Broken toe?

[Snow Machine]

My bunny has been angry for a few days now. He has been acting skittish when I try to interact with him and biting a lot more. I noticed that the middle toe of one of his back legs is bent upwards 40 degrees above the other toes at about the first knuckle. It doesn’t touch the ground when he hops, it points upwards. I noticed he’s been licking it a lot. I can’t tell if it’s a break or a dislocation. It doesn’t seem to be bothering him, and he’s been running around, but it looks very odd. I tried splinting it, but he kicked it off. I’m confused about how to proceed. Should I continue to try and splint it, or just leave it alone? I don’t have very much money and I don’t want to go to the vet. I’m worried.  

[BlueMoods]

Take your rabbit to a vet, you can’t see what is wrong but a vet can do x-rays and see what is wrong. If it’s bent and that angle and the rabbit is licking it, that is a sign it is painful for the rabbit. A vet can correct it and, if needed give you medicine that will help your rabbit.

[Sarita]

He does need to see a vet. If you cannot afford it see if you can work a payment plan out with the vet.

[Snow Machine]

If anybody has any advice that isn’t going to the vet that would be great. Again, I can’t afford veterinary care.

Thanks

[Megabunny]

Nothing you can do, then, but wait and watch. There are animals that break things and just heal up crookedly. Not saying it’s recommended, but if you are unable to take him, you’ll have to wait and watch. You can’t give him any over the counter pain relievers. Probably limit his exercise for awhile, as he won’t know enough to do it for himself. I hope he come around for you. I know if I took mine to the vet for that it would be probably $100 to walk throught the door and get an x-ray, then a splint…if that’s all that’s needed, would be more on top of that…and my vet is reasonably priced! I already assume you wouldn’t be doing major orthopedics on him, bu that would be crazy expensive, so hopefully tincture of time and rest will do the trick. Just know that if it is broken and you decide later to go, it’ll already be healing in that position, which would make treatment all the more difficult. So if you have any inkling to take him to a vet, do it sooner than later. I’ll be thinking of you! Sorry you’re in such a rotten dilemma.

[Snow Machine]

Thanks.
He doesn’t seem to be in much if any pain as he doesn’t mind touching and he’s hopping around like a maniac still. We thought this might suggest a dislocation rather than a break.

Does anybody have any tips regarding maybe taping it to the adjoining toes or splinting it somehow? Tried this last night but he kept kicking the wrap off.

[BlueMoods]

If you cannot make arrangements to get the rabbit to a vet, the best thing is to leave it alone but, I strongly suggest you contact local vets and see if you can work out a payment arrangement with one of them. Like any pet, rabbits need vet care. Would you deny yourself or your child a doctor if their toe looked like that? No you’d find a way to pay for it. Doesn’t your rabbit deserve at least that much?

[Snow Machine]

Kind of, except that there are plenty of people who can’t afford medical care and do go without. That said I’m not one to rush to the doc or the vet if the ailment is basically cosmetic. As I said he doesn’t seem to be in any pain and so I’m just hoping I can get his toe to heal in the straightest alignment possible.

I might add that this bunny was surprise rescued from a busy street. If I were to go about it actively I wouldn’t get a bunny until I could afford vet care. Seeing as though I rescued the lil guy from certain death he’s unfortunately going to have to live with what he gets. That said, if it was more serious he’d definitely be at a vet. I don’t want y’all to think I got a pet and am now neglectful and unwilling to pay vet fees.

I managed to tape his middle toe to the adjacent one with a little peace of credit card as a split. Hopefully that will help.

If anybody is a vet or knows one and would be willing to offer a more detailed splinting procedure that would be great.

[Beka27]

We are not vets on this site, and even if we were, for liability reasons we are unable to offer specific medical advice. You may be able to Google this topic (splinting), maybe that might help? Other than that, our advice will be to go to your vet…

How recently was he taken off the streets? Was his toe like that before or is this a new development?

[Megabunny]

We also aren’t suppposed to be here to judge. I work with a lot of children who don’t get the love and care and food that many of these rabbits get on here. I think if you are super set on splinting it yourself, Beka had a great idea to google it. If you don’t have the finances to spend, that’s your choice and we can only tell you what we would do. Sounds like you’re working hard to make the smartest decision in your situation.

[Snow Machine]

Hi,

I realize y’all aren’t vets.  That said, some of you may be and you don’t need to be a doctor to tell somebody how to apply a bandaid — you just can’t be paid for doing so. So if somebody could help me apply a slightly-more complex-than-normal bandaid that would be great. PM me and nobody will know, vets.  Help a bunny today!

Unfortunately Google isn’t doing a great job providing any literature of import.

We found him around a month (maybe a lil more) ago. I’m pretty sure he hurt it in the last few days – that’s when I noticed it first at least, and I spend a good amount of time with him every day. He has free run of a room and is always jumping up on chairs and stuff so my guess is he just bent his toe a little too far while hopping around.

[Ellis's Mom]

Is there a shelter around that takes in rabbits? Maybe you could take him there and ask them for advice? The would also know what else to check in a foundling.

[Author]

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