Disabled bun bun

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Hello all!

 This one is to anyone who’s had a special bunny before. Like I said Rupert’s got a gimpy foot (Is that PC enough? *covers rupert’s ears*) and he can’t jump up on things. He does very well getting around and doesn’t seem to put much weight on his feet.

 I’m just wondering if anyone who has had a disabled/special/handicapped bunny (in any way) has any knowledge or tips to share? He’s also my first BIG bunny so I’m learning how to handle that as well!

Thanks everyone!

Lesley

[Beka27]

no special needs bun here, but just a question… do you have him already?  i didn’t see a post from you saying he’s home.  when do the girls get spayed?  i assume you’re gonna wait to introduce until after then?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Yuppers he’s home No worries he’s already neutered! (the post is kokaneeandkahluaANDRUPERT) <-not a link, not comp savy enough!!

[MooBunnay]

My bunny Grace is blind, and also has hindquarters that seem a bit “off” – I think her problem is from living in a very small cage for almost six years of her life and not being able to properly exercise them. I find that for the most part, any disability on a bunny rarely hinders them, they always seem to be quite resourceful! If anything, sometimes their disabilities help them. For example, Grace is the first bunny that I’ve gotten to understand voice commands (she comes to her name, and she knows where to sit when I tell her its pellet time, and I think its because she’s learned to rely on her hearing so much.

[RabbitPam]

HI,
Your pix of Rupert are gorgeous, by the way.

Spockie was disabled in his hind leg for at least 6 months last year. I found this section on Cats Rabbits & More, which was helpful in beginning my research:

http://www.catsandrabbitsandmore.com/disabled_rabbits

Because it was probably arthritis, I was feeding him a syringe of pain killer once a day from the vet, mixed with apple flavoring. He took it really well, ate, napped, and was able to stand a bit immediately afterward. However, our routines changed. He was very eager to come out, and he did this thing where he scooted around pushing with his good back leg and pulling with his front ones. He got really fast, and still covered the length of my apartment. I had to get an absorbent pet rug for his cage floor because he couldn’t lift his leg into his litter pan, which disturbed him. He also got more traction on it. Also had to change his food dishes to lower ones so he could reach in from a prone position at times.

It just taught me that if you let them, they will adapt to their own disability and overcome as much as possible. Let him out, lift him to places he seems to want to get to. Rig up little ramps–seagrass matts on angled cage doors, or boxes, can act as a ramp that’s easy on the paws. I lay on the floor to visit and keep him company, and got alot of kisses as a result. I also gave him a change of scene by just carrying him all around the apartment and pausing to view each area. We looked at the bunny in the mirror. He snuggled, but was alert to all the views.

Just think lower, horizontal games and living spaces, and let him guide you.

[babybunsmum]

i saw some cute ramp ideas in the link under cool habitats to cavy cages.  they had diff ideas that may work for rupert when you get to building a new enclosure or if you see spots he wants to get up on top of for fun

edited to add:  here’s the link http://www.guineapigcages.com/types.htm .  of course they’re for piggies but it gave some neat ramp ideas!

[osprey]

There is a wonderful Yahoo! group called disabledrabbits that has an active community of people who care for bunnies with disablities.  You can check it out here http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/disabledrabbits/

[Sarita]

Yes, definitely check out the disabled rabbits group – good advice, good experience!

Have you had the vet check that foot?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Not me specifically. Rupert had his foot checked when he arrived at the humane society and then x-rayed when he went for his neuter. He was checked again for the ‘exit exam’ when we picked him up. I was thinking that I would have my vet take a look and see what her opinion is on it at some point…What do you think?

[Sarita]

I think it would be prudent to have him checked – where they able to tell you what the xray indicated?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

They told me that he had a fracture, it had healed crooked (no idea when it happened or how, just that he didn’t get vet care for it-poor thing) and that as far as all their vets could tell, he isn’t in pain. They said he would more then likely develop arthritis (common for fractures) when he gets older…Other then that, that’s it! I do have his entire health records summarized, but not the x-ray or anything. I am pretty sure it says who checked him out etc. so my vet could have the xray sent to her…

[Author]

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