Bunny having trouble hopping

[Snosno]

Hello everyone!

My husband and I adopted a 6 year old lop named Scrumpet about two months ago. We have been through so many health problems with him in the short few months we’ve had him. He came to us with a impacted cecum (which we think is now clear). He has also gone through GI stasis, severe gas, dehydration, and anorexia. He goes to the vet every couple weeks for check ups. The vet says he is still dehydrated and now he is having trouble hopping and supporting himself. When he tries to hop or walk, he gets about 2 or 3 good hops in before he falls over. If he fall forward, he can usually get himself back up. If he falls on his side, he can’t twist his butt and get his legs back under himself. This is especially scary when we go to work or to sleep because we are not watching him to pick him back up when he falls, so he could be laying there for hours on his side!! The vet said yesterday, it is most likely from the dehydration and severe weight loss which has caused him to lose muscle mass and vitamins. He has been an electrolyte solution and we have been giving him vitamins in his water. His weight has increased from 2 lbs up to 3 lbs 10 oz. The vet says if he doesn’t show improvement in a month with mobility, his inability to walk and hop correctly will most likely permanent. Vet also has said to keep him moving and readjusting his posture when he is sitting weird, so we have him in a harness and on a elastic leash to help him hop with less chance of fall over. We have little exercises we do with him to help strengthen his legs. He is always out of his cage so he can stretch his legs. Has anyone had a bunny go through this? Our vet is wonderful and has helped us get him through so much already. I want to help him the most I can and hope to gain any other ideas to help him, he such a sweet little bunny!

[Sarita]

Poor Scumpet. Did the vet ever do any x-rays to perhaps check for arthritis? I know that seems totally unrelated to what you’ve posted but rabbits seem to be very prone to arthritis and it could possibly be the reason for some of his condition.

[Snosno]

He didn’t do an x-ray, I think I will bring that up at his next vet check up though. Hopefully this is the last thing we have to nurse him through so he can live a full and happy life!

[Roberta]

Some of that sounds horribly similar to what Pascal is going through. Please get the xray done.

[Author]

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