My little bun can’t walk and has trouble moving around. Please help!

[FriendToAllBuns]

Hi everyone. I’m new here and i wanted to ask for some advice. I have a little mini Rex and he’s pushing 11 years old. Up until a few weeks ago, he was healthy and able to run and move around freely. Then suddenly, he stopped using his litter box and started peeing and pooping outside his cage and in his cage but not in the litter pan. Then he started falling over on his side (like he was laying down) and couldn’t get up. But he was still able to get around.

Then I started to see poop caked on his bottom. So I gave him a butt bath and he seemed to be better. But the other day, he couldn’t move at all, so I took him to a rabbit vet. The vet said he looked frail and old and said he might have cancer. We got his blood drawn and did X-rays. The blood work came back with no signs of anything bad but the vet is concerned about possible kidney damage. The X-rays showed gas and sludge build up. The vet also thinks he might have had a stroke

The vet recommended we feed him tons of greens and hay and no pellets or treats. He recommended orchard grass. We’d been giving him oxbow Timothy hay and pellets. He would eat a piece of banana occasionally as well.

Right now, he’s eating a lot and pooping a lot. But since he can’t move it’s getting all over. I’m worried since he’s not drinking water (because he can’t get to it, we bring it to him and he takes a sip or two.) and I wonder if he cannot eat his necessary poo.

I love my little BunBun very much. Can anyone help? Any ideas?

[DanaNM]

Sorry your little one is doing poorly, but also good job, 11 years is awesome.

Member Vanessa cared for Lancelot, her bun that was disabled from EC for many years, I recommend reading her thread for ideas on how to care for your bun.

She had his pen set up with puppy pee pads and things to bolster him up, and would have his food and water all within reach. I believe she also had him in a diaper, and would help him eat his cecals. She had to syringe feed him often.

Here is her thread: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/146775/afpg/12/Default.aspx

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[FriendToAllBuns]

I fed him his Cecals last night after I posted this. He ate them up like candy. I’ll continue to do that.

Is there a way to really get him cleaned up? When I bathe him it’s a small improvement but nothing big.

[FriendToAllBuns]

He gets dirty pretty easily so that’s my concern. Mainly urine scalding. I wonder if there is any way I can get him professionally groomed and cleaned. But I suspect that it might be a moot point if he’s still getting dirty.

[MCW]

wow! 11 years old. That’a amazing. I have a rabbit who has problems with her legs due nerve damage. She had trouble walking/moving around. What I did was that keep her in a small confine area, place a thick layer of towel so when she pees it doesn’t get on her butt as much as it should, have everything including water bottle really close to her. It takes a lot of effort to look after when a bunny can’t use their legs.
And because he can’t move, that means he also can’t use his backlegs to clean his ears. Wax buildup is great in mini lop rabbits. You might want to ask your vet to check his wax buildup now and then. When there’s wax buildup, there’s more chance of ear mites. So maybe try revolution to prevent this.
This is what I learnt from taking care of my bunny. But talk to your vet about this, he/she can give you the best advice.

[FriendToAllBuns]

The vet said radiology tests show possible cancer and stroke. I’m not sure what to do. He sleeps a lot. He eats his greens and hay happily when we feed him. He can’t stand on his legs but he tries to move around. It seems he has will and determination. The vet says he could recover. But we have to see.

I don’t want to put my bunny down

[FriendToAllBuns]

We put some A&D on his skin to soothe the urine scalding and such. I’m worried because he doesn’t seem to be producing cecals at all.

He still eats whatever we throw at him, like hay, pellets, fruit, greens, etc.

He also drinks water. He tries to move around a lot so he’s not paralyzed. Maybe he’s just at that age?

[FriendToAllBuns]

Unfortunately my little bun passed during the night. I wish I could have done more but I suspected his time was near.

[BB8]

I’m so sorry to hear your bunny passed away. Binky free sweet little bunny

[Gordo and Janice]

So sorry as well. 11 years was quite a mile stone. Good for you and good for your rabbit. You did everything possible to try to find out the problem and help him. It definitely sounds like he was just at the end. But what a great run! A really full life. 11 years. Hopefully you can remember all the great and special things about him to help you with any grief.

Binky free sweet little {{{bunny}}}

[DanaNM]

I’m so sorry for your loss

But it does sound like it was his time, and he had a great life with you!

((Binky free little one))

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m so very sorry for the loss of your bunny. I also recently lost my 11 year old boy so I know how hard it is. (((Hugs)))

((((Binky Free))))

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Was afraid of reading that message when saw the title. I’m so sorry for the loss of your bun
It sounds like he had an amazing life with you, and was very well cared for. 11 is a truly respectable age for a rex rabbit. We have a memorial section called Rainbow Bridge, if you want to make a memorial place for him.

[FriendToAllBuns]

Thanks everyone. We are getting him cremated and placed in a memorial urn. We miss him so much

I’ll post pictures later. I want to get another bunny but my wife is on the fence.

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