3 legged bunnies?

My Jasper might have to have his front leg amputated in the future He broke it whilst in rescue last year and no one took him to the vets as they said "it's just a rabbit and you can't do anything with a rabbit with a broken leg" so shoved him a cage and on Metacam. I took him on 3 weeks later because I couldn't bear seeing how miserable he was there. Anyway, the bones have healed at a funny angle and he is in a lot of pain now. Metacam doesn't help him so he is now on weekly injections of Cartrophen for 4 weeks to see if that helps him. The vet has said that in the future it is very likely that it will just become too painful for him that he will no longer weight bear and pain killers won't help (most likely) or that the bone with pop through the skin. In either circumstance amputation is really the only option.

How do bunnies do with 3 legs? It is really stressful for them? and is it something you would put a nervous/fear aggressive bunny through?

Trying to work out if surgery is right for him in the future or not. I have to get it set in my head now because if I go down tomorrow and find the bone hanging out of his leg I need to know my decision in my head and that it is the right one.

All this because they couldn't be bothered to get him to a vet if he had had his leg pinned when it happened then he would more than likely be fine now.

One of my rabbits had a freak accident about a year ago, resulting in a badly broken front leg. We tried setting it 3 or 4 times but the cast wouldn't stay in place. The leg was amputated at the shoulder. Now I wish we had amputated at the start (it wasn't really suitable for pinning / plating). He copes really well. He has a companion who helps with grooming on the hard to reach side. Other than that, you wouldn't know he was missing a leg. I don't know how he will cope in old age, but I intend to keep him fit and watch his weight so that he has the best chance of a comfortable life. Lots of people on here have tripod bunnies.

The op itself was very straightforward. There was a drain (bit of silicone tube) in his armpit for about a week. It was held in with one stitch and was taken out by a nurse while I held him. The other stitches were dissolving ones. He was bandaged for a while but it wasn't an issue.

My only problems were:
1. that I felt so guilty and wasn't coping with the amputation as well as he was.
2. due to the continued attempts to save the leg and then the amputation, he wasn't properly mobile for several weeks and ended up with a really unusual and strange looking sore and abscess all down his good side (shoulder to back leg). This needed lots of washing, dressing and depocillin injections, but has cleared up completely.

I wouldn't hesitate to amputate next time rather than put up with continued pain and other problems if there wasn't a good chance of a proper mend. If cost isn't an issue, could you be referred to a specialist to look at fixing the leg properly (re-break & pin), with the option of amputation if it isn't possible (either then or later)?

The fear aggression may be due to pain so may resolve when the leg is sorted.

I hope your bun is feeling more comfortable soon.

I haven't had a bunny with a front leg missing only back legs. I think overall it is harder for them to cope with a missing front than back leg but many do really well. There would be issues with washing their faces and it does put extra pressure on the hind legs which could potentially lead to sore hocks. But if the only alternative is pain its got to be worth ago.

i am sure you will make the right decision for him and give him all the love and care he needs x

I had a tripod bun, Billy. He coped with three legs just fine, but it was a back leg he was missing. I think it's harder if it's a front leg, but not impossible. I can't believe a rescue would leave a bun with a broken leg, that's horrendous Sending lots of vibes xx

Shimmer said:

If cost isn't an issue, could you be referred to a specialist to look at fixing the leg properly (re-break & pin), with the option of amputation if it isn't possible (either then or later)?
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Thanks for all your advice, unfortunately my vet is the exotics specialist in the area and is the referral centre, so he went straight to the best. She said she just doen't think that he would react well to having a it broken and pinned because of how he is and amputation is really the only surgical option for him especially if the bone breaks through the skin because of how it was set as the infection risk is too high.

Going to pop into work today for a cuppa and talk it through with my head nurse, she has been nursing for 24 years and is brilliant and has a good head on her so hopefully that will help, and she doesn't mention pts lightly as, like me, she values life.

I know I am over worrying, he could have months/years left in him before he gets that bad. Vet also said he has cataracts starting. Not having a good week, my Dexter with Pasturella's head tilt is coming back after being off meds for only 3 weeks, I have already made the decision to pts him when the time comes rather than put him through horrific middle ear surgery that my exotics vet has said she really wouldn't want to do the surgery as rabbits really do not do well after it. And Daisy has had more of an epileptic seizure than she has had before and her dysbiosis is back. Sometimes I just think "ONE AT A TIME PLEASE!!!!"

Captain Helen said:

I can't believe a rescue would leave a bun with a broken leg, that's horrendous Sending lots of vibes xx

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I know.
Don't get me started on how furious I was, it was one of the things that made me leave as it upset me so much. I won't name them as they do a lot of good work (for cats and dogs, rabbits and rodents are far down the list )

Thanks for the vibes x

I've seen a few bunnies here in Oz with only one from leg and they cope really well.

I have 2, Chad has a front leg missing and Scooby a rear leg. Both cope without a problem. I would say out of the 2 it is Chad who manages best. People who see the buns watch him running around and have no idea he has a leg missing until I point it out. It took my husband 3 days to notice and even then he had to ask what the buns disability was :lol: I wouldn't hesitate if thats your option and I agree that it could possibly help the fear issues too. I think I'd be pretty upset if I broke my leg and was left with paracetamol Hope you can help him

:lol::lol::lol: I met Alio71 and her wonderful buns yesterday, I never noticed the tripod buns at all - in fact I remember Ali having to point out one of them to me but I never saw a second :roll: Just proves the point really - good luck with yours xx

suzibunbun said:

:lol::lol::lol: I met Alio71 and her wonderful buns yesterday, I never noticed the tripod buns at all - in fact I remember Ali having to point out one of them to me but I never saw a second :roll: Just proves the point really - good luck with yours xx

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:lol::lol::lol: Scooby the black one in the conservatory only has 3 legs too!!!

I also have a bunny, Cleo, who had to have a front leg amputated, the only thing she can't manage is going down the stairs. Washing her face isn't a problem she has a husbunny to do that for her .

Cleo was around 2 years old when she had the operation to remove her leg, she will be 9 years old in a months time and is still going strong.

I hope all goes well for your bunny.