Seizures
Rabbits, like dogs and cats, can, unfortunately, have seizures—periods of involuntary physical movement usually accompanied by some kind of mental aberration. In some cases, loss of consciousness can also occur. Seizure episodes can be scary, especially if you've never seen a rabbit or any other pet have one; while many rabbits recover fully from seizures, some do have lasting symptoms.
What is a Seizure?
A seizure is defined as "the physical findings or changes in behaviour that occur after an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain." A seizure does not have to involve convulsions, or the shaking and twitching that many people associate with seizures, but those are often the most easily recognised types of seizures (known as grand mal or generalised seizures).
Symptoms of Seizures in Rabbits
Full-fledged seizures in rabbits can result in a number of short-lived (less than a minute) symptoms that may include:
Rolling and apparent distress
Waving or "paddling" of legs
Confusion
Temporary loss of vision
Unusual tilt of the head
Inability to use muscles in the normal way
Fainting (rarely)
Focal seizures, or partial seizures which do not involve convulsions are not as easy to identify as seizure activity. They can present as:
A simple ear twitch,
Loss of the function of a leg
"Bubblegum chewing" when the rabbit licks the air and chomps as though he has peanut butter stuck on the roof of his mouth or is chewing bubble gum rudely
Focal seizures are not as concerning as grand mal seizures and the length of the seizure is important to note. A seizure lasting several minutes will increase your rabbit's body temperature and can cause permanent brain damage while a small, short seizure only lasting 20 seconds will most likely not leave any lasting effects.
Causes of Seizures
There are a number of possible reasons for rabbit seizures; some are minor or passing issues while others are serious and even potentially fatal. These include:
Inner ear infections
EC / E. cuniculi infection (a protozoan)
Exposure to toxins
Traumatic injury
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Epilepsy
Cancer
Rabies (not in NZ)
Congenital malformation
Poisoning from drugs, plants, or chemicals
Blood clots
Rabbits that are at greater risk of seizures may have underlying cardiac, kidney, or liver disease, brain injury, or a neurological disorder.
Diagnosing Seizures in Rabbits
Your vet may recommend specific tests to rule out some common causes of seizures including ear cytologies or cultures, MRI (not commonly available in NZ) or CT scans, radiographs (x-rays), or blood chemistry screening. There is, however, no "seizure test" that will tell you for sure why your rabbit had a seizure. If the tests come back inconclusive, or diagnostics are not financially affordable for you a "cocktail" of the aforementioned medications may be tried before starting your rabbit on long-term seizure control medications.
Treatment
If you are present when your rabbit has a seizure, stay calm and hold your rabbit firmly but gently so that they do not flail or fall and hurt themselves. Next, look at the clock to see what time it is; most seizures last less than a minute. If your rabbit continues to have convulsions for more than a couple of minutes you should rush him to the closest vet for emergency treatment while cool them down using a wet towel.
Most of the time your rabbit will come out of the seizure after less than a minute of convulsing. It is important to remain calm and talk quietly to comfort your rabbit when they are coming out of the seizure. After your rabbit is calm and sitting up normally, mark the event on the calendar so that you can track the seizures. If your rabbit has a seizure for the first time you should contact your exotics vet to see what they would recommend you do or schedule an appointment to have your rabbit examined. If the frequency of seizures increases over time, or if your rabbit has another seizure within a 24 hour period, visit the vet as soon as possible.
Your exotics vet may try a variety of medications to treat some of the most common causes for seizures. Antibiotics, steroids, anti-parasitics, anti-inflammatories, and even seizure control medications may be used if the definitive reason for the seizures is not found. Phenobarbital is one commonly used seizure control medication that your vet may prescribe.
How to Prevent Seizures
Seizures occur unexpectedly, and often as a result of unknown causes. Prevention, therefore, involves proper medication and care during and after seizures. Regular checkups can help your veterinarian identify possible issues that can contribute to seizures.
Source: Seizures in Rabbits - The Spruce
Further Reading :
Seizures and their various causes - MediRabbit
Seizures in Rabbits - WagWalking
Seizures (Epilepsy) in Rabbits - PetMD