5 month old Rosie with a broken back leg...

she is at the pdsa now waiting to be assessed in the morning. The vet didn't seem to think they would be able to do anything other than put her to sleep.

It has broken in an awkward place, what would be just above our shin. She said it was very hard to pin there and they most likely wont be able to.

I suggested amputating, but she thought it wouldn't be in her best interests. I've been researching on line to try and find as much info as possible so that I can put forward my case for amputation if they can't pin it.

Rosie is one of 3 sisters who have spent every day of their lives together apart from tonight. They are my 8 year old daughters pets (although I love them all to bits!) and it wont be the same without Rosie.

I am concerned that as it is the pdsa, that it may be deemed as too expensive to risk the operation I was also wondering if anyone may know of any organisations that might be able to help? There is no way I can afford to go privately.

She's only 5 months old I'll never be able to live with myself if I didn't fight her corner and try and get her the extra years she will gain if they can operate.

Any advice on any care she will need would be very much appriciated

Thank you, Chrissie

Hiya

Some RSPCA's also do discount clinics, it depends on the area what they offer though.

It would also be worth calling around your local vets just to get an idea of cost. I would guess it would be between £100-250 but vet fees do vary a lot.

Good luck at the vets tommorow!

Tamsin

Please update us tom about your poor bunny. All the very best of luck.

Don't give up with her! The first vet i visited said the same about my Phoebe. Either amputate or put to sleep!!

I went to another vet (an orthopedic specialist) who said he couldn't pin her leg as the bones were too thin. However he did have a go with a splint, and said that buns with amputations (particularly back legs do really well)

We went with the splint and Phoebe made a full recovery after 12 weeks. Her leg is a little misshapen but is causes her no problem.

It is so hard to find advice on this area, please don't give up. Tell your vet what you would like and go for it. If pinning is not an option, don't be too worried about amputation. I truly believe there is the possibility for your bun to have a good quality of life.

Good luck

Where are you ?

If you can get to Twickenham I know of a Vet who could probably help and would allow you to pay in instalments in this particular situation.

Both the PDSA and the RSPCA do have limits on how much they will do for a Rabbit. My local RSPCA PTS's for molar spurs :shock:

Please, please dont let them PTS, I have 2 three legged Buns who cope perfectly well and have a very happy life.

PM me for contact details of the Vet if you can get to Twickenham in SW London.

Thank you for all the replies. It's good to know that there are some real people that have rabbits with 3 legs that are happy.

I'm going to phone them when they open at 8.30 and tell them what I have found out and that I would want them to amputate if they can't pin or splint it.

I did sign the form to say it was ok to put her to sleep if they found they couldn't do anything, but she said she would call first. She said she would do it while she was under for the xray, so she wont feel it

I'm in Southampton, so quite a way away, I might give some local vets a call and see if they might offer the same, paying in installments.

I'm waiting for a reply to an email I sent to a local rabbit rehomer (not sure what you would call them? ) asking her advice, that might have some clout if I can give her name and say, she said.....

I just hope she didn't pass away last night through shock, the poor thing, you could see her heart pounding through the box I had to put her in I just hope she calmed down ok.

thank you again.

Oh bless Rosie - hoping that everything works out ok for you, lots of vibes for your wee girl xxx

sorry, me again

Has anyone got any advice on after care. I've got a small cage she can go in after that someone gave to me after their rabbit had had an op. Enough room to turn around and a few hops either way....

I'd imagine that somewhere quiet away from the dog and children? Inside? Seperate from her sisters until her wounds if any heal?

What about exercise for her?

Sorry, lots of questions, but want them to know I'm serious about looking after her and that she will have a good, healthy life and the best recovery she can.

Thank you again, Chrissie

there are many members, myself included who has buns that lost a rear leg. For e.g.,

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=170661

read page 2 (above link) on the use of pillow for the ease of your bun, written by me.

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=182911


IN this 3rd link, is my bridge bun Goofball who lost her leg due to bone cancer. You can read the part on after care. It's very long.

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=91411

Here's what I have done very successfully on after care on the wound:

When my bridge bun Goofball had her surgery, there was the stitched wound. I was using that collar, but my bun hates it, and so do I. Although it's internally stitched, I put a big patch of non-sterile pad on it. They are about 4 in. x 3 in.

I then put non-stick "green" painter tape around the pad, wrap around her fur on all for corners (cross diagonal). They are non stick, as long as you remove them once a day, it doesn't stick to her skin, not to mention I warp it around her fur. (the stickiness will become permanent if I don't touch it for 15 days)

The method works very nicely. The pad is so large, she can't dig thru the pad and touch the wound. And if 1 pad is not large enough, get a 2nd one. A big box of 100 is only like $15.

Now, supposedly, they said the wound needs to breathe, but it will still sealed w/ the pad and prevent you a case of infection.

After 1 to 2 mth., your bun will run just as fast as any 4 leg buns, because that's what my bun did after she got used to the missing leg. I kept my bun indoor, free range on 2nd floor and look after her that way. Due to her missing leg, I don't recommend you to keep your bun outside

How nerve racking for you.Hope all goes well.There is a brilliant book out at the mo[i bought it through the RWA]called "When Your rabbit needs special care"by Lucile c Moore & Kathy Smith.Which has chapters on fractures,amputations & after care.Found it very interesting.

After care varies slightly. If it's splinted then you need to minimise movement but with amputation it's just wound care. So for the later once she's awake from the op she may be better going back in with her sisters if you can arrange so there normal accommodation has no big level changes.

Rabbits form close bonds so having them about is good support. She'll smell funny after being at the vets so be careful putting her back in in case they don't recognise her straight away.

Tam

chrissie said:

sorry, me again

Has anyone got any advice on after care. I've got a small cage she can go in after that someone gave to me after their rabbit had had an op. Enough room to turn around and a few hops either way....

I'd imagine that somewhere quiet away from the dog and children? Inside? Seperate from her sisters until her wounds if any heal?

What about exercise for her?

Sorry, lots of questions, but want them to know I'm serious about looking after her and that she will have a good, healthy life and the best recovery she can.

Thank you again, Chrissie

Click to expand...

I rebonded Phoebe as soon as she got back from the vets. I felt all the way through her treatment that she needed to be a rabbit as much as possible. I waterproofed the run, I removed anything she could jump onto or off of, and restricted her space as much as I felt I could do without depriving the buns.
You will know what is best for your bun in your house.

No matter which treatment you go for it will create some stress, so keeping her with her pals will accellerate the healing.

As far as medication - herbs such as nettle and comfrey have long been known as natural remedies for broken bones. Try adding these into their hay. You can pick them wild or buy them dried on Ebay quite cheaply.

I also used rescue remedy in the first few days - just a couple of drops in their water.
She will need pain relief as directed by your vet.

You are looking at 12 weeks or so recovery but I am sure it will be worth it.
What a lucky bun to have you...some people would have given up.

Good luck x

The best option in my opinion would be to try and repair the bones surgically. This is not always possible with some fractures but we manage to repair budgie legs and wings so find bunnies not so bad
If the normal anatomy can be restored without any damage to joints then the bun can live a relatively normal life as their bones do heal well.
Should repair not be possible then amputation is a definite option. There are many bunnies that have had to have hind limbs removed for medical reasons that, although a little slower and occasionally a bit wobbly, they get around fine.

yes, I've known a bunny living with 3 legs and he manages to survive 10 years to his accident : (a dog had grabbed one of his front paw) ... he lived a normal life an continued jumping and moving about with no problem... Animals have the great advantage upon humans not to think about their handicap, and not to anticipate, they just live ...

thank you so much for all the replies and for the links. It has definately given me hope they can do something for her.

They haven't xrayed her yet one of the pittfalls of the pdsa I guess, other emergencies come in that need treating more urgently....

They said she is alert and eating, so great signs!! I'm also hoping that they wont make her go 48 hours without even attempting an op to save her.

I'll let you all know how she gets on, hopefully we'll have an answer soon!

I would make sure that they remove pts from her card, as they might decide to call you retrospectively. Good luck with her treatment.

Wishing everything goes ok for you and your bunny..Good Luck .

One of my rabbits broke his back leg. The vet could not pin it. After about 8 weeks of limited movement etc. the bones healed well enough for him to be up and around. That was about a year ago. If you saw him running around now you would never know he had broken it.

Gosh, good luck with your little bunny
Many many years ago before people were even vaccinating rabbits so no decent vet care for them, esp in the sticks, we rescued an injured young wild baby rabbit with a broken leg, simple fracture, nothing nasty as far as we could tell, my father is a GP so he splinted and cast the leg with a lollypop stick! It worked...very basic but bunny survived and made it back to the wild with full movement. Rabbits are fragile creatures BUT pretty darn resilient. I hope you can find a good vet to either set the break or amputate and give bunny a chance

They managed to pin Rosies leg

When I spoke to them, she was just coming round properly I'll have to phone again tomorrow to check on her and find out when we can bring her home!!

I didn't get to speak to the vet before or after as I was in hospital visiting my oh who was admitted yesterday!! They left a message to say they were going to try and fix her leg, but if they couldn't they would remove the limb, which I think they were expecting to do. Well, they have managed to pin it and it is just going to be a matter of time to see if it holds ok.

So relieved that they could save her and her leg!

Thank you so much for all of your support and advice, it has helped more than you can imagine