2 Broken Legs

I'm just in need of a little advice and reassurance! A few weeks ago, I posted to say our bun Rocky had broken a hind leg. Vet suggested we leave it to heal on it's own, which we have. It's been 3 weeks and things were looking good until yesterday morning, I went to say bye and give him a treat and he normally comes straight upto the cage, eager for sweeties! Yesterday, he didnt move. When I picked him up, his good leg flopped out to the side... I knew exactly what it was. We gave him some pain relief and left him for the day, to see if there was any improvement. When we got home early afternoon, it was still no better. Took him to the vets, who's recommended we have him put to sleep. We have discussed it and want to give him every chance possible and the vets have said they can do X-rays to see how bad it is, and look at an op to repair, as they are both femur fractures, they think he could have a bone problem. I just wondered if anyone else has every had a bunny with 2 broken legs and got through, he's my baby and hes only about 4 months old. I want to give him the best chance of life, without being horrible! He's a house rabbit, so he won't have to fend outside.

I posted this on another forum this morning and it was suggested I post here as there were possibly some people who have experienced this. This afternoon he was x-rayed and has had his 2nd break splinted as it's fractured below the knee. We've been to see him, he was munching away and we gave him some treats. His notes said he had been hopping around this afternoon which must be positive? Vets said he will be in untill at lease Monday so they can keep an eye on him.

Thanks,
Laura

That's very young to have such a massive problem. Poor bunny and poor you guys.

I had a bunny who broke two legs. He was 10 at the time. He broke his first leg, his front left, mounting a girlie (still a randy little man even then). He healed ok from that. Then 18 months later he broke a back one. We suspect from stamping. That one also healed ok, although at the wrong angle.

He broke his third leg (his back right), 6 months later and was still bright eyed but we decided to let him go then because he couldn't do anything for himself.

Our rabbit was NOT treated well because I had a rubbish vet who didn't believe in pain meds, etc, so he didn't have the good care your bunny has had. He was also very old.

I wonder woudl blood tests show if there are any vitamin deficiences like calcium?

The vet we have seen isn't really a bunny lover I don't think, he just focused on pts, even when i challenged him for other options, so when we went to visit earlier a lovely nurse said she would speak to one of the other vets who is based at a different branch and is all for buns. She seemed to think he would make a full recovery, maybe with a not perfect leg, but as long as he can move around and isnt in pain, thats good for me. considering he is still a baby, i thought that would be on his side?

Lola_fudge said:

The vet we have seen isn't really a bunny lover I don't think, he just focused on pts, even when i challenged him for other options, so when we went to visit earlier a lovely nurse said she would speak to one of the other vets who is based at a different branch and is all for buns. She seemed to think he would make a full recovery, maybe with a not perfect leg, but as long as he can move around and isnt in pain, thats good for me. considering he is still a baby, i thought that would be on his side?

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Aw, how nice is that nurse

I guess that's a tricky one. Youth means he should bounce back wuicker, hopefully, but obviously if this is a chronic problem then he could be breaking bones and limbs all over the place. You ouldn't expect a young bunny to have one broke limb, let alone two, without a trauma to cause each incident.

Is it possible he has had a trauma?

The first was done overnight, he is an indoor bunny in a 1 storey cage, that had a raised level that he would sit on and a hidey hole underneath. At this time we attached a run to it, and got a ramp that went a small way acrosse for himto get in and out. We thought he could of hit his leg off either ledge, but we will never know. Number two, his cage has been empty until Monday when the vet said we could put a big cardboard tube in as he was getting rather bored. He also came off his metacam which I think was possibly spacing him out. He's leg had started to heal and he was weight bearing. He then decided to have a crazy minute and was jumping around his bowl and through the tube. We left him to it as we presumed he was safe and got ready. Our only thought is that he smacked it off his bowl, it's one of these big crock ones with rabbit on the front, or he skidded into the wall of the hutch. He's done things before, bit never damaged himself, like thinking he can join us on the sofa, so I think, and hope, it's just an unlucky time.

Poor little chap
They concern would be whether he is going to keep getting fractures- did they say whether his bone density looked ok?

I would consider changing vets as your bunn sounds like he really needs a rabbit savvy vet who's not so focused on pts...
When i was a kid my rabbit dusty had a door get caught in the wind and slam on his leg , it was completely broken... he had his leg in plaster for somthing like 10-15 days and recoverd fine, he was about 4years old aswell so not a baby... ive read online about Rabbits with only one leg that are still just as capable as one with four... im not sure how serious your bunns leg problem is and wether it will re-occur... but this video might give you a bit of perspective on how well bunns with leg disabilitys can cope http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbCPmM59Lw0 i swear its not an upsetting video
Hope rocky gets better x lots of vibes for him x

We're just waiting to hear from another of the vets from the practise to see if they can test to make sure he's not suffering with a bone problem.

They're was talk of amputation when he broke the first, i even asked the vet on wedsnesday if there was a chance of amputating the newly broken leg to save him, I was trying to think of all options as he NEVER said about splinting. Im sure he (the vet) just wants an easy life, but he won't fool me!

I did look at some videos yesterday, one with a bun who seemed paralysed from lower back, and it really made me think, in comparison, rocky's a lot better. Both legs are underneath him, pretty much in the right position, it's not like they're really displaced. The nurse yesterday said that he has got a good chance of survival and quality of life. Will go and see him later... Hopefully he will have stop trying to remove his splint himselft, typical rocky!! X

This is Hoppy, at the Rabbit Residence rescue. His story is not the same as yours, but I think offers hope. His leg broke, and his previous owners never sought veterinary treatment, so it healed at a funny angle:

He can't use it like a leg, but it has feeling, and he kind of swings it after him, he can use it to scratch his ear if he swings it in that general direction, etc. It's actually quite upsetting the first time you see him, cos it points at a funny angle. BUT he is one of the happiest bunnies I have ever met! He loves cuddles and being stroked, he loves his two bonded friends, Nestle and Purdy, he is just such a contented bunny. So don't think just because your bunny might find life a bit more difficult than other bunnies, that it's not a life worth living

If you could tell us where you live we might be able to suggest a good bunny vet to you?

Good luck with your little bunny x

He such a cutie!! Thank you, that's just how I feel, as long as he's not in pain, I want to give him every chance possible!!

I live in Birmingham, if there are any recommendations that'd would be lovely x

One of my rabbits broke a leg really badly and is now fully recovered - and I have also had an amputee bunny who loved life.

If I were you I would post a new thread entitled 'Bunny savvy vet needed near Birmingham' - that is more likely to get responses.

I have a vet who specialises in small and complicated surgery with rabbits but I am in Cambridge.

Thank you, I've had a message about a bunny savvy vet close by, but ive since found out they're is a vet who specialises in them too but at one of the other branches. He was rushed in as an emergency so we didn't get to choose who we saw.

Have spoken to the vets this morning, they said he's doing really well, has been munching away all morning and been hoping around too! He hasnt played with his splint anymore but they will check him later and possibly redress. They will look at his meds too as he's only on metacam, which he's been on at home, and something in his water, which I assume is vitamins? Will see him again later for treats and cuddles!! X

Have had call from the vets to say that amputation of Rockys leg is not an option, if it doesn't heal on it'd own he will be pts. I've really been thinking about this, I read an article from the house bunny society and they spoke about the quality of life being the tripe a's... Appetite, affection and attitude. I went to visit this morning, he was munching away on his veg and as soonnaz he saw his sweet box his eyes lit up and he was trying to get out of his hutch to get them, he's still loving fuss and he's had to be moved into a smaller cage in the animal hospital cause he's mooching around too much!

I've been reading up and looking into a rabbit wheelchair, if his leg doesn't heal completely. He seems to be weight bearing now on the first break and if he's not in pain and is doing the 3 a's, I want him to have a life!! I know it requires a lot of care, but I didn't get him not to look after him. I've found a site that was recommended for bunny carts, prices seem reasonable at $75 for extra small plus about $15 shipping?

Please dont consider pts, from what you've said he is happy within him self, eating, drinking, and going to the toilet, as i said before a bunny in pain will not eat or drink so i would definelty ignore your vets call to pts.
you will know if he's not happy and is in pain, it sounds to me like your vets are going for the easier option, it might be a viable option for instance in a large dog as they wouldnt be able to get around with bad legs, but just youtube rabbit leg problems theres quite a few videos on there of rabbits that dont have the use of certain legs and they look just as happy as any healthy four legged bunn ive seen x

Its the last ever possibility for me, I told my boyf I will fight them all the way and he agrees. As he is a housebunny, I'm always with him when I'm at home, I'll do everything I can to help him lead as fuller life as possible. The nurse said he's eating them out of house and home and another vet I spoke to earlier said he had to be moved into a smaller cage as he was moving too much, I said that's a good thing as he's showing willing to cope and get around!

I am sorry that I have not read back on this but is there a reason that the leg is not being pinned internally?

.

You could maybe see about being referred to an orthopaedic vet. A tiny 4 week old bunny came to us and our orthopaedic vet said he could and would fix it. Cost was £400-500 but you could ask.

They haven't said why with the second leg, but when he broke the first they said there wasn't a big enough cavity in the bone to do it, they would have to put an external cage on his leg which would cause more harm as the break was too close to his knee. I'm glad they didn't try as it has seemed to heal in line in it's own, I know it's only been 3 weeks but I'm hopeful! The only good thing is that he can bring both legs and hold them in the normal position underneath him. The vet I spoke to today was only covering the weekend shift but I feel like he has more hope. Everyone there says how bright and active he is considering his circumstances.