Eddie did something to his back on the journey to me, and has ultimately paralysed his legs. He's having an x-ray as I type this, and I should be collecting him later with the results (whether there's a fracture :?) It's just his back legs.
He started off being all staggery, and his owner said that he had been hopping around happily before he went in the car. I believe what she says, and don't think there was foul play. Then as the day went on he just stopped using his legs and was dragging himself about. He has full bladder control so there would be no expressing although he was obviously lying in it...having to be cleaned every half an hour
.
He's bright as a button, eating, drinking and the vet nurse said he's been dragging himself to the bars of his cage for attention.
There is feeling in his back legs and there have been slight movements, but he can't use them at all. He's dragging himself with his front legs.
He's not a "stress-head" and is really calm. Couldn't care less about being picked up to be cleaned, and I think rather enjoys the fuss. He's a real person bun, so human contact doesn't get to him...thank goodness. He's quite happy, but seeing him try to move is heartbreaking from my perspective. He's not getting annoyed with himself yet though.
Also, I dont think a Rabbit has a good quality of life if all they can do is lay in a cage, eat and sleep. They would require daily trips outdoors or to other stimulating environments. This, combined with all the care needed to keep them clean, empty their bladder for them, feed them their cecotrophs, keep their ears and eyes clean would be a full time job and not everyone could do this due to work/family commitments etc.
THIS is what I'm worried about. What kind of life would he have if he's pretty much cagebound? Sure, he enjoys eating and sleeping...but from what I've been told he's a very energetic bun usually. ...would he get depressed if he couldn't move properly?
Are his front legs going to get damaged if he tries to pull 6kg of chunk over the floor? Would it do him more damage to let him move anywhere...get freerange time.
BBMummy...this has given me some hope. If there's a chance that he'll get better then it'll make me happier to make decisions for him. He's a giant and I know they have very weak spines...so it's possible that what they did was similar.
I've had such bad luck lately...If only things could go right for once!