitis media associated with Staphylococcus epidermis and Psoroptes cuniculi in a rabbit. Vet Med Small Anim Clin 76 (7), 1015-1016 PubMed.