My best advice is to get an opinion from your vet. Their may be something you can do to help her but you won’t know unless you get your vet involved.

I agree- I don’t think you can make that decision without an evaluation by a vet. A vet will be able to let you know whether it is time to say goodbye or Maddie can have a longer life with quality even with special needs. Good luck at the vet and please keep us updated.

I had a NZWhite who had debilitating arthritis and she dragged herself around. My vet did not want to shave her fur though – she felt it would chap worse – I thought as you do that it was a good idea. However, Maxine first lost use of one leg and it atrophied and she ended up sitting on that leg and eventually lost use of both legs which was when we decided her quality of life had diminished considerably – she was getting frustrated trying to move.

I did use laser therapy on her and that helped initially.

Her disability was due to extreme arthritis.

What is Maddie’s disability due to?

Did she do an x-ray?

I’m so sorry for what your bunny and you are having to go through.

Regarding your vet. How did your vet come to her conclusion of what she thought was wrong? Was it because it just happened overnight? Did your vet give you the anti inflammatory meds?

Did your vet mention e.cuniculi? My bunny had hind leg weakness due to e.cuniculi but meds for that disease and other alternative therapies were added and that did help her. Whether it is an injury, inflammation, arthritis, e.cuniculi, or whatever, in my opinion, it would be good to know what is going on.

This question is for Sarita — With arthritis can a sudden loss of using a leg happen due to arthritis too?

UPDATED TO ADD:   I just read your post from a few weeks ago and that your Maddie’s kidney levels were off. (https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tab…fault.aspx)  Though she seemed to improve, I am wondering if this could be related to the kidneys again. 

I think it could be more of a sign of e.c. which can cause kidney failure rather than kidney failure. In my experience with kidney failure, dehydration and lack of energy are more of a sign than something like this. Doesn’t seem like the vet gave much hope and much information. I would ask for more specifics.

As long as she is doing well, that should not be a problem.

No, that’s not true. EC is tested with a titer which is done with a blood sample. I think that vet is not familiar with rabbits.

It’s good the anti inflammatories are helping. {{{Maddie}}}

I don’t know if this would help or make things worse but could you apply a barrier cream on the inner areas on her legs to protect from urine? Even over the fur?

Well, that is bizarre that your vet said that e.c is not common indoor rabbits. That is not true. Stats are that about one in four domestic rabbits will test positive. Not all will show symptoms and some will only show symptoms when their immune system is compromised (stress, age, other illness) It is true that that the titer will only show exposure and doesn’t necessarily determine if the e.c. is active and causing the problems. Normally the first titer is what is used as a base to compare too. But also some vets will treat for e.c if there is exposure and the rabbit is showing symptoms that can be common of e.c. It also can be helpful to rule it out if the test come up negative.
Here is some more information about it — http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-2/e-cuniculi.html

Regardless though I am sure happy to hear that Maddie is doing better and so maybe it was an injury or some sort of inflammation after all. Keeping fingers crossed it’s something simple and she’s on the fast track to recovery.

Ditto, that’s a bit odd. Sure the e.c. test is problematic but it’s usually done as a paired titer (i.e. a  test, then another 2 weeks later) to get an idea if an infection is active.  Also, not all rabbit are indoor rabbits 100% of their lifetime so could easily have been exposed earlier in life when it seems most common.

All that aside, it does seem the med she;s on is helping the problem. Good call on removing the pen in my opinion. Less chance of her injuring herself trying to jump becauses she’s feeling more mobile and thinks she has super powers!

Not sure… Since the anti-inflammatory is helping both her mobility and peeing issue, you’re treating the symptoms effectively. Much of the time that’s what you will be doing for E.C. symptoms anyway. The symptoms can arise from damage left by the parasite, so it’s not necessarily an active infection. Some vets will just put a rabbit on a dewormer without doing the e.c. test.

It’s hard to say whether Minnie would have EC or not if Maddie had it. It would depend if she actually has it in her system now or if she’s shed it a long time ago. Spores are shed in the urine then other rabbits can ingest it when grooming themselves. It’s really common in rabbits, so Minnie could have been exposed to EC at some other time from other rabbits or even her mother. The science indicates that lots of rabbits have been exposed but many also never develop the symptoms.

x-rays may or may not show obvious arthritis, but they will show any bone spurs that have developed as a result of long term arthritis. my Rini (age 7) has these near her knee joints, and the tissue around the bone spurs can just flare up sometimes and your bun will not want to put any pressure on the foot all. next time it flares up,, tell the doc to do the x-rays, and then make them write you a prescription for a nice sized reserve stockpile of metacam. that way you can get the swelling down within hours of her first favoring the foot

 Jack had arthritis in his spine that did happen to show up on the xrays – though for him he didn’t suffer too much from arthritis in his spine. It seemed pretty mild pain wise for him. 

I’m sorry. : (

Maybe take her in to get a sanitary shave done and then start applying a barrier cream on her skin. The sores may have to be treated with something else though.
 

Also ask your vet about testing her for bladder infection. It’s possible if there is an infection, that the anti-inflammatory could have alleviated it a little but it would require antibiotics to truly treat it.

I think keeping her on surfaces that will wick away the pee is wise.   {{{Maddie!}}}