Weakness in back legs, weight loss

[Deleted User]

I’m afraid my 6 year old un-neutered buck rabbit Fuoco is in a very bad state. Over the last year or so he’s been steadily losing weight and right now there’s not a pick on him, I can feel his shoulder blades and spine very easily with my fingers when I stroke him. At the beginning of the year he suffered an eye infection where most of his eye closed over, but that was easily sorted by gently cleaning him and making sure he was alright. Last week the same eye began to water quite a lot and the fur around the lids was constantly damp. It only seems to have stopped in the last few days even but the fur around there seems somewhat matted or stiff, despite my attempts to brush it.

However, yesterday I noticed that he was struggling to walk.  He was mobile, but very weak in that he was trying to wash his face with his paws but he couldn’t lift them up to his face. I know it sounds silly, but I almost wanted to hold him steady so he could do it but there was nothing I could do. He managed to clean himself by putting his paws on the edge of his wide, low cardboard box of sawdust and rubbing his face on them that way, or by just leaning down to reach his front paws. Last night he was able to jump into his hutch (slightly raised off the ground), despite his legs being roughly as bad as they are now. He seems to have enough feeling in his legs (he does move them and can sit on them, they’re not completely numb), but he’s so weak he seems to drag himself somewhat.

I don’t know for how long this has been the case because whenever I’ve gone to check on him, he’s just been relaxing in his box like he always does.

I’ve made sure he has access immediate access to his water and food by putting it right next to him in his bowls. He is still eating and drinking. I’ve also noticed that the back of his head feels quite warm, as do his ears. I don’t know if this is a fever or not. That might explain why he’s still drinking.

The last symptom is that his heartbeat or breathing (it is hard to tell sometimes) seems somewhat erratic. Last night it was worse; his heart was beating too quickly even when he was being held. This morning it seemed better, slower, though still slightly visible.

Does anyone know what this could be? As horrible as it is, I strongly suspect that this is either some kind of cardiovascular problem or cancer. My biggest fear is that he is hiding his pain from me, and when the vet does his house call he will just have him euthanised. I can’t take him to the vet for scans, I live in the mountains and I’m fearful that a long car journey would kill him.

The strangest thing is though, anyone who has had a lot of pets will know that there comes a point where you just know an animal is at its end. This time it really, really doesn’t feel like it. This morning I sat with him for 2 hours, with my legs crossed and his head and front paws in my lap, talking to him and stroking him, rubbing his nose. He was licking me constantly and he was chattering his teeth, his eyes were still so bright, he was still Fuoco. I know rabbits hide their pain, but the only thing that had changed was that he was weak in his legs. I’ve already had to have my dogs put down in the last year or so due to heart problems and I knew that they were done, as much as I loved them so, so very dearly (I still haven’t gotten over it) but, I’m just getting the strangest feeling that this isn’t Fuoco’s time. The energy I’m getting off him, it doesn’t seem right to have him put down just yet; he seems too “alive”, like having him euthanised would be killing him more than just helping him on his way. Of course I know that if the vet does determine that he is in too much pain I would have him euthanised in a heartbeat.

I’m sorry about rambling for so long but my thoughts aren’t very clear right now. I’m definitely going to phone the vet to get him to come out, that’s a given, but I’m unsure about whether to leave him for another night to see how things are. His condition seems stable, he hasn’t gotten any worse. If anyone has any advice for what this could be or what I should do, please let me know in the comments.

[jerseygirl]

My biggest fear is that he is hiding his pain from me, and when the vet does his house call he will just have him euthanised.

This will always be your decision. The vet cannot do this without your consent. They may advise it but you always have a choice. You can opt to try treatments if you feel if you strongly feel his being put to sleep is not right for now.

I would definitely discuss with the vet about trying some pain relief then see if it improves his mobility. There’s a strong possibility he’s has arthritis or something. (Even spondylosis?) I’m not certain if that would contribute to his weight loss though. Something to ask the vet perhaps.

The runny eye could be an indicator or some teeth problems, especially in an older rabbit. That can definitely be a cause if weightloss also.
I recommend removing the sawdust from his habitat. That could irritate his eye. Do you use it as litter or bedding?

[Deleted User]

Posted By jerseygirl on 5/17/2014 3:03 PM

My biggest fear is that he is hiding his pain from me, and when the vet does his house call he will just have him euthanised.

This will always be your decision. The vet cannot do this without your consent. They may advise it but you always have a choice. You can opt to try treatments if you feel if you strongly feel his being put to sleep is not right for now.

I would definitely discuss with the vet about trying some pain relief then see if it improves his mobility. There’s a strong possibility he’s has arthritis or something. (Even spondylosis?) I’m not certain if that would contribute to his weight loss though. Something to ask the vet perhaps.

The runny eye could be an indicator or some teeth problems, especially in an older rabbit. That can definitely be a cause if weightloss also.
I recommend removing the sawdust from his habitat. That could irritate his eye. Do you use it as litter or bedding?

Thank you for your contributions. I have since removed the sawdust, it’s a long story.

The possibility of arthritis/spondylosis and teething problems having some part to play gives me hope though. Maybe the vet could make a judgement on the level of pain he might be experiencing, then we could look at the possibility of anti-inflammatories/other forms of treatment and leave him for a few days to see how things turn out.

[michelleann31]

Oswaldo, I am so sorry to hear your sweet baby is not doing well. When I was reading your post and you mentioned his immobility I immediately thought arthritis. I think there may be some supplements and possibly herbal things you can do for him to help but im not 100 percent so look it up, I know they sell a supplement specifically for arthritic bunnies, I wanna say in the store here on this site but I cant remember. Anyway, I hope the vet can help you and cure your sweet companions ailments. Hugs and healing vibes to your sweet bunny.

[MK]

Yes, the weight loss could possibly be cancer, That was the way it was for my bun. However, he is still with us and is living a happy life with daily doses of pain meds. I assume your rabbit eats pellets. try this recipe, because it turned out that a lot of the weight loss for my bun was he couldn’t eat because I guess it hurt to chew hard pellets. It is “Angel’s Mush” from the Colorado House Rabbit Society. Anyway, here it is:

1 cup of either oat or barley flour
4 cups timothy pellets (i.e. high-fiber)
5 cups water

Mix together the flour and pellets. Add the water and let the mixture stand an hour or so until the pellets have dissolved.

Then add:
1 – 8oz. can vanilla Ensure or Deliver 2.0 (or it’s equivalent)
1 – 28oz. or 32oz. can pumpkin (NOT pie mix)
1 – 12oz. can V-8 juice

Mix together, adding additional water if needed. We keep it fairly dry for bunns eating it on their own and fairly soft for syringe feeding. Store small amounts in baggies and freeze. Thaw as needed.

[LittlePuffyTail]

He really needs to be seen by a vet. I can’t say what the weakness in the back legs may be, but when I hear weight loss and runny eyes, I immediately think “dental problems”. He may have several issues that need to be dealt with. I really hope you can get him seen by a rabbit savvy vet soon.

[jerseygirl]

I also want to make mention of Encephalitazoon Cuniculi (E.C.) infection.
Some of the symptoms (weepy eye, weight loss, stiff limbs) can be sign of active infection. Rabbits may become infected by the parasite early in life but display no symptoms. Then when immune system is down from another illness and/or a rabbit is aging & losing condition, the symptoms can present.

[Author]

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