So I’m in the process of adopting a bunny, or two, from a local rescue. This place also offers bonding services, so the plan was to get their assistance in that whole process so I don’t have to worry. I found two that I really liked and who seemed sweet, however one has issues with her back-end. I spoke with some shelter staff, and they really aren’t sure what the issue is. She had x-rays done and they were negative. When they got her she did have some issues with Botfly, and they were saying they think it might be some toxin the botflies release that causes back-end weakness. (have y’all heard of this before?? I have tried googling and nothing helpful has come up and the pictures are upsetting even for me) She is on daily pain meds and will need chiropractic appointments monthly for the rest of her life. Good news is her weakness seems stable and she isn’t deteriorating. When I saw her she was moving around pretty well, but I did notice that definitely one of her legs wasn’t as mobile., looks more like a bit of a limp than anything. I will say I only saw her on the ground for a little while and I know that isn’t a really good indicator of her actual mobility. She is terribly sweet and soft and I’m already smitten AND knowing that she is disabled and needs extra medical care means she is likely to not get adopted (already convincing myself as you can see)

I spoke to the adoption coordinator about the possibility of pairing her, however, they said that because of the back end issues and since bunnies hump for dominance they think this could make trying to bond her a “bad situation gone worse” and want to adopt her out as a single bun. I’m a nurse so when I work I am gone for 13 to 14 hours at a time, and I do on occasion do three shifts in a row. The plan is to have any rabbit I get to be free range, though I’ll probably have an x-pen around a cage for when I am gone so the bunny wouldn’t be cooped up in a cage all day but I can ease my paranoia about something horrible happening. I know they know rabbits and her better than I do but I was curious about yall’s thoughts since I know someone here has to have had experience with bunnies with a weak or paralyzed back end. I do really worry that she would be lonely on days when I work, and if I do work multiple days in a row I usually only have maybe three hours between getting home and needing to go to bed.

I was too busy the day I met the two to actually take pictures but the shelter has some pictures up if you’re curious what they look like.

 Mystic River (with the back end issues)

Blackstar