bizzy_vicki
Mama Doe
Just wondering if any members had or have had buns who needed a rear leg amputated and how they coped afterwards and if they had what one could call a good quality of life.
A stray bun was handed into the vets by a ACO and although the rabbit could walk it had obvious bone problems. Upon xrays it showed he had a dislocated hip, after numerous attempte to replace the hip it would not repair. The bun was given a nights hosp and pain relief to see how the bun was, that next morning he was eating, pooping and moving well. The choices were femoral head op (which is rarely successful in rabbits and very painful), amputate or euth. Most of the vets opinions were that it was fairer to euth him, I didnt see why that had to be the first option since you wouldnt automatically pts a dog or cat if it needed a limb removed, why should this rabbit be any different?! So I asked to at least try, we bipassed the femoral head op straight away as I wanted this bun one op and one op only for him to recover, as we all know multiple GA's and the pain aspect can really play out the ending for a major surgery bun. So off the leg came.....
Same night he was pooping and wobbly hopping, keeping himself upright. Next day he was eating loads, pooping loads and still managing surprisingly well! It was said that within a couple of days if it appeared to be in the rabbits best interests, ie if he were not coping, we would euth, but he really does seem to be coping!
Some of the vets really disagree with me saying this is cruel since rabbits are pray animals and not cope with things like this But this forum has shown me amputatees, disabled and 'not right' buns living perfectly happily. I am the first one to not let an animal drag on and suffer, but in my mind there was no need to simply euth this lad? Am I right?!
(providing all is well he will foster with me a little before needing a special new home)
A stray bun was handed into the vets by a ACO and although the rabbit could walk it had obvious bone problems. Upon xrays it showed he had a dislocated hip, after numerous attempte to replace the hip it would not repair. The bun was given a nights hosp and pain relief to see how the bun was, that next morning he was eating, pooping and moving well. The choices were femoral head op (which is rarely successful in rabbits and very painful), amputate or euth. Most of the vets opinions were that it was fairer to euth him, I didnt see why that had to be the first option since you wouldnt automatically pts a dog or cat if it needed a limb removed, why should this rabbit be any different?! So I asked to at least try, we bipassed the femoral head op straight away as I wanted this bun one op and one op only for him to recover, as we all know multiple GA's and the pain aspect can really play out the ending for a major surgery bun. So off the leg came.....
Same night he was pooping and wobbly hopping, keeping himself upright. Next day he was eating loads, pooping loads and still managing surprisingly well! It was said that within a couple of days if it appeared to be in the rabbits best interests, ie if he were not coping, we would euth, but he really does seem to be coping!
Some of the vets really disagree with me saying this is cruel since rabbits are pray animals and not cope with things like this But this forum has shown me amputatees, disabled and 'not right' buns living perfectly happily. I am the first one to not let an animal drag on and suffer, but in my mind there was no need to simply euth this lad? Am I right?!
(providing all is well he will foster with me a little before needing a special new home)