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Hind leg paralysis

T

TheresaLouise

New Kit
Hi I hope someone will be able to give me some ideas about the likelyhood of recovery for my rabbit.

I have two male rabbits which we purchased from pets at home about 5 weeks ago. Up until now the only problem we have had is Jeff our white rabbit getting frisky with Richard our brown and more dosile rabbit. I have booked both rabbits in to be neutered next week.

Yesterday my daughter came into the house upset because Richard was lying funny on the bottom floor of the hutch. When I went out to see him he had his legs out to the side with no use of them at all. I rushed him to emergency vet where he was examined and x rayed. Vet could not see any problems on x ray with spine or pelvis. She gave him an anti inflammatory injection and some metacam and told me to keep him inside and monitor him until tomorrow then take him back to see vet.

I am very sad as in the short time we have had him I have grown very attached to him.

Do rabbits recover from this sort of thing? He seems ok in himself and is pulling himself around and is eating and drinking fine.

He is such a nice boy

Thank you for your help

Theresa
 
Hi Theresa, I don't have any advice I'm afraid as I have no knowledge of this but I really hope your little boy is ok. There are lots of very knowledgeable and helpful people on here who I would have been lost without and I'm sure someone will be able to help soon x
 
TheresaLouise said:
Hi I hope someone will be able to give me some ideas about the likelyhood of recovery for my rabbit.

I have two male rabbits which we purchased from pets at home about 5 weeks ago. Up until now the only problem we have had is Jeff our white rabbit getting frisky with Richard our brown and more dosile rabbit. I have booked both rabbits in to be neutered next week.

Yesterday my daughter came into the house upset because Richard was lying funny on the bottom floor of the hutch. When I went out to see him he had his legs out to the side with no use of them at all. I rushed him to emergency vet where he was examined and x rayed. Vet could not see any problems on x ray with spine or pelvis. She gave him an anti inflammatory injection and some metacam and told me to keep him inside and monitor him until tomorrow then take him back to see vet.

I am very sad as in the short time we have had him I have grown very attached to him.

Do rabbits recover from this sort of thing? He seems ok in himself and is pulling himself around and is eating and drinking fine.

He is such a nice boy

Thank you for your help

Theresa
Click to expand...

Thank you, I really hope someone can tell me that their rabbit has recovered from this type of thing. I have Richard Indoors at the moment but have work tomorrow so he will be left for quite a few hours on his own :-(
 
Hi there and welcome to the forum. For me the the first thing I would do is treat them both with a 28 day course of Panacur for EC (I would suggest you discuss this with your vet on your visit tomorrow). I would also give Richard occasional very gentle massages to help reduce any stiffness and pain. Did your vet give you any metacam to come home with?

Sometimes they can recover or it can be controlled, sometimes for a long while and sometimes a short time, it really all depends on the rabbit concerned.


Good luck , I hope he shows some improvement very soon.
 
Last edited:
bunniemum said:
Hi there and welcome to the forum. For me the the first thing I would do is treat them both with a 28 day course of Panacur for EC (I would suggest you discuss this with your vet on your visit tomorrow). I would also give Richard occasional very gentle massages to help reduce any stiffness and pain. Did your vet give you any metacam to come home with?

Sometimes they can recover or it can be controlled, sometimes for a long while and sometimes a short time, it really all depends on the rabbit concerned.


Good luck , I hope he shows some improvement very soon.
Click to expand...

Hi Thank you for your reply. Yes the vet did give me metacam to come home with which I gave him this morning. I have been giving him a little massage. I will ask about a course of Panacur at my visit tomorrow.

Thank you

I'm so worried about him.

Theresa
 
bunniemum said:
Hi there and welcome to the forum. For me the the first thing I would do is treat them both with a 28 day course of Panacur for EC (I would suggest you discuss this with your vet on your visit tomorrow). I would also give Richard occasional very gentle massages to help reduce any stiffness and pain. Did your vet give you any metacam to come home with?

Sometimes they can recover or it can be controlled, sometimes for a long while and sometimes a short time, it really all depends on the rabbit concerned.


Good luck , I hope he shows some improvement very soon.
Click to expand...

I agree that it'd be a good idea to speak with the Vet about the possibility of EC (Encephalitizoon Cuniculi) being involved. Here is some information about EC:

http://www.vettimes.co.uk/article/diagnosing-encephalitozoon-cuniculi-infection-in-rabbits/

http://www.vettimes.co.uk/article/treatment-of-encephalitozoon-cuniculi-infection-in-rabbits/

I hope that the Vet can help and that Richard will make a good recovery.
 
TheresaLouise said:
Hi I hope someone will be able to give me some ideas about the likelyhood of recovery for my rabbit.

I have two male rabbits which we purchased from pets at home about 5 weeks ago. Up until now the only problem we have had is Jeff our white rabbit getting frisky with Richard our brown and more dosile rabbit. I have booked both rabbits in to be neutered next week.

Yesterday my daughter came into the house upset because Richard was lying funny on the bottom floor of the hutch. When I went out to see him he had his legs out to the side with no use of them at all. I rushed him to emergency vet where he was examined and x rayed. Vet could not see any problems on x ray with spine or pelvis. She gave him an anti inflammatory injection and some metacam and told me to keep him inside and monitor him until tomorrow then take him back to see vet.

I am very sad as in the short time we have had him I have grown very attached to him.

Do rabbits recover from this sort of thing? He seems ok in himself and is pulling himself around and is eating and drinking fine.

He is such a nice boy

Thank you for your help

Theresa
Click to expand...

Hi Theresa and welcome to RU :wave:

I'm so sorry to hear about your rabbit. That's a very sudden and an unusual onset, given that the vet doesn't think it's any spinal injury. It could be some nerve damage from an injury that isn't obvious from X-ray.

Is he still with his friend or have you had to separate them? I agree he needs to be kept restricted as to movement and have ongoing pain relief and anti-inflammatory.

It would be worthwhile you talking with your vet about a 28 day course of Panacur, for the parasite EC, which most rabbits harbour and can affect their neurological system. However, what you've described doesn't sound typical of that to me, though as I say, there would be no harm in covering for it anyway. Both rabbits would have to take the medication at the same time - see what your vet thinks about this.

Please update on your next visit to the vet and in the meantime I really hope there's some progress with Richard. You will have to keep him clean and perhaps help him with eating and drinking if he is unable to lift himself at all.

Good luck xx
 
MightyMax said:
Hi Theresa and welcome to RU :wave:

I'm so sorry to hear about your rabbit. That's a very sudden and an unusual onset, given that the vet doesn't think it's any spinal injury. It could be some nerve damage from an injury that isn't obvious from X-ray.

Is he still with his friend or have you had to separate them? I agree he needs to be kept restricted as to movement and have ongoing pain relief and anti-inflammatory.

It would be worthwhile you talking with your vet about a 28 day course of Panacur, for the parasite EC, which most rabbits harbour and can affect their neurological system. However, what you've described doesn't sound typical of that to me, though as I say, there would be no harm in covering for it anyway. Both rabbits would have to take the medication at the same time - see what your vet thinks about this.

Please update on your next visit to the vet and in the meantime I really hope there's some progress with Richard. You will have to keep him clean and perhaps help him with eating and drinking if he is unable to lift himself at all.

Good luck xx
Click to expand...

Hi and thank you for your replies. Having read lots of articles on EC I don't think this is the issue although I will speak to the vet about it.

I am also concerned because we are due to go on holiday in three weeks and only have someone who can provide basic care. I am wondering how likely a recovery is in this time.

I really don't want to have him put to sleep. But the vet said that this may be the kinder thing for him as he may not recover and would have a poor quality of life the way he is. The thing is he seems ok in himself and is eating and drinking well.

Xx
 
TheresaLouise said:
Hi and thank you for your replies. Having read lots of articles on EC I don't think this is the issue although I will speak to the vet about it.

I am also concerned because we are due to go on holiday in three weeks and only have someone who can provide basic care. I am wondering how likely a recovery is in this time.

I really don't want to have him put to sleep. But the vet said that this may be the kinder thing for him as he may not recover and would have a poor quality of life the way he is. The thing is he seems ok in himself and is eating and drinking well.

Xx
Click to expand...

Give it a couple of days and review the situation. It may be pulled/torn ligaments through exertion, or something called 'floppy rabbit syndrome' (though I don't think it's that either!). After a few days the way forward will probably become clear, and well before your holiday is due to begin.

Thinking of you and sending vibes x
 
whereabouts in the UK are you? Would it be possible to get your bun to one of the rabbit vet specialists ? Although normal vets are often fine for anything unusual it is better to get to a specialist. Options for location include Swindon, London, Edinburgh, Essex and Cambridge, Harrogate, (for starters!)
 
PS unless they can specifically pinpoint spinal damage or other incurable issue then I personally would not pts whilst he is active and eating. Did the vet mention splay leg?
 
parsnipbun said:
PS unless they can specifically pinpoint spinal damage or other incurable issue then I personally would not pts whilst he is active and eating. Did the vet mention splay leg?
Click to expand...

Hi and thank you for your kind words. My husband and I have decided to give the rabbit more time and not return him to the vet tomorrow. I will instead call the vet and ask for more metacam and a little advice about how to care for him in his current situation.

I just think I'd like to give him a little more time as he is so alert and eating fine.

I will read up on floppy rabbit syndrome and splay leg. Thanks again everyone I will keep you updated.

Thanks

Theresa xx
 
Try posting a separate thread asking for rabbit savvy vets in the area - stress they must be more than normally rabbit aware.
 
I, too, would recommend starting a new thread 'Rabbit savvy vet needed in .................."
To me, it seems too soon to give up on him and I would really want an expert to examine him.
 
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