Injured Back

Hi, I need some advice.

I opened the hutch for my 5.5 year old Dwarf Lop Maisy and her Partner Worm to have there usual run of the garden this morning, and to my horror I noticed that Maisy was draging her hind legs. I obviously assumed the worse that she had broken her back and would need to be put to sleep. I took her down the vets straight away.

The vet looked at her legs and said that she still has feeling in her legs and she demonstrated this by scrunching up her back paw and it was slowly releasing to normal, she also showed signs of wanting to hop. she was given an anti-inflamatory injection, I was told to bring her home and monitor her for 24 hours, if I do not see any improvement then I need to take her back to the vets ans she may have to be put down.

She has been pooing (small ones), eating and drinking but I dont believe that she is urinating. Ive tried to stimulate urination with warm cotton but again this is not working.

Does anyone have advice?

Thanks Jody

I have no advice

But just wanted to say that I'm very sorry to hear this; it must be very stressful to go through this.

Did the vet x-ray her or offer any other type of scan/imaging?

It may be a trauma of some kind on the spine (i.e. like our slipped disc for example - though not ) - This might be picked up on some imaging.

Treatment would be rest and anti-inflammatories and pain killer (basically metacam and hutch-rest)


The other option is something neural and the usual thinking would be EC (a parasite which attacks the neural pathways etc and also the liver/kidneys). This can commonly cause what is known as 'hind leg weakness'

There is a test for Ec (blood test with titres) BUT it will only show if a bun has ever been affected by EC not whether they have it actively [actually it can - but its rather complex and involves taking bloods several times}.

Many vets confronted with hind leg weakness will assume EC may be present (it is present in about 60-70 percent of buns) and will medicate for it. The medication is called Panacur (or Lapizole is another) and needs to be taken for 28 days - in conjunction with metacam again.


Is you vet a rabbit specialist? If not you may want to explore options of referral to a specialist or changing vets. Where are you based?

-

Thanks for your replies!!

The vet did not X-ray or scan her

I asked about EC, and the vet said it was unlikely as she didnt have a head tilt. Should I ask for Panacur anyway as a precaution or could this cause more harm?

I have Metacam which I need to give 3 on the syringe to her tommorow and I have brought her indoors, as I have an Indoor hutch.

I am based in Benfleet Essex, I doubt they are Rabbit specialists?!?!?!

Do you think I should be worried that I havnt noticed an amount of urine?

Thanks for your help
Jody

jodeck said:

Thanks for your replies!!

The vet did not X-ray or scan her

I asked about EC, and the vet said it was unlikely as she didnt have a head tilt. Should I ask for Panacur anyway as a precaution or could this cause more harm?

I have Metacam which I need to give 3 on the syringe to her tommorow and I have brought her indoors, as I have an Indoor hutch.

I am based in Benfleet Essex, I doubt they are Rabbit specialists?!?!?!

Do you think I should be worried that I havnt noticed an amount of urine?

Thanks for your help
Jody

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Hi

EC does not always show as Head Tilt, so would still be an option . . Have you got Panacur with you already?

Scanning might be helpful to rule out traumas and also less common but still possible things like growths which are impinging on spinal nerves etc.

Can you start another thread with the title :URGENT Rabbit specialists needed near Benfleet, Essex.

I have specialist rabbit vets but am in Cambridge - if you have car/can travel they might be a possible for you??? But someone on here should have a vet closer who will be at least recommended for rabbits.

The lack of urine is worrying however and may suggest spinal trauma.

How much does the bun weight by the way? and is the syringe a 1ml one (so you are giving 0.3ml)?

For a trauma I would expect the high end of the metacam dose range which might be about 0.8 or so for a short period of time for a 2.8k bun . . But do not change any dosage without reference to a vet (though they may need 'reminding' of latest dosage recommendations for rabbits if they are not rabbit specialists)

PS I AM NOT A VET - there are vets on here but they are understandably less frequent.

There are also several posters much more experienced than me - am Hoping a poster called Jacks Jane will be along soon with some ideas!!

I havnt got Panacur.. Is this something I can buy without prescription?

Ill ask about scanning her

She weighed about 3kg ish

The Metacam box says 0.5mg/ml. The syringe says the same and has the numbers 2-10 on it????


Once again thanks for your advise!!

Jody

panacur needs a prescription

metacam - does it say 0.1, 0.2 etc on the syringe or 1, 2 etc??

did the syringe come in the metacam box or was it separately issued?

if the former then this may actually relate to the weight of the animal ?BUT is calibrated for dog dosage which is different to rabbits who have different physiologies so different ratios..
of med to body weight.
also thought that vet should probably have given fluids to bun - as she will prob. be dehydrated.

i really think you need that rabbit specialist asap!!

try wylies and the recommended person there.

ps off to bed now . . . hope bun is comfortable overnight:wave:

Oh no, poor Maisie Really hope she recovers & PTS isn't necessary Sending lots of 'Get well' vibes! xoxox

You can get Panacur on VetUK without a prescription. Or Pets at Home but it's double the price.

Elena said:

You can get Panacur on VetUK without a prescription. Or Pets at Home but it's double the price.

Click to expand...

oh yes - forgot these - they have their own 'in-house specialists' who are meant to assess from details you give on the website whether to issue it.

Oh no, how worrying I hope you can find a good rabbit vet who can help Maisy. How is she today? Sending lots of vibes xx

I hope you find a good vet and can save your bun, hope she's okay.

0.5 mg per ml is cat metacam. For cat metacam if you were giving to a cat if you were using the syringe provided and measure out how many kgs the cat was, so 3 for a 3kg cat, for a rabbit a low dose of metacam is considered twice the cat dose, so a 2kg rabbit would get a 4kg dose - this is still a low dose for a rabbit. Hope this helps.

I hope Maisie is doing better today and you have managed to track down a specialist vet.

Hi,

My bun Malteser didn't have head tilt but vet is treating him as EC or brain infection. When I found him he was on the floor unable to move, it was more his hind legs that stopped him. Panacur you can get from Pets at home, my store has it for £6.99 and I didn't need to give any info. It can't hurt to treat for it, at least it gives your bun protection. I'm 11 days in and he has been trying to walk again these past few days. he gained power in his legs after a couple of days but then his front legs had become weak. He's wobbly but I think his brain and nerves are communicating again.

good luck!! xx