Bunny, Holding Hind Leg Up… HELP

[Katie]

Hi,

I’m fairly new to the site, but could really use some advice, my rescue bunny called Binky.

About a month ago he started showing signs on limping and gut stasis so we took him straight to the vets (Not completely rabbit savvy, but its a hospital and they are VERY good) they sent him home after giving some meds and said to let them know if he wasn’t any better. At this point he hadn’t completely stopped eating but wasn’t eating as much as usual. So we left him over night hoping the injection the vet had given would work, as this has worked on our other bunnies in the past.

Anyway that didn’t work, so we took him back in the next day, they decided to keep him in, so they could X-Ray and help get his guts working again. he was in for 2 days and when we got him back, they said he was eating much better again but they couldn’t find anything on the X-Rays for his slight limp so them gave me Anti-Inflammatory, Loxicom at a really high dose, 8ml.

Anyway so we carried on with the Loxicom until the 100ml bottle ran out. his limp seemed to have healed so it wasn’t an issue. However… 2 weeks later, he’s now not using his back right leg AT ALL! hes holding it up when he hops etc, so this is where i try to check him to find out where the pain is, but he has no reaction at all, so this is where i start to worry thinking oh god something horrible is going on. So straight back to the vets, so we put him back on the meds, and i was to phone the vet in 2-3 days to let them know how he was doing. After 3 days there was no improvement, so went back to the vet, they took him back in for more X-Rays to his leg this time so that we could get a better look, he also pulled and prodded his leg to see where the pain was and still nothing, although he did get the most reaction from his knee, so the vet is convinced this is the source of the problem. After more X-Rays and prodding and poking, hes still the same, still not using his back leg. The vet couldn’t find ANYTHING wrong in his X-rays and so we are now stumped… we have put him back onto the loxicom on a double dose of 8ml twice a day instead of just once. but a week later and we still have no improvement..

Ive searched and searched the internet for information to try and figure out whats going on but there is nothing that can help me! i am going to start him on a course of worming meds to rule out E. Culi but i’m not convinced that’s the problem, as he is really bright most of the time and can still get around. He seems to be in a lot of pain when i go to give him his morning or evening dose of meds, but that is obviously where the loxicom is wearing off…. he seems to lie down a lot more now as well and his Wife-bun always lies next to him which is ADORABLE but i just want them to be running around having fun together

We are completely stumped by this and could really use some advice on where to go next. Or if anyone has had a similar situation. Our next step is to amputate if the muscle starts to wear down but at the moment i really would want to go down that route as he is an older rabbit, we think about 7 or 8, so i think the surgery would be a lot for him and for him to adjust to 3 legs…

Please Help…. Any advice is Appreciated

Thanks
Katie

[RabbitPam]

My limited experience is that it is not unusual for a geriatric bunny, and he is that age now, to have trouble or even lose the use of his back legs. My bunny Spockie did at age 7. It could be any number of things, running the gamut from a chronic inflammation like arthritis or rheumatism to serious conditions like bone cancer. It’s very hard to diagnose, and primarily you want to treat the quality of life if the diagnosis is too elusive. You are doing excellent aide to him with repeated tests and attempts to relieve his pain. Spockie ended up needing daily doses of meds and vitamins, along with butt bathes and assistance due to incontinence, but he was very sweet and scooted around on 2 or 3 legs anyway. He just loved being alive right up to the end.

Your bunny’s Wife-bun knows he needs snuggles and some help, and I think she’ll be there for him no matter what. He may not recover the use of his legs, but he may be able to continue to cope and be fullfilled with limitations. Spockie lived about 9 months with just the scooting and relaxing.

I would say continue to make him comfortable, keep him out of pain as much as possible, get a diagnosis if you can, and let them be together in comfort as long as they can. It may be a couple of years, it may just be weeks or months, but as long as you (both) love him, his life will be good. I wish I could say something more hopeful, but I hope this helps a little.

[RabbitPam]

The above is a link to a long lecture on geriatric bunnies by an expert vet. It’s a bit dull, but you may find some valuable advice or insights in it. I actually found it helpful.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m sorry your bunny is having this problem. I can’t offer any advice but just want to offer some (((Healing Vibes)))).

[Katie]

Thanks! Any advice is helpful at this stage. He’s such a lovely rabbit to so its hard to see him suffer in any way 🙁

I will check that video out. It may help. I am going to see if our vet can recommend a good rabbit vet to maybe get a specialist to look at him as a fresh pair of eyes might help. Thanks again! I’m feeling more positive now

[guineapig724]

One of my rabbits, Bobbi lost the use of her rear legs. My vet wasn’t sure what was causing it. Even a specialist couldn’t diagnose her! They both had ideas to what could have caused it, but it was hard to tell what it was. My vet ordered a small dog wheelchair for her, and she gets around fine. She is blind too, and it still doesn’t affect her to pull around that cart! I also have a bun thats missing one of his rear legs, and he is fine. He sprints everywhere! I have so many bunny nail marks in my floors, I don’t even notice them anymore! I hope your rabbits leg heals! If not, I’m sure he will still be happy, as long as he’s not in pain. Sending healing vibes. (((Binky)))

[Azerane]

Could your vet refer you to specialist clinic, one that deals with joint/ligaments or something. Often they’ll see things on scans (not just xrays, possibly CT scans etc) that a regular vet wouldn’t. It seems highly unusual that there doesn’t appear to be much in the way of pain response yet your rabbit has completely stopped using the leg. There has to be something going on. Wishing you the best.

[Author]

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