Help please.....dragging back legs

Stew has this evening started dragging her back legs, she is eating, drinking etc fine, when she is walking her legs seem to drag behind her. then when she gets her front legs on the wood floor she loses all grip and cannot get up without a struggle, what could this be? help please??!!
She has been fine up to now and hasn't had any accidents

anyone??

She needs to see a Vet. Loss of use of hind legs can be caused by several things including injury, EC, spinal arthritis........

Until you can get her to a Vet you need to keep her confined as if she has injured her spine movement may make things alot worse.
Personally I'd contact your Vet now.

Good luck.

As Jane says, there could be a few possibilities, but she really needs to see a vet tonight.

Thanks for your advice, i will ring them now

She seems oblivious to the fact they aren't working right...occasionally they 'go' altogether, then they seem fine a few minutes later, does this make sense?

claireb1 said:

She seems oblivious to the fact they aren't working right...occasionally they 'go' altogether, then they seem fine a few minutes later, does this make sense?

Click to expand...

Yes and it sounds neurological rather than structural.

She has just ran away from me fine, but then they go again, will take your advice though and get her seen asap, thanks Jacks Jane

I'm so sorry fingers crossed for the vets & for a speedy recovery.

this happened to a bunny i rescued, he had an infection which was effecting his balance. without treatment from a vet the paralysis can become almost permanent - well in this bunnies case anyway.

let us know how you get on at the vets xx fingers crossed xxx

I feel so sad, i've had an awful day, and come home to this...dumps knows something is wrong and is looking after her, she's still so small too bless her

Did you manage to get her to a Vet ?

any news????

We are going now with her, they were fully booked and after a row with the new receptionist and insisting on her getting a vet to the phone we are going in - no appointments so just sit and wait, could be a long time waiting, poor girl is no better this morning, i've had them in with me all night

We are back....nothing broken, doesn't think it's ec, but gave them both a course of panacur anyway, thinks it may be a sprain so she has had some painkillers and is resting now, thanks for asking how she is

I would recommend explorative xrays as a fracture will not necessarily be obvious without one. Arthritis will not be obvious without one. Disc problems might not. Other bone problems might not.

This happened to Zebedee back in about March and he's still doing it now. We've had xrays, blood, seen a rabbit specialist of over 20 years experience, had examination after examination, treated for EC (which was ruled out early on and then again by specialist etc, but we treated anyway), given low dose of Metacam and now he's on a high dose of Metacam.

Both my normal vet and the specialist felt that it was not a sprain as 1) it was intermittent and on occasions he might hop normally; 2) he was dragging his back end, not hanging one leg.

The specialist diagnosed a neurological trauma which could have been caused by a knock, a stroke or may even be a tumour or lesion. Bun did have a fall in April, but this began before the fall. The specialist did say it could just be superficial nerve damage and may right itself but may be permanent damage.

You need to keep an eye on your bun's quality of life also. Zeb has adjusted well and gets around very fast as he is now, he is eating, drinking, using the toilet etc and his weight is fine. However, a week ago we had to rush him to the vets as he was 'off' and not eating/drinking properly. It turned out that being confined to a small area was making him feel sorry for himself. He's now allowed to free roam again and is MUCH happier.

I know you will trust your vet - I do mine as well! However, I would maybe look into the possibility of further tests as a physical examination with eyes and hands may not be enough to rule everything out.

Sorry I've no advice - just to say we're thinking of you lots & watching this thread.

Thank you everyone for your kind words, will keep you posted...i've already had the 'it's only a rabbit' amongst other not so funny jokes from elsewhere, some people amaze me..

Stew is getting worse, my friend who is a vet. nurse has said too there is no way this is a sprain

Continue to think of you all tonight, fingers crossed.
I know it's hard but please try to ignore the unkind comments about rabbits. Perhaps these people are to be pitied because they have never known the privilege of sharing their lives with such complex creatures of such high intelligence & unique personalities.