New here and Bob rabbit being amputated today

Hi All,

Ive come across this forum today whilst looking up rabbit amputations.

My rabbit Bob is unfortunately having his rear leg amputated today I am absolutely devastated as he is only 6 months old.

It happened when we were away on holiday over near year and he was staying with a friend (who has had a lot of rabbits and experienced unlike us). He was under the stairs and she picked him up and he jumped out of her arms onto the laminate flooring. We were called in Tenerife and had to give permission for xrays - I was in tears and praying that it would heal. When the xrays came back the vet said that he was young, it wasnt on the joint and they would splint it.

We came back from hols and got the splint changed to a cast and Bob decided to pull it off on Friday night. We rushed him to the vets Sat am to get it re-done and she felt a bump so took some xrays. She said it had got worse and wasnt healing :-( I was sooo gutted again - our options were to amputate or see an orthopaedic specialist.

We have no insurance but I was willing to pay the £1500 or more to pin his leg so Sunday we went to the referral vet, who took one look at the xray and said it was also dislocated and too near the joint. If he pinned it then it would cause arthiritis and may crumble and need amputating anyway so he said it just wasnt worth it :-( Gutted!! I soooo wanted them to be able to save his leg.

This guy was brilliant though and knew straight away what was wrong. I cant believe the other vets didnt see the fracture going near his joint and MISSED the dislocation. The specialist said it would never of healed so we put Bob through all that stress of a splint, cast and 3 anaeasthics for nothing (not to mention all the money)

Anyway Bob stayed in last night and is having his op today. The vet said they cope remarkably well and would be fine. I asked about quality of life and whether it would be the same and he said absolutely.

I just wanted to post on here as its so nice hearing all your positive stories and getting some advice and support. So many people when I said I would be whatever it took said it was a lot of money and to just get another one! WHAT!! Do people not realise how attached you get, they arent some disposable commodity you just get rid of.

I also keep beating myself up about it as I feel so sad this has happened so young. I keep thinking this would never of happened at home as we dont pick him up (we know he doesnt like it) so we just shake his treat box to get him to come or go in his cage. I wish we hadnt left him and this would never of happened. I cant help thinking what if!!

Also any advice would be appreciated. I read on this forum about having no ramps - we bought him a lovely double level cage so he had more room when at work - will he not be able to use his ramp anymore? We had already carpetted the ramp for him so it was soft - I dont want him to lose out. Also he used to love running up the stairs and running around - I dont want him to miss out and not be able to do these things.

So sorry for the long post but this has really upset me and I just want to be sure that little Bob will still be a happy bunny!

Thanks all
Laura x

Sending loads of vibes to Bob and hoping his operation goes well today.

There are a few people on here with amputee bunnies, so hopefully someone will be along soon to advise you about ramps and so on.

It's shocking isn't it when people take the 'replace it' attitude So glad Bob has a great bunny mummy who's prepared to give him a fighting chance

sorry to hear what a stressful time this has been. i don't have any personal experience of bunny amputations but i have read through stories from other members that have been heartwarming as they show just how well a rabbit can adapt. i'm sure someone will be along soon to advise you on bob.

hope his operation goes well. xxx

Welcome and so sorry about Bob and I hope his operation all goes well for him and he will soon be back with you.
Fingers crossed for Bob .

Thanks guys Ive just had a call from the vet to say Bob has come round well and all being well he can come home tonight. We have to be there at 6 to pick him up.

Im so sad for him - I still cant believe its happened to him! I think maybe its worse for me than him (well thats what people have said) as they adapt but Im stressing he will be unhappy and wonder where his leg is!!

aw welcome to the forum. i really hope the surgery goes well for bob. will be looking forward to seeing piccies of him.

Great news the op went well Fingers crossed he'll be home with you tonight!

Awwww poor little Bob!

There's a member on here called Mopsmum. She has a little bunny in called Angelica at the minute who's had one of her back legs removed. I've met little Angelica and she's just the most spirited little bunny. She bombs up and down the hallway and binkies like a little loon :lol: Tracey (mopsmum) also sent me a photo of little Angelica sat on her stairs!
It might be worth sending her a message and sharing stories

So glad you can pick him up tonight and don't worry Bob will be ok.

so glad the op went well. bet you can't wait to get him back home later. you sound like a great owner and he will cope fine without his leg. xx

Yes I cant wait to see him, I just want him to be happy. I dont want him to adapt but not be as happy as he was. I want him to have a good life and be just as happy as before!

Id just like to say you guys are all great and its so nice and such a comfort to read everyones messages

glad his op went well

i think with such an understanding owner, bob will continue to be a happy little chap as no doubt you'll find out exactly what (if anything) needs to be changed or adapted for him. xxx

Heres some info on Angelica http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=209056&highlight=angelicai think that they just get on with loving life no problem!

Welcome to the forum, and vibes for your wee man coming round from his op ok xx

We have 3 bunnies with amputated back legs. All 3 manage brilliantly

The fact that Bob is so young means he will adapt that much more easily :wave:

Ah wow thats such a lovely story to read.

Bob is definitely a tough bunny as he has coped fine with everything so far. I know he hated dragging the splint around as he couldnt run etc but he still jumped on the sofa. Hopefully he will be happier now.

Your right I just need to find out what adjustments to make for him to give the best care. Hes going to be spoilt rotten now! (not that he wasnt anyway) xx

He will be fine ...at that age he will adapt well ..

Angelica is one of our rescue buns ...mopsmum is my sister and we run the BARC rabbit rescue section between us . Angelica is our first amputee and we were very worried and aprhensive but she has surprised us all.
Took a few weeks for her to fully adjust but now if you saw her running around you wouldnt believe she eas one leg short.. the other day she got to the top of Traceys stairs by herself..

Hi Lauras:wave: So sorry to hear of Bob's troubles but he sounds as though he's in the best hands living with you What a caring owner - you sound lovely.

I had a houserabbit with a hind limb amputation and she was around 6 when she had it done. She coped brilliantly - just a slightly 'wobbly' gait and a little trouble having a good wash because she would topple over. However, other than that, you'd never have known she only had three legs. I'm quite sure that Bob will adapt really well - you'll probably just have to keep an eye on his ears for him and check that he's cleaning himself ok. I would probably ditch the two storey hutch and replace it with a 6ft single level one. You could probably sell the two storey one to try to get some money back. However, if you can't get rid of the double-decker, I'd suggest adding sides to the ramp and carpeting it so that he can't fall off and can get a good grip on it. Wispa used to jump up onto low walls with only three legs so I'm sure a young bun could probably learn to use an adapted ramp. As he ages though, I'd probably swap to something single level.

Hi

I also had a 3 legged bun who had had rear leg amputation. She had it very late and in sad circumstances and was hutched for a year afterwards with not much room (NOT whilst in my care!!). Despite all this she was incredibly lively once we had her, she free ranged all over the place - indoors and out - though we kept her in when it was wet or cold. She would climb up onto things using her front legs to pull her up and the one hind leg as a pivot! She could get into plant pots that were 3 ft tall - and she LOVED digging in a huge peat filled tray we got her (outdoors!!!).

She used to get around really fast!

As she got older things got trickier as her front legs splayed with the weight - BUT my vets said that if the she had had more exercise after the op she would have had better muscle build up - so yours should be fine!!!

I am so sorry for you and Bob. But Bob is young and will adjust and ive read lots of posts on here about other amputee buns who live healthy happy lives, so please try not to worry. The worst part is over now and im so pleased he came thru op fine.
My mother in law has an 18year old cat with his back leg amputated. This happend a few years ago. He will give the "oh poor me act" as only cats can and when he thinks noone is watching him, he moves like lightening:lol::lol:

All the best to Bob and welcome to the forum:wave:

Ps must av photos when Bob is up to seeing his public

Thanks again everyone - Im starting to feel better now after reading all this

Do you think he will be as happy now as what he was before the accident?

Mackers - thanks for the advice on the cage - the only problem we have is floor space which is why we got the 2 storey. Its already carpeted for him (as we didnt think it was nice with wood) so maybe we can put some sides on it too.Hes only a little mini lop so a pretty small and agile bunny so am hoping and praying that he will still manage with it. I dont want this to change his life. Definitely not worried about money - I'll pay whatever it takes for him to have the best.

Wouldnt it be nice is someone could make prosethic limbs or something for them?

I still kick myself as if he was at home I dont think this would of happened! Why oh why did I book that holiday.

Thanks for all the messages and I'll keep you posted on when hes home and hows he getting on xx